My First Marathon! w00t

And finally…I completed my first full marathon. Aug 30 2009, the day I’ll remember forever. It’s been almost three months since I started running, and I have always been dreaming of completing a marathon. I am glad I did it. Mixed feelings when I crossed the finish line. Wish I could translate my feelings into words. 42.2km seemed so long and endless.

Ram and I left Chennai for Hyderabad by train. After a hectic week at work, it was so good and exciting to be out on a trip. I was so tired. Had an early dinner and hit the berth. All I can remember is being woken up by Ram once we reached Secunderabad. After settling down at our friend’s place, we went for a run at Necklace Road. It was very pretty. We ran by the Hussain Sagar lake for about 6km. Later in the afternoon we went sightseeing, and Charminar was the first destination, obviously. Then paani poori, samosa and Gokul chat. Yummy! We then went to collect our BIB and kit. ‘21’ - that was my BIB number. It felt so good. Later that night we went to watch Kaminey along with other friends and then hit the bed.

Got up at 4:00 in the morning and reached the race spot by 4:45. It was a very thrilling moment, to see so many people out to run the race. I am not alone in this madness. After our stretching exercises, I was all set to hit the start line. The full marathon was flagged off at 5:30AM and the race officially started. This is it. No turning back. Run Naresh Run!!

The first few miles felt like nothing. The arrangements were very good. Police were holding the city traffic everywhere. The weather was just perfect until the sun started showing up. I was expecting the race to be on a flat course, but I was wrong. We also had to run through many loops, which was kind of a letdown. I was feeling like giving up when I crossed the half marathon finish line. Volunteers were suggesting that I could complete my race there if I wished. Those words were all the more tempting, but I kept running. I had made a promise to myself that I would complete this marathon, no matter what, at any cost. The weather was killing and I was drowning in my own sweat.

Wish I had my iPod with me. So lonely, so painful, yet so good. I was focused on just one thing: to cross the finish line and get my finisher medal. The milestone read 40km. 2.2km to complete the race. For the last stretch of the race, we had to run inside the Gachibowli stadium on the track. It’s almost over. Photographers were clicking shots, a huge crowd was standing by to cheer. All my pain vanished at that very moment. Hit the finish line and received my medal and certificate. It’s over. w00t. I was glad and proud that I finished my first full marathon in 5:45. A very good beginning to my running expedition. Indeed.