The Journey that started in 1985

Way back in August of 1985, when we were carefree and didn't know what we wanted to really do, but wanted to go to a really good engineering school, no matter how expensive for the time, because of its reputation, we took the risk of staying in the middle of the Thar desert where there was nothing but a village, and no civilization so to speak of other than this great institution, we had no clue what we were getting into. Little did we also realize that the place helped make us for who we are today for better or worse, helped us build life long, extremely strong ties and helped us connect with each other in a way that nobody outside of our world can truly penetrate. 

We are kind of snooty about that, not in a bad sense, but it is like our magical, private world that transcends genders, ages, and cultural identities. During those four years, we laughed together, we cried together, we formed relationships, we celebrated together, tried to study together (or pretended to), fell sick together without a care in the world, biked and walked and ran together, played basketball together, giggled about silly things, shared silly stories, enjoyed the heat and the cold of the desert, gave each other nicknames that stuck through life and are so funny, and much more. There was nothing else in that place and we just hung out together. There was one phone for all the girls - about 200 of us - and a post office that was far enough that we had to cycle, we couldn't walk it - and the letters would take three weeks to get to Bombay to my family. There was no other means of communication, but we didn't miss it because we didn't know any better. Simple lives, especially now when, on the same campus, each student probably has a smart phone.

We finished our bachelor's anywhere between 1989-1991 with no promises of meeting, keeping in touch, etc other than with our immediate close knit circles of friends. This close group of friends and I would call, write letters and we knew of each others whereabouts. We were still in India for the first couple of years. The rest of the folks, if we happened to meet, if we happened to see, and nobody seemed interested in going that extra mile.

We each went our ways, pretty soon spreading our wings across the globe, not just various parts of India. Some were in touch, some weren't. Several memories started to blur, and soon fade away, but what remained with us were always the wonderful times we had together. Those bonds that ran so deep that we would immediately be like - oh, are you from BITS? and that was all it took. A few years later, the email system arrived in India, soon the internet started growing all over the world. During which time, we were still pretty much in touch with just our immediate friends, whether meeting, or calling, each busy with their lives in getting married, or having and raising children, or studying further, with no time to reminisce. 

As time went on, and the internet became powerful, we slowly started hearing about more people, successes, where they were, what they were doing, etc. Soon, this application called Facebook appeared from nowhere that transformed the way we looked at the world. Pretty soon, people started surfacing. Folks one hadn't heard of or from in 15 years or 20 years. Well, one just accepted the friendships and took off from there. Some folks one remembered, some one didn't and the brain cells tried connecting the dots through one's memories, through another friends. It didn't matter because we had that strong connection. Before we knew it, Facebook had become a virtual campus. We were having the same chats, sharing things, teasing each other, and having so much fun, but within social norms in a "public" forum.

Now, what we didn't know is our institute had initiated this reunion called as an SJM (Silver Jubilee Meet), to comomerate 25 years since we graduated. We started hearing rumblings of the same from our seniors. I remember when I first heard of it 4 years back, I thought, oh, that is too much trouble, it doesn't seem worth it, etc. As the years started approaching towards our SJM, the excitement started to take shape. After all, who would miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to go to campus and hang out with those friends who have been one's lifetime support? Oh, but wait. Not all of them were my friends. Does it really matter? Did you want to take the trouble to travel 10,000 miles to see folks that live in the vicinity, that you haven't really been in touch with, that you didn't really hang out with, etc, etc. So many questions that everybody was evaluating. 

The big picture was that we were all really delighted to be back in touch, that we were all waiting for an opportunity to go back to that hole in the wall place, to our beautiful campus, to just hang out and do nothing for a couple of days, to celebrate the place where those connections started. Who wouldn't want to do that? And so began the quest for getting us all together to get to the reunion. I must admit, when I first said I would help locate people, that I would help out, I didn't realize what was involved, and what I would sign up to do eventually. It became more and more addictive, more and more connected and has come to a point where people are really counting down.

In the midst of this, one of our friends, who refuses to be on Facebook decided to start a chat group. The beauty of the chat group is that it transcends geographical boundaries. It started out as just a joke group. Bit by bit, people ventured into other topics, from here to there to everywhere. Soon, more and more folks joined the chat forums. The topics ranged from philosophical to general rubbish to jokes to serious questions. People slowly started to rediscover these adults whom they had fooled around with on campus. They started discovering what people had been doing for the past 25 years. It didn't matter if someone had made millions while others didn't. It didn't matter whether someone had a bigger house or more time on hand or their own businesses. We started appreciating each other, respecting each other for who he/she is, accepting each other as mature individuals, wanted to get to know each other's families, and started a new-found bonding experience. We started advising each other on health matters but in a way that gave individuals their space, their individuality, their opinions, we began supporting each other across the globe, virtually in ways that would never have existed. This virtual energy has been felt everywhere.

