Yeh, I’m a marathon runner!

Sorry about the late posting! I didn’t realize that some of you were eagerly waiting for this

Here’s the race results and you can check out some pictures here

Yes, I took 7 hours 3 minutes & 60 seconds to complete the race!

Yeh, I’m a marathon runner!

Initially I was worried about not being able to complete the race, as I needed to get to 18 ¾ mile marker by noon. It was a bit hard to do so as all the hills were in the first part of the race. If I didn’t get there by noon, I would not be allowed to complete the race. Also, I had to at least, keep 15-16 min/mile pace so as to complete the race.

I started of good and was going with 14min/mile pace and every mile I kept loosing few seconds. I got to the marker way before noon and after that it was just about completing the race. As far as I was concerned that 18 ¾ marker was my victory. Because I knew once I crossed that marker, I would finish the race even if there was, you know, a tsunami!

No matter how hard you train, the last few miles are the hardest. You give it all at this point! All I had to do was just put one foot in front of the other. The last four miles is on the great highway where the cold breeze from the ocean, hits right on your face. At that point, you hardly have any energy left; you are not running ( I mean trotting) fast enough to keep your body warm, as every muscle in your body hurts and you are burning whatever energy is left to keep yourself warm. It all adds up and makes you want to give up and that’s why at that point the coaches come looking for us and run with us to the finish line. If not for my coach Tim and another coach [whose name escapes my mind right now] ran the last few Kilometers with me, it would have been one loooooong run

As they announced my arrival at the finish line, it kinda felt weird. It was weird, because it felt like it was a dream. It was like, wait, did I juuust…complete a marathon…no way! I didn’t cry, but I could feel the warm water come down my cheeks. Guess this is what happens when a dream comes true-you think it’s a dream. While I was trying to get a grip on reality, I was handed the Tiffany co. neck lace and someone cut off the timing chip of my shoes, some one handed me a Nike T-shirt and then one the TNT volunteer ushered me to the LLS tent where some one checked in for me and I grabbed a sandwich and sat with the coaches for a little chat about how the race went for me. They were full of praise, of course. They told me not to underestimate what happened today, it is no ordinary accomplishment; it was a colossal achievement and deserved to be celebrated. I had set for myself an extremely tough goal and I had achieved!

I picked up my stuff and boarded the shuttle to AT & T Park. The girl sitting next to me in the bus asked how it all went for me and I proudly showed her the necklace. She then told me that, she couldn’t complete the race and was feeling very sad about it. That’s when I realized that I could have been her…… but I wasn’t, I was victorious!
Believe it or not, the victory has blocked the pain of my mind. I still couldn’t walk, I could drive well, I couldn’t climb stairs, but that didn’t matter to me. When I actually apologized for taking a long time (it seemed like eternity to me) to climb the bus, the lady behind me said ‘Don’t worry honey, we are all on the same boat’

On my drive back home, I slowly went thru the race in my mind and I kept saying to myself I’m going to do it again. That feeling of accomplishment, the euphoria, I tell you, is worth all the pain! I wish Nikki was there to cheer for me and share that historic moment with me that day.

So, next step is to first get some rest and second, to work on improving my marathon pace from 16 Min/mile to 15 min/mile so I can finish the race with in 6 ½ hours. Wish me luck!

Nike women’s marathon: Run like a girl!

As an athlete, when you least expect it, you may find yourself standing on the threshold of an accomplishment so monumental that it strikes fear into your soul. You must stand ready, at any moment, to face the unknown. You must be ready to walk [or run] boldly through the wall of uncertainty.

I arrived at windmill in golden gate park at 6:30 AM on Sept 20. I was nervous, worried, scared and was unable to sleep the previous night. I was looking forward to that day all week. This was the Nike race preview! The target for full marathoners was to run 20 miles on the race course including that big hill we were training for all week. I knew I had to finish the 20 miles. It was my big confidence booster. My coach kept telling us “Train like your race, race like you train’ I kept saying to myself ‘This is the last big run before the race and I needed to ace it , period’

The five months of training was going to pay off now and it did! I ran, ran like a girl, for 20 miles, injured. I hurt my right knee while going downhill at mile 7 and then at 10 my right leg was out of order. I limped the next 10 miles exerting pressure on the left leg and ended with shin splint on my left leg. There was not a single muscle in my body that was not sore. I had a complete brain drain, total loss of motor skills & lack of coordination. The bagel in my hand would fall off before it got to my mouth.

I have endured the 18 weeks of intense training with Leukemia & Lymphoma’s Team In Training. I have constantly challenged my body & my mind. I have started to yearn for pain. I feel the emptiness when there is no pain. Seven years ago, I read on a billboard in New York, ‘Pain is weakness leaving your body’. And only now, have I come to know what it means.

I would return from training, in pain, unable to walk or make an intelligent conversation. Seeing my state of affairs, my hubby would go ‘Why put yourself through this?’ I asked myself the same question. Why? Why run 26.2 miles?

I run to celebrate the most precious thing I have, my son.
I run so I walk the talk, before I do the talk to my son.
I run so I can be a role model to my son.
I run to get a sense of accomplishment
I run to challenge myself to do something that I thought I was incapable off.
I run towards freedom
I run to get away from the life’s rat race
I run to be who I am.
I run to let out the stress and to be me again.
I run to keep my mind & body healthy, a priceless gift to my family & to the community

When I run I hear my son in my head cheering me on and saying he’s proud of me! There is my inspiration! Now, I dare to dream running with him and I can’t wait for him to grow up!

Nike women’s marathon is this weekend. I have been worry about it all week and am a wreck at this point. The big question in my head is, ‘Can I do 26.2 miles?’ I’m getting cold feet. I have been making frantic calls to my coach asking the same. I don’t remember the last time I was so nervous. Well, you know what; I have no other option than be victorious.

My race strategy is simple. Go slow, walk downhill and just FINISH the race. Wish me luck!

If you've never run a race, it's NOT impossible. If I can do it, anyone can. If you want to run and save lives while running, I would encourage you to join Leukemia & Lymphoma society’s ‘Team In Training’. Help find a cure. What better cause than to find a cure for leukemia! Yes, run every mile to save lives!

Run like a girl! Run every mile to save lives!
Go Team!

..More after the race