My first half marathon - 17th Jan 2010

It was 6.45 am when i reached the MMRDA grounds (mumbai) to run my first Half marathon. Man, i was excited and wanted to complete the first longest race of my life. I had decided to do run as long as i can in my first strech before i walk a bit.

The route of the Half marathon was nice this time, which started from MMRDA grounds, Bandra going on Worli sea link, Marine drive and ending at Azad grounds (VT Station).

Neha had come to the starting point with me.

I started off at around 6.50 or so (being at the pretty last in the start order), it was difficult to pass many people as it was too crowded. There were estimated 10000+ people running Half marathon this year(male & female).

The Sea link was about 2 ~ 3 kms from the starting point, and it was fun to run on a great engineering marvel in India. The sad part was that there was no provision of any water bottle/medical point on the whole of the Worli sea-link. The first was at 2km checkpoint, and the next was at 8km.

I managed to run for about 16kms flat out, but then i was getting tired( it was the max i had run even in my practice runs). I walked for about 200 mtrs and begin running again. I ran for another km and walked 500mt . It was already 18km checkpoint that i had crossed, and i was really tired. I wanted to this race to end, but then my Ipod started playing "The Who- We wont get fooled again", and the solo at the end just began playing. Pete Townshend's "yeahhhhhhhhhhh" was my motivating factor. I began running again thinking that there's no stopping now, just 3 km more to go. I was running at a very slow pace, but i was just saving energy to run the last sprint.
Last 500mts and i began running at a fast pace, even though i couldn't feel any energy left. I ran till the finish , and yea "i did it".

I check my Ipod lap timing and it clocked 2hrs 42 mins.

Not bad for a first time runner. The funny part was that about 20mins later, the Full Marathon had finished :D ( winner clocking 2hrs 12 mins)

Some of my marathon pics

The official clock timing is ; 2hrs 42 mins 52 sec

More running to follow.
till then,
"Its never too hot, its never too cold. You are never too tired, never too busy. Put on your shoes and RUN!"