It has grown our relationships, connections and friendships in ways we could never have imagined. Even the worst cynic would have to change his/her opinion about the chat groups, about what it has transformed into and what it has to offer each of us. 

This, my friends, is a tribute to each of you, to have gone above and beyond in making these connections happen. I hope we can spread the energy so that as many people as can benefit will show up in October to reenergize and show our children the depth of true relationships! The journey continues...

 

Spring at Home

Any change in season is always a delight, and each holds its own charm. Spring brings with it its abundance of new life, which is why spring is such an important celebration in almost every culture and religion around the world. The emerging blossoms range from buds to fruits to flowers in a riot of colours. The pictures below are a capture of spring just in our garden. Makes me wonder how beautiful it must be in various corners of the world at this time of the year! Hope you enjoy watching these photos as much as I enjoyed clicking them.


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Rocking and Rolling in San Francisco

     San Francisco! The city always has a charm that appeals to all, young and old, small and big, native or not and it is no wonder that the charm extends to the races that the city hosts. Every race that I have run in the city is crowded and today's San Francisco Rock and Roll Half Marathon was no exception. It was amazing to see just how many people were there to run a half marathon. As always, there were walkers and runners, the elites, the regulars, the first timers, the rebounding from injury folks (like me), varied ages, races, genders. 

     What made the race special to me was that I had bounced back from another injury in January to prove to myself that I could do it to record my first major race of 2014 (I did the Hot Chocolate 15K in January but that didn't exactly count in my opinion). I was signed up for a half the first weekend of January and dropped the idea as soon as one of my children threw up at night. In February, I was to run with a college friend and fell sick that night. So that race went out the window. In March, I was actually signed up for a full marathon but with my injury in January and almost non-running for about 2 weeks thereafter, I knew it wasn't doable, rather it would have been immensely foolish. The choice was to let that race go and continue running or not being able to run for months thereafter. 

       This race was at the end of my Spring Break, during which my children and I were booked to go to New York. Several visions went through my head about snowstorms, flight delays, etc and missing the race since I arrived home only yesterday. However, all the stars aligned this time. Health, wellness and travel. The only downside to the travel - and it was kind of big - I hadn't worn the right shoes for the most part and had walked a lot. So my plantar fasciitis on the left foot had caused some issues this past week.  I had continued with stretching and some elliptical workouts as time had permitted. 

       After my injury in January, I had consulted this massage therapist I have seen a few times at my gym and really appreciate. He had suggested some weight machines and foam roller techniques that I was already doing. I decided to see this personal trainer (Joe) at my gym who is a runner and who runs what else but a running lab! He said he was all booked up and I could see someone else. Well, I wasn't going to see someone else and was upset at not being able to see him. The following week he said he had an unexpected opening. So I did two personal trainer sessions with him and attended a few running labs that were all so useful, I can't thank him enough. After the first session with Joe, I was depressed thinking in spite of running for so long, I know nothing but it only increased my determination to pick his brain in terms of all possible tips and stretches he could provide. I bought these two contraptions after two sessions with him that have proven to be useful - a small bar and a ball. 

        Sleep was an issue the past few nights, particularly Friday night since I had to wake up 3:30 a.m. EDT, get myself ready before the children and leave the hotel no later than 5:00 a.m. to make it in time for our flight back home. None of this was recommended for my race of course. This morning, I was up nice and early at 2:45 so I could stretch, enjoy my cup of tea before leaving so that I could be in early enough to pick up my bib since i couldn't do it yesterday. I had a good feeling about the race this morning, though I knew that time would not be great. That wasn't the big factor in any case. I also had a strong, silent support group in my college friends. After having had no internet or email when we finished college, Facebook, linkedin and other forums have facilitated that connection in multiple ways. One such group we chat on is a phone chat app that cuts across country boundaries. It has been a great deal of fun, bonding and more. I knew I had tons of positive energy and messages from that forum.
     
       One of my colleagues was also running the race. I had suggested it to her since we are both signed up to run the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon in June. She was getting a ride so we basically just got to say hi right before the race. It was really nice to see a familiar face though.

