2019 - A reflection

When I look back and reflect on 2019, running was a new addition to my life.  If someone had told me on 1^st Jan 2019 that I would be running 500 Kms in the year, I would have scoffed.  With hours and hours of practice runs and 8 official runs comprising of one half marathon, one 15 Km run, four 10 Kms and two 5 Km runs, I have ran close to 500 Kms in the second half of the year (all started somewhere in mid June 2019).  It has helped me achieve the main aim – weight and waist reduction!!

As mentioned in the first post of this blog, when our new (then new!) CEO, Kavi formed a running group within the organisation, I did not join as I had failed multiple times trying to run.   I could not run beyond 1.5 Kms.  Hence, bought a cycle and tried to get into cycling.  However, I tried to run in parallel and see if I can achieve.  While I was determined (it was early June and the humidity was high), somehow I ran 4.5 Kms one day and then messaged Kavi that this is what I have achieved in parallel. Within seconds he added me to the group and asked me not to quit.  I decided to register myself for 10 Kms in Kanakia run, which was the first marathon / event the group of office was to run.    To  my surprise, out of 30 odd people who had registered for it, only 6 ran 10 Kms and I was one among them !

Have signed up for two half marathons in the month of January - Powai run on 5th Jan and Tata Mumbai Marathon on 19th January.   What made this formation?  Even before the Kanakia run which was in end July, on 18th July after I posted a run of 5.5 Kms, Kavi mentioned “Arun we are running 21k in Nov”.  My response was “Am in primary.  You are asking to complete post graduation in Nov”.  Thanks to motivation from Kavi, I completed the post graduation (Navy Marathon) with Kavi honouring his words – “I will hold your hand and ensure you finish”.  We finished together!!

Running these 500 Kms made me also understand human anatomy better.   Got all sorts of injuries – runners knee, runners toe, runners heel.  However, determined I am to finish better in 2020.  My new year resolution is to run atleast 1500 Kms in the year.  Even if I run for 25 days in a month for about 5 Kms, I will achieve this target.

Special thanks to Kavi for encouraging me to run and also to my ex-colleague Davis John who runs almost half marathons every week and is an inspiration for me.