run

100KMS IN A MONTH!

Running 100kms in a month was not part of my anatomy same time last year.

in fact, I hated running for 35 years!

I was far from being fit a year ago. I was over weight. I still am. I got tired. I had no energy. puffed & panted climbing up 2 floors at home. I felt nasty about myself. all this a year ago.

on aug 17th, 2013, i had a chat with a friend. told him I felt 70 years, physically. it was he, who pushed me to try running as a fitness sport.

my running journey began in sept 2013.

fast forward to July 2014.

I have run 4 official 10k runs, including an international run in singapore.

july 2014, I decided to ‘up the game’..move to the next level of ‘impossibility’. I signed up for chennai trail marathon 2014. registered for a half marathon under 3 years. this meant I had to increase my running mileage. I challenged myself. to run 100kms in a month.

here i share some perspectives I think will help anyone keen to take up running, or even making fitness, a priority in your life:

1. taking a decision.
dont ask me why i decided to do 100kms. i just did. i stuck to it. it wasn’t easy. but got the job done. over 31 days. actually, i ran only for 14 days! do the math yourself!

2. it’s a daily thing.
running 100kms had to happen through the month. it was a daily commitment. yet i failed miserably. fyi, till july 15th, i had not even completed 50kms of running! yet, the momentum picked up & the last week, i completed almost 40kms!

3. commit to an app.
run keeper is my choice. it indicates how much i have achieved & how much more i need to go. this is a critical tool. setting a goal is one, measuring progress is as important too.

4. commit to a friend.
i did talk about my goal to a friend. stayed accountable. throughout the month, we measured progress. it works.

5. running solo is no crime.
i was part of a running group. now, i run alone. my morning runs are meditative. hence, i keep the fellowship away. 90mins with myself. thoughts. self talks. music & a road to conquer.

6. it’s a mind game.
a year ago, i couldn’t run 100m without stopping 10 times. now, i have run 4 official 10kms races. now, i have decided to attempt a half marathon. signed up for 2 races. september & october. it’s all in the mind. i will conquer it.

7. fast or slow. just get out & run.
i run probably a dime faster than someone jogging. i run slower than a brisk walker. yet, i run. all that matters is whether i ran or not. nothing in between. just run. simple. hardest thing is to wake up early and get out on the road. everything else is easy.

8. it begins the night before.
i take my running jersey & shorts out the night before i go to bed. bottle is filled up the night before too. this way i prepare my mind to wake up effortlessly. it becomes a habit.

9. alarm clock at 3.45am
while my phone alarm clock goes off at 3.45am, i wake up at 4.15am. for 30mins, i hit the snooze button 3 times. i am human. i want to sleep. i hate running. then, i wake up. groaning. asking why i set such stupid goals. unwillingly, i get ready. some days, i have gone back to sleep. some days, cursing self continues when i run.

10. tough. yet possible.
was it easy to run daily? was it easy to sleep early and wake up earlier? i had travel days. took my gear along. yet didnt run. late night movies. family outings. reasons are a million. skipping runs happened. effortlessly. so did running. effortlessly too. it wasn’t easy. i don’t want to kid. yet, it was possible. i did make it possible.

what next?

my paunch is so stubborn. so is body fat. they are more committed to me than my commitment to stay fit. it is time to watch what i eat. shed the flab. look fit. next 90 days my entire eating habits too will go through a complete transformation.

tough. yet possible. will make it happen.

next run begins on august 2nd, 2014. next month, i will attempt another 100kms. hope i inspire you to become a runner like me. an imperfect runner. is there anything called perfect running?

adios!

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