    
       Amongst the things I enjoy at a race are meeting various people. I learn a lot from talking to them. One of the women I talked at length had travelled from Los Angeles, was also signed up for the three package Rock and Roll deal. She was there by herself, and was staying back a day to enjoy the city. Another woman I talked to had travelled all the way from Germany because it was her dream to run over the Golden Gate bridge. She had strapped onto her head a GoPro camera. If you haven't seen a video made by these cameras, you should. It is fascinating. I had never met anyone at a running race wearing a GoPro because I would associate them with more adventure sports like rock climbing, surfing, skiing, underwater diving, etc. She had bought it just for this race and was pleasantly surprised that nobody else was wearing it. She had decided the different points during the race when she would videotape the action. 

        It was cold and dark at close to 6:30, the official start of the race. Being in the 10th corrall meant that I wasn't going to hit the start until 15 minutes after the start of the race. The race started near the ocean - lovely setting which came into vision by the time I started. RIght after turning the corner of the start, came a bunch of hills. You would finish one, and the next would emerge. This continued for the first mile. I was kind of pleased about it thinking that I wouldn't have to tackle hills the rest of the race which of course, was wishful thinking. After all, this was San Francisco. 

        The term Rock and Roll I felt was a misnomer. There were probably three live bands throughout the course, the first of which was after mile 8. There were jugglers and acrobats but that isn't really rock and roll. The music makes a huge difference to the morale and the tempo of the participants. It was a very well organized race though with plenty of aid stations, medical stations and volunteers. 

        After the first couple of miles, we took the turns through the Presidio with fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean, followed by views of the Golden Gate Bridge which we were soon to cross. The pictures will tell a better story of the views as well as the crowd on the bridge. The bridge run was very crowded and the sun was beating down relentlessly. The picture has a couple of people taking selfies. The selfies during the race with the views was a big deal. I did stop to take a few pictures of the views and someone did take my picture.

Just had to take this one of the ocean peeping through the trees

Looking back one could see waves of runners

Could only capture a small fraction of the people

Had someone take this photo

The gorgeous views while going through the Presidio

     The previous two times I have crossed the bridge in a race has been during the San Francisco Marathon which is held in the summer, so the fog holds steady through the bridge run and makes it very pleasant. Today, by the time we hit the bridge with the sun and the crowd, it was hot. Also, with the photo phenomenon, people would randomly stop, take pictures, walk, text, etc. This made it extremely cumbersome to navigate through the narrow passages of the bridge. The next time, it should be organized like the walkways at airports. Those standing (in this case walking/taking pictures) on one side and those running to be able to pass on a parallel path. Running across the bridge still has its own charm though and it will always be that way.

The sea of humanity on the bridge

        From there we ran down the pathway to the Marina. It was an absolutely beautiful day. By then it was a little past mile 8 and we had our first live band. Crossed a man wearing a T-shirt that read "Running my 50th half marathon). Another amazing thing about the city is how young and old, people in homes and without come out to cheer the race participants. By the time I had crossed mile 9, I had decided that I didn't need to bother about a specific time. That my goal of finishing a major race from the 1st of Jan would be accomplished and I needed to focus on a full marathon goal, hence focus on increasing that 13 mile limit next week to 15 or so. The number of outfits that one now encounters is phenomenal. 

 

This gives an idea of the nature of the day today in San Francisco

          The distance between miles 11 and 12 was the hardest for me. This was because I had thought we were done with the uphill runs which were looming in front of me and I seemed to have gone through a phase of - just plow through. After seeing the Mile 12 marker, it got easy again and of course, after 12.5, upon seeing the finish, it was like a fresh burst of energy. I had done it, albeit a slow time, after crossing 3,000 miles yesterday, overcoming yet another injury and having fun. Starting and finishing almost pain free was such a blessing! I am immensely grateful.

At the finish

 

The Hot Chocolate Run

I am not one for one of these hyped races. You could say I am normally more conservative in my choice of races. However, this really sounded fun, I love chocolate and I love hot chocolate, so I thought, lets go ahead and register. There was a choice of 5K and 15K. I don't normally sign up for 5Ks where I have to drive beyond a radius of 3 miles, so I signed up for the 15K. I didn't pay much attention to anything till a couple of days before the race (other than ensuring that I had paid for parking and the shuttle), because it was not a priority until then. Suddenly, last week I realized that I couldn't pick up the packet on race day. That I needed to go on Friday or Saturday. The pick up was from a store in the city, a good 40 miles but very long to drive on a Friday after work (the last time I had to do that in November, it took me 90 minutes each way). So it meant going to the city on Saturday. It meant that I had to sacrifice at least half my Saturday for this purpose. I wasn't a happy camper and was telling my friends that I shouldn't have signed up for this race. The logistics were too hard to handle. 

