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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Santhosh's Interview @ "Chai with Lakshmi"

Santhosh, founder of Runner's High (RH), and Rashmi, a medical doctor and member of RH, were interviewed by Lakshmi Rebecca of "Chai with Lakshmi".

Here's the video, it's about 7 min, do watch!



It clearly shows how RH is much more than just a "running club" of some sort.
Inspiring, yes!?

Link to the full story.


Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Favourite RUNNING QUOTES

Running, and other, Quotes that are just awesome! Enjoy.
(In no particular order).


Mental toughness is built by doing something that is hard over and over again, especially when you don't feel like doing it.
Our society has conditioned us to believe there should be no discomfort, to stop when we are uncomfortable. But the discomfort we feel when we're doing a challenging workout is an important part of the strengthening process.
Push through your down days when you're not feeling your best (unless, of course, you are injured or ill). Dogged determination requires keeping your feet moving forward through inconveniences, discomfort, and insecurities to reach your goals.
- Jim Afremow.

The biggest obstacle you’ll ever have to overcome is your mind.
If you can overcome that, you can overcome anything.

-The Age of Enlightenment

Running is nothing more than a series of arguments between the part of your brain that wants you to stop and the part that wants to keep going.
- Gibson's Daily Running Quotes, facebook.

What you feel doesn't matter in the end; it's what you do that makes you brave.

There's a lot of go waiting for you on the other side of tired. Get yourself tired, Andre. That's where you're going to know yourself. On the other side of tired. (Pg 155)

This is why we're here. To fight through the pain and, when possible, to relieve the pain of others. So simple. So hard to see. (pg 256).

A poem : pg 298
Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved heaven and earth, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

-from  "Open", Andre Agassi's autobiography.

We only go around once. There's really no time to be afraid. So stop. Try something you've never tried. Teach it. Do it. Risk it.
- Jon Blais

You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
- Gibran

Let us then be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labour and to wait.
- Longfellow

Cheerfulness is the rich and satisfying result of strenous discipline.

Don't be afraid that your life will end,
be afraid that it will never begin.

Work like you don't need money.
Love like you've never been hurt, and,
Dance like no one's watching.

“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.” - Kahlil Gibran

“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” - Edmund Hillary

“You don’t have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things – to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated.” - Edmund Hillary

"Courage has never been known to be a matter of muscle; it is a matter of the heart. The toughest muscle has been known to tremble before an imaginary fear. It was the heart that set the muscle trembling." - Gandhi

It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere. - voltaire

In the process of completely exhausting myself, I connect with an inner part of me ordinarily veiled by the everyday distractions of life. During that short time spent on a trail in the mountains, my life is reduced to it's simplest terms. Most ultrarunners are people who find goodness and joy in difficult times, who see beyond the misery to the beauty of nature, and who truly realize the elemental and important aspects of life. Going for a run always clears my head, but running 100 miles distills my soul.

"Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 Miler: A Triumph of Desire over Reason" by Keith Knipling, one of a collection of amazing  essays from the book "Running Through The Wall: Personal Encounters With The Ultramarathon", Neal Jamison.

"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well."
- Martin Luther King Jr.

"This is the highest wisdom that I own; freedom and life are earned by those alone who conquer them each day anew." - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

The true
runner is a very fortunate person. He has found something in him that is just perfect.,George Sheehan,Motivation

------------------------------- Collected From: http://divaruns.blogspot.com/
"You feel good while you're
running and you feel even better when you're finished." Fred Lebow"Just do it." Nike

"For me, like so many others, running is the answer. Out on the road it is just you, the pavement, and your will". John Bingham

"There is only one runner in this race, and that is me". George Sheehan

"We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort." Jesse Owens

"Last is just the slowest winner." C. Hunter Boyd

"Tough times don't last but tough people do." A.C. Green
"Get out there and do what you love!"Kara Goucher

"Winning is not about headlines and hardware [medals]. It’s only about attitude. A winner is a person who goes out today and every day and attempts to be the best runner and best person he can be… Winning is about struggle and effort and optimism, and never, ever, ever giving up". Amby Burfoot

"What matters is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight - it's the size of the fight in the dog". Dwight D. Eisenhower

"If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience another life... run a marathon". Emil Zatopek

"Life (and running) is not all about time but about our experiences along the way." Jen Rhines

"The long run is what puts the tiger in the cat." Bill Squires

"I tell our runners to divide the race into thirds. Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart." Mike Fanelli, club coach

"I always loved running... it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs". Jesse Owens

"There are clubs you can't belong to, neighborhoods you can't live in, schools you can't get into, but the roads are always open." Nike

"You only ever grow as a human being if you're outside your comfort zone", Percy Cerutty

"Good things come slow - especially in distance running". Bill Dellinger, Oregon Coach

"A runner must run with dreams in his heart, not money in his pocket." Emil Zatopek

Monday, September 19, 2011

Full Marathon at KTM, 18Sept'11

Below is the email I sent out to the Runner's High group mailing list - the running community consisting of runners, ASHA volunteers, coaches and physio that I train with - that pretty much sums up the difficult but satisfying full marathon (life-altering!) experience that the Kaveri Trail Marathon (KTM) is! (Billed as "the toughest marathon in the country").

I'd also like to say:
  • Many many thanks to all you generous folk who donated to 'ASHA', toward the education of underprivileged kids.
    And hey, if you haven't yet, that's okay :)
    You still CAN! Please Do so.
  • Having my family turn up at the event was just great! (See photos below). Did wonders for my morale during the tough phase of the race thinking about all of you.

