Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon
24th March 2013
So before I start let me backtrack a little here for you… 3months back I registered for the Rock n Roll Half Marathon. I’d been a globetrotterbut never a half marathon runner so as expected a question came into my mind‘What Next?’. And the stupid answer was to post about it on facebook.. finally a few more friends registered for the race.. So me, Prashant and Shishir finallykicked off our practice after that.. Shishir attempted 1/2 marathon last yea rand I knew he was full of energy.. So after a few days of registration we met atthe trail in Plano and started our practice.. I still remember the 1st few practice were like 3mi: I’m tired, 4mi: That’s enough…My stride rate was really bad, Prashant was doing good and Shishir was really good… Eventually we started meeting almost every weekend and asusual after partying on Friday night, I tried to hammer it out next Saturday morningbut eventually ended up in slow distances.
But as John Bingham definedmiracle- “The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had thecourage to start.” and I tried hard to run and run..After a month Abhijit also started running with us.. He alsoattempted rock n roll last year.. Finally we started doing some more practiceand started running around 6-7 miles… and last month we went to White Rock Lake Dallas and ran for 9 miles… This was my last long run before the race..And Yes the idea to start The Swashbucklers came while doing the running practice.. I thought, why don't we have our own One Degree of Separationportal where I can redefine craziness and post about my friends and theactivities they are into…Coming back to 24th March..
Frankly I was nervous as I wanted tofinish the 1/2 marathon within 2hrs 30min.. and for the last 2 weeks I’d no practice…Woke up at 5.15 AM and had some cereal and reached State Park.. Weather waslike 45F, wind was like 25-30mi/hr and everyone at State Park was like What?What??Reached at Young St and Lamar Street and the crowd was full ofexcitement. So we were finally 5 Swashbucklers starting together- Me (Akhil),Prashant, Shishir, Abhijit and Ajay.. The race started at 8AM and the crowd wasall excited to rock n roll.. First 30 minutes were really bad because of thewind chill.. Shishir and Abhijit already took the lead and me, Prashant andAjay were running side by side and suddenly I realized that I need to Pee..lol.. After that there was no one I met until the end of the race.. 10 milewere not bad with the average pace of around 10.30.. Everyone around was fullof energy and I was getting motivated to increase my pace. Volunteers were notbad as they tried to cheer up with unique and funny quotes.. As the longest run so far for me was 9mi and eventually after 10mile my legs started hurting meand I was really waiting to see the Finish Line.
I was asking myself ‘Can I give more?’ and the answer was ‘Yes’. Yes I can do it… Even being motivatedduring the last 3 miles the pace was gradually going down. But people around mewere running and volunteers were Cheering and I was like Let’s do it. Last 3miles took 11:43 and the kick was challenging but I was satisfied that I’mabout to finish it.The overall experience is indelible and I’mreally happy that I achieved something today. In running, it doesn’t matterwhether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, ‘Ihave finished and gained a new experience’ There is a lot of satisfaction inthat. And yes I achieved my 1st half marathon today and I'm looking forward to a fewmore races this year. As someone told me that the will to win means nothingwithout the will to prepare and special appreciation to everyone with whom I jumpstarted the practice this year.
Believe me or not but every mile I run is a lifetime experience to me.Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a wellpreserved body.. But rather skid in sideways, rocking 13.1, totally tired,shouting “Holy Shit… What a Marathon!!
”Blogger: Akhil Jain
Finish Time: 02:24:54
Swashbucklers Pic (Missing Ajay) – http://instagram.com/p/XQO0BgAVtw/