So come Saturday morning, I went to my first regular Zumba class, ran a mile on the treadmill and drove to the city. It started raining half way through, the directions from the maps were wrong, and I spent 45 minutes driving from the wrong location to the right one. The venue for pick up was packed. With the rain and everyone wanting their race packets, there were a few volunteers directing traffic and I had had my fill of driving (I hardly drive on a daily basis, so this was way too much for me). Fortunately, everyone was very civilized in terms of waiting, parking spaces, etc. The volunteers were well organized. There wasn't a line for the pick up, so I was done in 2 minutes but I wasn't going to sit in the car for another 90 minutes. So I decided to browse the store. This is Sports Basement in San Francisco - it is huge and they have an excellent selection of gear. While browsing, they announced that it was 20% everything that day. My luck day :)

Landed up buying my first set of toe socks (I normally use my Vibrams without any socks), a pair of minimal New Balance (I used to alternate two pairs of shoes, but hadn't done so since I stuck to Vibrams last year. I wanted to see if that was doable and better for my legs. Last week I felt like I had overdone the workouts in the Vibrams), a pack of chocolate Gus, and a pair of shorts. I was glad that the browsing took longer than I had planned because I then had to drive home. It took a little while to get to the freeway, but not as bad as when I drove in, and I was off.

As always, I had my materials ready to go the previous night. This morning, I was up bright and early at 4:30. I like to have one or two cups of tea and a boiled egg normally as well as shower before I leave. The drive was uneventful and getting to the parking lot was also easy. The directions were great, the volunteers were great. Finding parking was not too bad. The lot was getting more full but the folks running the 5K would have come much earlier. There was a line for the shuttle but that moved very smoothly. Volunteers there too to ensure the right number of people for each bus. We rode in one of those fancy corporate buses that are used by Google, Genentech, etc and were the cause of protests in San Francisco as recent as last week. 

Getting to the race venue, the start of which was between the De Young and the California Academy of Sciences, there were plenty of portable toilets, which of course, one had to visit right away. There was a tent selling gear where everyone seemed to take shelter from the cold. It wasn't that cold - 41 deg Farenheit or 5 degrees Celcius but with no sun and just standing around and the wet ground, it felt cold. My toes actually felt frozen by the time I started to run. There were hundreds (maybe more) running the 15K to my pleasant surprise. Got into my corral about 20 minutes before the race. Being in the midst of a crowd really helped keep warm. 

The organizers did an excellent job of managing the start of the race, just as they did everything else. So by the end of it, of course, I had retracted on my - never to do these kind of races - never say never. 

While walking to the start, I met a colleague who had been there from earlier because she had to come for the 5K as well. Listened to the usual chatter while waiting for the race. One of the things that struck me - while waiting here and while checking in gear - so many people are into selfies - it made me feel older for sure :) It is always fun checking out the gear. 

When our corrall was let out, I started out at an ok pace, reminding myself that I just had to go slow and steady. Time was not of essence. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had reached the first mile at about 10:30 minutes and felt really good. So I told myself to keep to a similar pace and continue. The race went through Golden Gate Park, out on the road parallel to the ocean. The first sight of the ocean was magnificent as always. That is what makes me sign up for races in the city, I told myself. Even that one sight is enough to uplift my spirits, to energize me for the rest of the race, no matter what the distance. The waves, the surf, the fog, all of it making for a picturesque setting. about 3-4 miles were along the coast, going in one direction and returning in the other. Several folks stopped to take pictures. 

The water stops and gatorade stops were very well organized. I have trained my body to stay without water for long periods of time - not sure if it is good or bad but I basically don't stop at the water stops, don't feel full or bloated and don't have the urge to go to the restroom. So I think its a good thing for me. There was one spot about halfway through where they were handing out these chocolate squares. I debated but I had only had a boiled egg at about 5:30 a.m. and was kind of hungry so nibbled at it and finished it. It did help as far as energy goes but I felt a little full. 

Saw another colleague zipping through when I was at the 4 mile mark and he was at about 6. When I was at 6, crossed yet another colleague who was running with her husband. Miles 7 and 8 were a little uphill - gradual hills so I think I slowed down a wee bit but really felt good. The rest was easy. I felt really good at completing a longer distance (compared to just one half last year and an 8K after a gap of 2 years of no racing) and hope that the same feeling carries me through my next half and full marathon. 

