Marathon Heroes
Posted by Anantha | Posted in Distance Running | Posted on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
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[Ok.. now that I
have shrugged the inertia off, here I am publishing my account of the Hyderabad
Marathon at last]
I sprawled on
the soft green grass of JMC Balayogi stadium, Gachibowli - where the Airtel
Hyderabad marathon route ended. Took off my wet shoes and socks to check the
boils I had got between my toes. Thought I should wrap the little toes with
tapes to avoid it in future runs. Stretched my calves and quadriceps savoring
the sweet pain of the marathon.
Thanks to the
drizzle and the cloudy weather on the race day, I had achieved my personal best
of 4 Hrs 31 Mins to finish the arduous 42.2kms. Quite a disciplined training of
three and a half months, pretty decent rest in the last week, proper hydration
during the run had been fruitful.
Munching on the
post-race snacks and sipping a bottle of water, I was waiting for my friend
Karthik to finish his race. He must have been telling his mind not to listen to
his aching legs, still a few kms away from the finish line. Every marathoner
fights his own battle in every marathon he runs, the battle that is unique and
unfamiliar to any of the battles he has fought in his previous marathons! My
friend Karthik has asthma from a very early age. He says, he started running to
see if running works as a cure to Asthma. The night before the race, he had
told me that he had not practiced much for this marathon because of his
asthmatic conditions. He had run his last marathon four years back! It is
almost like running the first ever marathon for him.
The
photographers near the finish line were clapping and cheering every runner
approaching the finish line. Encouraged by the gesture, victorious smiles used
to bloom on the sweaty and tired faces of the runners. Some old, some young,
some limping, some sprinting to shave off few seconds from their finish time – were
trickling to the finish line. The relatives and friends of the runners clapped
aloud welcoming them near the finish line. I too contributed to the clapping
noise. I clapped hard whenever a panting old lady/gentleman came running to the
finish line. Yes, many senior citizens too take part actively in these events.
Some of them beat young legs by a considerable margin also! A gentleman I know
who is in his late sixties finishes every marathon around 3hrs 45 mins. As ChrisMcDougall says, probably marathon is the only sport where a 60 yr old can
compete with a 19 year old with elan.
When one of the
runners was approaching the finishing the line, something special happened. His
wife was near the finish line holding their daughter eagerly waiting to welcome
him. That kid must be of 4-5 yrs of age. He was few meters away from the finish
line, he waved his hand at his family, heralding his achievement. His daughter
ran towards him crying 'pappa.. pappa'. Emphatic father lifted the kid, kissed
her and made her sit on his shoulders. When he crossed the finish line, I
believe the loving father and the adorable kid got the loudest applause from
people around. I am sure that father made his daughter feel, her dad is her
hero.
Such inspirational stories are aplenty in every
marathon. From people who run marathons for the pure passion for running to people
who fight chronic diseases bravely and return to run marathons as if they mock
at the disease... Every one is a hero here. Cheers to the spirit of running…
