Starting line
Wow, so many turned up… As if that chudidar and adidas auntie will finish! Buhahahha…
Am I looking good…. Do I look “pro” enough….
Oh oh! Is that fool there checking me out….
Oooooh…. My playlist… Yeah okay… Thank God music is allowed for this one…
Seesh …. They have started…..
1 km
Yuhoooo…. The wind in my hair, lovely Bangalore winter breeze….
Good I had that banana and honey toast….
2 km
Tra la la la…
What? How did Dard-e-disco end up on this playlist???? Change, Change, Change…
Or maybe not… I can kill time by visualising Sharukh Khan’s antics and hamming….
3 km
Darn it! That girl is so toned…. Wow …those calves…. I wish…
I may not have those calves, but I can definitely run faster…. Come on J…. Kill her….
4 km
Woah… Am definitely on a roll…
Who would have thought….
The sweat’s making an appearance I see… Come on Nike Dry Fit….do your thing….
Why did I bother with the jacket….
5 km
Wohoooo…. I/4th done….
Not even 30 minutes yet…. Good job J….
That guy there seems to be looking on appreciatively… He must think you are a veteran!
Head high…. Look nonchalant J
Come on….stop slouching… Yeah… posture…technique
6 km
What was I thinking when I chose these songs?
Stupid you are…
Not one decent song…..
And these stupid laces…. How did they come undone…Ugh…
Now you have stop to tie them…. How amateur of you!
7 km
Is that a niggle in my hamstring….?
Inadequate warm-up, bad stretch….
Need some “pump-me-up” music…..Frantically search….
Press. Press. Press. Press.
Aah! Yea….. Pump it- BEP…. PERRRFECTO!
8 km
Where the hell is the km marking….
My throat is parched….
Did I tie my shoe- laces too tight?
Why does it seem like everyone is running faster than I am….
9 km
Past an hour….!!!
Not 10K yet!!!
Buck up J. Buck up.
Slap yourself….COME ON…..
10 km
Finally ….almost half done….
Definitely hamstring!
And my knee is playing up….Knew it … The nasty fellow always fails me….
Water… Yea… A sip will do me good…
Aaah, a couple of drops of water = HEAVEN.
11km
Is one K getting longer….
Barely half done!
I don’t think I can finish this …
What was I thinking….
Breathe…..hooo…..Breathe hoooo……Breathe…Ho Ho Ho Ho
12 km
21 Km….Really J….Really ?
Did you really think you can do it? You have barely crossed 16 km on your longest run….on your best day….
Really? Seriously?
13 km
Chuck all this music crap…Ugh…It’s giving me a headache…
Okay…. New strategy…. Mission 15 km…
That’s it….
15 km is not a bad deal….
This is my first one after all…
Training run…
So many more to go…
Okay,,..
15…15….15….15…..15….
14 km
Huh huh huh u huh uh…. Even my brain seems to be panting….
Okay….One more down….
Just one to go…
15….15…..15….15….15…
15 KM….here I COOOOOOME…
15 km
Wow! I made it….
15 km….
Not bad at all J….
Okay….I will stop…
It’s okay… I can get a certificate next time….
My hamstring seems to be doing better…
My longest run was 16 km…
I can definitely do 16 km…
Yea…
Go for it J
Yay….16!
16 km
Enough….
No more
No more J…
Cut it out… You are going to collapse…
You will look like a fool…
No… one more…let’s beat the longest run…. Make it 17…
Where are my earphones….. Lets get plugged in again…
One song…
Just one more song…
Hey…that cute guy again…
Let’s run….J ….
One leg in front of the other…
17 km
Hmmmm….. My assignment is due…. Saturday … Prof. Ramamurthy will kick me out this time definitely ….
Distract….Distract…. Yea….think about assignment…
No…think about shopping…
Yea…. Those lace Jimmy Choo’s…. hmmmm….Hu Hu Hu….
Breathe….Breathe
Leg hurts….Back hurts…. Feet hurt…. Throat Dry….
What should I wear for the senior’s farewell party…. The silver sequinned top? Na…. wore it for the junior’s welcome…
Leg hurts….Back hurts…. Feet hurt…. Throat Dry….
Cant breathe…. Cant breathe….
18 km
Hey, where did the 17 km go???
Leg hurts….Back hurts…. Feet hurt…. Throat Dry….
Everything hurts…
Am I hallucinating?
Feel like I am wearing the lead apron we wear in Radio…. Aaargh….Come on J…
Legs…. Jello….
Slick with sweat…. I must be losing litres every minute…
Leg hurts….Back hurts…. Feet hurt…. Throat Dry….
Lord, I might die of dehydration…
Why didn’t I plan for proper hydration?
Why didn’t I start training earlier?
Half- marathon? Was I on cheap quality pot?
Damn you J…Damn you!
19 km
Why can’t I see clearly? Aaah…tears eh?
Nose seems to be watering as well…
My Mum will kill me for falling ill over a “stupid” race ….Of course that is if this race doesn’t kill me first!
I will surely die..
My lungs are giving up…. Surely!
20 km
J. J. J!!!!!
You there?
Universe calling J- you there?
Knock knock….
AAAAh, aaaaaah, aaaaah……
Am I still breathing….
Why are my legs still moving…? They are dead….
Will they keep moving till they disintegrate….
Oh! Turkey…I am in Turkey…. No …Spain!…. Greece… Hey I am on a vacation…. On a cruise….
I’m delirious… I think…
No… I am on Bangalore roads…. Yeah…. Half- Marathon…
How long have we been running…
Donnoooo…..
21 km
Tis the season to be jolly, Fa La La La La, La La La Laaaaaa…..
Yankee Doodle Went to Town…. e I, e I, O….
Huh! Why is everyone running around me….?
Finish line
What is that?
A finish line?
THE FINISH LINE?
THE ONE AND ONLY FINISH LINE?
The past 21K finish line!
Praise the lord, and the heavens above……. FINISH LINE!
Come J…. pull yourself, drag yourself….
Come on…
Victory awaits with welcoming arms….
Aaaaaaaaah….
I am going to lie on this hot, dirty road in this lovely home city of mine…And NEVER wake up again!
Goodbye World!
Remember- J COMPLETED A HALF- MARATHON BEFORE SHE DIED!
RIP J.
Till the next run….
Dr J.
I know what you are talking about – the sad thing in my case is, no matter how many times I have done a long run – it is still difficult next time and I have to go through these feelings no matter what!
But you continue to run, right? Haha….it’s an incurable disease my friend….
I can only equate it to giving birth….No matter how painful the experience, one is willing to do it again…and again!