The reward at the end, needless to say was fantastic. A cup of hot chocolate, a ton of chocolate sauce dip, a marshmellow, a banana, a rice crispy and some kind of wafer. I gobbled down the hot chocolate and dip with the marshmellow and banana while stretching and getting a picture of it. Great way to end the race.
 
A great way to spend a Sunday morning and a great run! Also glad that the weather gods obliged. Couldn't have asked for more.
 
 

The Streak So Far

So today was day#328 in my streak that I randomly decided to commit myself to sometime last year. Why? Several reasons. I never wanted to go back to the sloppy state that I had regressed into for a year or so, I didn't want to be afraid of being hurt, I wanted to challenge myself, and I wanted to continue enjoy running as I did since I was a little girl. The one factor that normally keeps me going under the difficult circumstances - I think of all the various children who suffer in various forms - be it battling cancer, be it the struggles that I have seen my own son go through, be it what my father had to face when he lost his dad at 19, it tends to be my motivation. My pain or struggle is not a patch and I should be able to go on. 

When I first embarked on this streak, the first few days might have been a bit challenging to keep it up each day, but then I sort of settled into a routine, and would go no matter what the time of day. However, the fall tends to be super busy - work, the kids' new routines, and my masters classes these past two years. So, I knew that juggling it would be an issue but juggle I must. So, whether it meant hitting the gym at 5, or whether it meant juggling through the morning routine between making lunch, waking up the kids, getting myself ready to squeeze in a mile or two, or between school and classes, it meant I just had to do it. There were certainly some days that were really hard. 

Some of the hardest days though I think was earlier this week when I was sick. This has been a cough for a week - that is way more than I ever have. Normally my cold lasts for two days. This time, it was not just the cough, the body ache and the weakness. But run I must to keep up my streak. So I did.  The other times it was super challenging was when I was in Colorado for my niece's graduation earlier this month. The minimum temperature was 12 degrees Farenheit. The maximum - no more than freezing point. It was bitterly cold. I only run in the Vibram 5 fingers and am just not used to the cold. Plus time was a factor to be considered. Saturday was busy with the graduation, reception, lunch, post party and dinner. Trying to squeeze in a run seemed almost impossible. So I came up with running up and down the hotel room from one door to the other. I first started with running on the spot but that becomes boring pretty quickly. So I decided to do it this way. It was not only challenging, it wasn't exacly my favorite way to run a mile (yes, I couldn't do more than a mile running up and down the hotel room). But I did it, and felt so much better at the end of it. The next day there was enough time to drive to the gym with my niece's friend who also wanted to work out. So even though we spent the day travelling, we came back to working out. It felt good. 

There will always be hurdles (or almost always) but overcoming those require sheer will power and as long as one is willing to do that, everything else falls in place. 

The Cherished Half

I used to be oh so snooty - oh, that's just a half; oh, no way - you cannot compare a half to a full (that I think is still true). Oh, I haven't counted how many halfs I have run. Those don't matter as much anymore. Boy, was I sorry I ever made any of those statements. Given that I was at a stage where I was barely walking, then barely jogging a mile, I had no face to say any of these. I was attempting my first half marathon in two years and it really counted. By now, I almost always wear my Vibrams, and even though I have the Bikila which is just for running, I decided to use the general purpose Vibrams because I had used those on a trail before. Today was destined to be a gorgeous day. The weather seemed perfect. I had picked the same trail half that I had hobbled through two years ago. I knew it was tough. I also knew that I hadn't exactly trained for a half but given all my conditioning, it would be fine. There was a period when I thought I might not do it. My daughter had water polo games yesterday and today. My husband refused to opt out of his cricket game which meant that I had to take her and I had got admission to participate in a really cool ed-tech event over a weekend - they had liked my application. Such big decisions. But I had really looked forward to this. So, I organized a carpool in the morning for my daughter. My parents were home so I knew I didn't have to worry about my son's routine, particularly his food (his restrictive diet continues). I declined the invitation to the ed tech event. And off I went, listening to Pt. Shivkumar Sharma on the way, putting me in a great frame of mind. The fog was still out. That meant the park might be a little chilly which actually works well when one gets hot. As I went to get my bib, I bumped into a co-worker. What a pleasant surprise to see a familiar face! She was off to do the 5K but we got pictures of each other, together. I picked up my t-shirt, went to the car to drop off everything and came back to find quite a line for the restroom. Turns out there was no bathroom along the course, so I decided to make a dash for it before the start. Following is a picture my coworker took of me before the start.