A few pics below!

==========================================================

Hey All,

Congratulations!!
So many of you did your PBs (Personal Best); inspiring to see all the effort put in on a tough course!
And yes, for many, a difficult day; it's no wonder at KTM..

For me, it was a very good, though very tough (last few km) FM.
I did a PB bettering my time from last year's KTM FM by about 40 min! (i finished in about 5h:35m or so). 
Obviously, due to the fantastic training and support from the RH community, coaches and physio!!!
Felt great. Heartfelt thanks.

I had a fun and enjoyable first 10k running with Chandra. Thanks Chandra, as usual!
Then, right till about the 35k mark, I was going strong, following a run-walk pattern, hydrating, salt tabs, etc and generally feeling good. 
After 35 km KTM took over and the dragon revealed herself :-)
Found it very tough then, and was reduced to a fast walk from about 39k on, due to quite severe cramping...

Then, 1.5k from the finish, Ajay was there - thank God! He was just brilliant. It's only due to Ajay that I managed to finish strong, running (most of) the last km - which seems never-ending at KTM, believe me! Kanishka and the other supporters cheering along the way lifted me.

At the finish line, the last few metres, I charged (at least i think i did :). And promptly collapsed after crossing it. People helped me up and in a few minutes i was okay. I remember saying "Man, I'm all wasted here; and, just think, I saw Santhosh back out there on his third loop!!!". Awesome. Inspiring. 

My brother Darius did his first 10k yesterday (in very decent time 1h:06m!) and was there at the finish, along with Nileesh, Chandrika, Ram, Kalpana and so many other familiar faces. Felt wonderful seeing them all. 
I really enjoyed cheering and seeing others finish, Sreeni P included.

Awesome to hear about the Ananya kids doing so well, in such conditions. Wow.
Again, many thanks.
==========================================================
Chandra and Ajay

Fellow marathoner Srinivas P
At the finish line, whew :-P



Some of the RH gang






Canal of the Kaveri river; it runs the entire length 10.55km course 


Cooling off!




Tuesday, August 09, 2011

With Amit Sheth

I was lucky. Amit Sheth, author of "Dare To Run", was in Bangalore launching his book at Reliance on Sat 6 Aug '11.

He gave a wonderful presentation, showing many photos of marathons/ultras he's been in. He showed us why he's a really good motivational speaker & author!

Amit's blog makes for interesting reading!


Monday, June 27, 2011

My running logs

Am using a great online website to keep a detailed track of all my runs, training & events.
It includes some awesome tools, including viewing the run route "in 3d" and on maps.

It's called Running Free Online (earlier "RunSaturday").

http://www.runningfreeonline.com/people/kaiwanrun


On the left-column menu, "Training - Blog" has a summary of each run.
Do check it out!

Friday, February 18, 2011

A Fantastic Half at Auroville, 13 Feb '11

Had a fantastic race at Auroville, Sun 13 Feb '11. I did a half marathon (HM) and I loved it!
The natural beauty of Auroville, the energy and kindness of the runners and volunteers, team RH being there - an almost spiritual experience!

In fact, a PB (personal best) for me - "official" time of 2:27 (though my garmin shows i finished in 2:26:05).

 Auroville Visitor's Centre

Key Learning's-

- Well before race day, I argued with myself, Santhosh and Preeti, saying that, man, what's the use of running a half when I've already run two FMs (although quite poorly). Today I stand corrected, and how! Running a good race is not just about the distance or the time you take or even if you're successful. I really enjoyed it.

- Any runner who's had (or has) ITB issues knows that sinking feeling when it hits; it happened to me soon after I took up running seriously, at the KTM '10 FM and at the Ultra. This time, I worked harder on strength training for my legs & core; I think it definitely paid off- I did not have any ITB pains. Whew, what a relief! You take out what you put in. No shortcuts. Yup.

- Sticking to the schedule (after my initial bumps & having Santhosh tell me off about doing my own distances!) is bloody important. (I know, I know, eye rolling from Santhosh; when will these people listen!). Thanks Chief!


Soon after completing, I picked up the book "Dare To Run" by Amit Sheth, mostly on impulse. I love to read and a book on running! Yeah. By today I've read about 60 pages of it and Wow! it is inspiring. Do read it. Even better, I saw Amit Sheth there; I paused, wanting to go up and say Hi but he was conversing with friends and I thought it rude to intrude. After reading just part of his book though, I wish I had!

An Update!
Here's the Amazon link to Amit's book "Dare To Run"; I reviewed it as well!



Reading all the RH (Runner's High) folks emails was very inspiring. Fantastic. Kudos to all the PBs; Ajay's sub-4, Pree's 4:30! Wow.

Many thanks to RH, especially all the coaches. Had a fun trip there and back with Chandra and  Preeti, get-together's with Surya, his wife and Gopalan Sir. Meghana and Sudarshan - thanks to their kindness I was offered a lift to the venue on race day from the (beautiful) Zest Big Beach resort.

Wish my family could have been there too, but hey, that will happen next time! Dilshad had quite a marathon day herself juggling two lively boys, Sheroy and Danesh (1.5 years old at that!).

Am really glad and thankful to be a part of the awesome RH group, to have a passion for running. What more could one ask.

Zest Big Beach resort


The sea @ Zest Big Beach resort!

Below, a 3d Google-Earth-powered view of the race! (courtesy of runningfreeonline.com).