The announcements started a little before the race. They were warning people to stay on course, that it was marked, that if we reached a road, we had gone off course. Then they said that it was longer than 13.1 - it was 13.24. They also went onto add that for those people for whom it was their first trail race or their first half, it gave them bragging rights as this was a really tough course. At that point I was sure I must have been crazy to sign up for this race as my first big one in two years. But since I had knowingly signed up to be crazy, I went ahead with the plan. At 8 a.m. sharp, the race took off. I remembered the first stretch being super steep. And sure enough, within .2 miles we were facing the first steep slope. There was hardly anyone running this. The incline continues almost without respite for the first three miles. It is brutal and puts even the first hill of the Dish to shame. This picture is shows how everyone is actually walking.

Thus we trudged on. Everyone seemed in good spirits. I felt like maybe I will keep with the bulk of the crowd. That kind of vanished by mile 7. But to me the goal was finishing the half, not the time. This time was different from two years ago. Not only did I have a phone that took good pictures, the chip was just a piece of something attached to the bib. That was how outdated I felt. After working really hard for 21 minutes, I saw the first mile marker! Oh my! That meant if I continued at this pace, even if I didn't worry about the time, it would take me 260 minutes at the least. Could I do it? Oh, why was I so foolish to try and do this again? Never mind, just keep going! At some stretches on the incline, the path was extremely narrow, barely adequate for one person to go through but everyone seemed to manage just fine. The really good thing about the trail - it was through the California redwoods, which are amongst some of the most majestic trees in the world. They are beautiful and no matter how often I might have seen redwoods, the trunk shapes are always fascinating. It is just like when I see the Himalayas, I could keep looking at their grandeur. Here's a picture between miles 3 and 4 of some redwoods.

Both mile 2 and 3 seemed to take 21 minutes each. It was disheartening in a way. Is this how it is going to be all the way to the end? Should I just turn back here? But I wasn't there to get disheartened. In the meantime, I had also been texting my daughter to make sure she was alright and was ready for her pick up - thank goodness for some wonderful parent carpools. Just as I thought the worst of the inclines were done, I saw one of the steepest stretches. This picture gives an idea somewhat of one of the three that came almost in succession.

As visible from this picture, by now, the crowd had gone on ahead. I knew I wasn't the last. This particular person seemed to be hounding me and when we came to the point where it seemed like he really wanted to go on, I asked him if he wanted to pass. There seemed to be an almost equal number of men and women which was great. Sometimes though, in recent years, there appear to be more women than men, which I thought was great. It was only after mile 4 that I felt like I was actually even attempting to run. Every now and then there would be stretches of downhill or flat - not long stretches but just enough to break out into a jog from the walking strides. One of the main reasons I even picked this race was because it is run by Brazen Racing. I really like many aspects about the races that they organize. Despite the fact that the trail is so narrow and several parts of it cannot be accessed, they try and have as many aid stations as possible. At the aid stations, not only is there water, there are sports drinks, sliced oranges, bananas and a ton of snacks to choose from. I stuck to just orange slices and water but the availability of it all is awesome. Not just that, almost all the participants have excellent trail manners - when to give way, when to overtake, how to acknowledge, and they all greet and wish as they pass the trailers like me on the way, unlike these big races where participants seem to only cheer/wish folks who belong to their training teams. The atmosphere of these races is very positive, high energy and happy. There is hardly anyone on the trails who is grouchy or doesn't wish nicely, including the aid station volunteers who are really awesome. Additionally, at the end of these races, they have the most delicious treats awaiting the runners after their hard work. Today, my favorite thing was this cheesecake, so delicious, it just melted. By mile 6, it seemed like almost everyone was way ahead of me. Most of them had passed me on this loop where we had to run both ways. Our bibs had our first names printed in bold. So some of them were really nice and called out by my name, saying nice job. All along, I kept worrying about my feet in my Vibrams too. Would they hold out? Would I have pain after? How will my toes do? The reason is because I often have pain in my longest toes. What I did find out though was that the toes do have a mind of their own on the trails and one has to be ultra careful or suffer a fall like I did between miles 10 and 11. For a moment I was stunned - how could I fall? I had put out one hand (my right of course, the dominant) to take the impact of the fall. So my head was fine. However, my right knee is pretty badly bruised. It went through my running tights. My right hand has a few bruises, and my Nike fuel belt, has a deep cut on one side. It could have been worse. It took me a couple of minutes to gather myself and continue. I just hope tomorrow morning the knee is not extra painful. However, the Vibrams did do their job. They held out through the race. By mile 9, I was still at about 20-21 minutes a mile, even though I thought I was going a little faster. Just a perception. I knew I didn't have a problem finishing. I was getting a little tired, but just a little. More than tired, I think it was thirst. The sun had come out early in the day and even though the Redwoods provided a good cover, it felt hot. My throat and lips felt dry frequently. So the aid stops were a real blessing. While going through the woods, at this point, it seemed as though one were passing through an air-conditioned room. The feeling of comfort and relief was really high at these times. All along, I kept mentally pushing myself. The entire race seemed to have been completed on will power. I had decided I was going to do it and I was going to do it no matter what. I would take my time because I wasn't going to do something foolish and erase months worth of real hard work to get myself moving, as well as I would enjoy the show. Thus the multiple photos. I had to enjoy the beauty around. Between miles 7 and 10 were probably some of my best moments. I was not the last but I was way behind the pack. As a result, it seemed like I had the trail to myself with this cool breeze, the sounds of the birds, the silence and peace in the air and time for me to think. If only I had recorded on a video, you would have got to hear the sounds of the birds. It was the safest I have ever felt on a trail. I knew I wasn't lost, that even though I was alone on the trail at that stretch, it was safe because people were not far and I wouldn't be lost. What a way to spend the day! I am so grateful to get to experience this and for the fact that I am able to do so again, kind of like being reborn. Between miles 9 and 10, I stopped to take a picture of this flower. It was different from all the other wildflowers I have seen on the trails, really small but lovely yellow.

I talked about the fall above. It took me a couple of minutes but after that I just took off like I hadn't the entire race. My last two miles were down to 16 minutes from 21. The redwoods continued to fascinate. The aid station crews were waiting patiently until the very last runner which was a while. I made sure to thank them profusely each time. After all, they are only volunteers. After mile 12, the trail opened up into the sun. I couldn't have asked for something more beautiful. Mustard-like tall rushes with several large butterflies flying freely, the sun shining through a clear, blue sky. It was absolutely marvelous. This picture can only capture a fraction of that.

In the meantime, between miles 12 and 13, I crossed someone trying to finish her race. I had to urge her on and I did see her finish not long after I did. The last 1.2 miles were painless. It was great to finish. I am just very grateful that I could do it, that I tried it, that I willed myself to finishing the race. I am glad I sat and enjoyed the cheesecake though, because I then drove home, showered and left right after for my hour+ drive to my daughter's second game. And of course, now I am thinking - I can get myself to train for a marathon, provided I keep doing these peripheral fitness routines, to keep my upper body and feet strong. Here's a picture of me at the finish line and a picture at the end of my feet in the Vibrams. You can see the dirt on my right foot from the fall. Well, here's till the next one!

p.s. Incidentally, I use my Vibrams for my Zumba and they work just fine (as do my feet).

Never say Never Again

The story goes back to two years ago when my foot first started hurting. Ignore it I did. Oh, it will go away. My running had become sporadic though and my weight had started its increase, not that I was ever thin after my children were born. I went to the running store when my cousin was visiting from India, talked to the sales person about my pain. She said it sounded like the beginnings of plantar fasciitis - I had no clue and had to look it up. But gave me a few options. I settled for the Strasbourg sock which I wore pretty regularly for about a month until I left for Hongkong first, and then India, at which point I hardly used it. I couldn't bear the thought of wearing a sock and sleeping in that heat. I still continued running off and on, thinking, oh, if I give it a rest for one or two days, it seems fine thereafter. Came back only to find that I couldn't stand for as long as I was used to and needed to in order to perform my job the way that I thought was effective. At one point, two of my co-workers (out of concern for my feet, not otherwise), said I should just forget it, that my running days are over and that I should just stop because they would see me limping and hobbling down the hallway. Oh, well, stubborn as I was, I wasn't going to take no for an answer. Finally, after two stretches where I hadn't run for three weeks but still had throbbing pain the day I did some activity, not even running, I decided that I had to see the doctor. By this time it had been six months at least. How very foolish - but I didn't know that. Anyway, I went through wearing a boot, went through this ultrasound treatment - electrodes that penetrate deep into your tissue and it hurts like crazy - three minutes seem like a lifetime. When I asked the intern about whether they have had people screaming, she responded in the affirmative and also stated that invariably, it is the men who do so. Talk of pain tolerance of the stronger sex! Anyway, nothing seemed to work. I had tried swimming, bought this contraption that keeps you afloat and helps you run in the water. I could do the elliptical. However, none of them appealed to me. After all, running is something I have enjoyed since I was ten years old. That feeling cannot be replaced by some other activity (for the past two months, I have been doing zumba and much as I enjoy it, it is no replacement for running in my mind). However, why didn't it work? They said at the doctor's office that it would take at least three months after the ultrasound treatment. So I decided to wait despite the bumps. By now, all thought of running had vanished. If I could walk well I would be happy. If I didn't have to sit down so often during the day, that would be great. However, that didn't do it either. I had worn only running shoes all the time at work, outside, everywhere, with the recommended insoles. Then one of my closest college friends recommended something called "flit flops". I looked it up - they were only available at a specific department store. When I went there, the salesman was very nice, asked me why, what the problem was, etc and then recommended these clogs made by "Dansko". I bought them hesitantly. They were as expensive as my running shoes, seemed kind of oddly fitting. But I took his advice and am I glad I did. That was the turning point in terms of how my feet felt. I wore only those shoes thereafter and my feet started feeling better only after that. Well, but I didn't start running yet. And boy, was I scared that the same thing would happen. One day, this good friend of mine who is an ultramarathoner saw some update from me and called me. That 3 minute conversation gave me the pep I needed and I dedicated today's run to him. He suggested a few places and said - just get out there - even if you walk a mile, or around the block. I decided to try it out thereafter. Still not regularly, nor with a routine, but oh, well, it was a start. I was starting a new job, it was exciting and there was so much I wanted to do. That plus the Master's program I had started in winter took precedence and everything else took a back seat. I still didn't think I had found the capacity to run the distance I would like to. By December 2012, I was disgusted with myself. I had never weighed so much, never felt so bloated or weird, felt horribly out of shape and decided I had to do something about it. I first started with a change in my food habits. That worked initially and I lost a few pounds. I was still scared to run because I thought this weight would cause more foot problems. Then came the big changer. The same month, my husband bought me a Nike+Fuel Belt. I am never one to wear contraptions when I run - I want to enjoy the fresh air, the sounds, the smells, the nature around. But when he had asked me for about the fifth time if I had set up the Fuel Belt, I decided I had to. That was another turning point. Once I had set it up, I had to get to a certain minimum level. On my son's birthday on Jan 3rd, the kids bought this "Just Dance 4" on the Wii. I have never considered myself to be a dancer and dance I don't but I do try and keep up with the moves. So I realized I was pushing my body beyond its comfort zone. That also helped me get lots of points on the Fuel Belt. Pretty soon, it became an obsession and anytime I had a few minutes, I would do a song. That meant activity instead of just putting my feet up. And I kept pushing myself further and further. In the past six months I have lost 22 pounds. The other thing I was determined to do - run at least one mile everyday. It didn't matter to me if I ran just a mile. I just had to do it. So I went all out to achieve that mile, even if it meant squishing it in between making lunches and showering to leave for work in the morning. If it meant a walk run, but I should have run at least a mile, that was fine. So, I started doing between 1.5 - 3 miles every day, 3 miles being more of an exception. During the process, one of my coworkers had inspired me to run the local 8K race. I figured I hadn't run 8K in my runs but it was doable with all my other activity. So in March, I ran my first race in almost two years. The problem was that the gym had fallen off my radar with my class schedule. Getting up at 3 was becoming harder. 4 was happening but that didn't give me enough time to work and then get over an hour at the gym, in order to be back home by 6. So in April, I made the decision to join a gym that wasn't open before 5 but is like around the corner from our house, where I have added my children. So that way I take my son, so he also gets to exercise and I got to try out all these zumba classes. All of which got me excellent upper body workout and helped with my stamina, while also helping me lose weight. The net result with all these changes - I was feeling so much better and even fitter than when I was running regularly. I also brought about a change in my shoes. I had decided to buy these Vibrams on a whim last year but hadn't used them a whole lot. In April, I started using them more regularly, started really liking them, and, in fact, when I used my regular Mizunos, they seemed bulky and weird. Also, I tend to really push my limits. So I really pushed my limits as far attaining the fuel goal was concerned. That really seems to be paying off. With all of these changes, I ran my first half marathon today in two years. That account is in the next entry.