I'm a Finisher
In the year 490 B.C, there was a war between Greece
and Persian kingdoms. Greece dint have enough potential but their solders
outshine Persian tactics and won the battle of Marathon. This news had to be
carried to capital Athens along with a warning message that Persian army might
attack the city through sea; So Army general had chosen pheidippides (a messenger/runner)
to send the message to Athens. He had run all the way from Marathon Battle
Ground to Athens around 26 miles. After delivering the message of “Joy to You”,
Pheidippides died shortly thereafter from exhaustion. He had died not because
of just 26 miles run.. He was sent to contact Sparta army 140 miles away from
the battle ground to seek help.280 miles of running (66 Hours) on rugged
mountainous path followed by a day of battle and again 26 miles of running (3
Hours) to Athens on the same day wasn’t an easy challenge. He pushed himself
past normal limits of human endurance.
Later modern Olympics has introduced the event “Marathon”(26.2
miles), today this event has been organized for various causes around the world
for various distance. Running for a cause is really a great feeling. It makes
to push yourself beyond your own limits. Only when we break our limits we can realize
the complete potential of our self. It’s always fun to try new things though it
is tough. But it’s all your desire which decides how long you will have the
fun.
I wanted to run a Marathon. Athletics is always one
of my very fascinating sports. I knew there was a much distance longer than a marathon between my imagination
and reality when I come to running marathon. But still don’t want to miss the
fun of trying a new marathon venture. Besides few motivating facts to run marathon,
daily morning cricket woke me up on time and pushed me to the ground. Couple of
weeks on practice on the local ground gave many new experiences… new learning. You would come
across many wonderful experiences with your body when you try to tune it to work
in certain way.
Finally marathon Battle day has come. None of my Sundays
have started so early in the last couple of months. Sounds of rain on our house
corridor woke me up at 4:40AM on that Sunday. I was tried to keep myself very
fit on the race day. But I got two minor blood injuries in the feet on the day before.
It won’t affect my run in anyways but it seemed like a bad sign. Rains dint
last for longtime as expected. Event was organized in the central part of the city,
so traffics were closed on many sides around the stadium from where the run
starts and ends. I began my running right from the road itself. There was a huge
traffic stuck on the roads so I got down from the bus in the middle of the
traffic and started running towards the stadium.
The entire event area was colourful with lot of hoardings
and banners. Since it’s an International event we had many foreign faces around.
Athletes from foreign nations have come to the city. After entering into the
stadium whoever I saw was very busy moving around. Some are doing warm-up … some
are looking to catch up the celebrities and big shots pictures in their camera….
Even I too got busy in sometime….needed to go for a Pissss…… many empty lands but crowd around … so decency maintained. Looked
for a toilet and found out one under gate 4. There was a long Q waiting to give
entry to a small three basined stadium restroom. We had only 20 minutes left for
the event to start. I could not find out another restroom right then. In my
life time, I never thought of how much time a man takes to settle down his
natural call. I calculated with all my mathematical knowledge to find out how
much time it would take for me to reach the toilet room. Number of persons
standing on the line and average time taken per person on the toilet has given
me a hopeful result. I was out in few minutes as calculated. Meanwhile standing
in the Q, I was framing out some fastest methods to use toilets also ;-)
A Huge mass of runners thronged the stadium tracks.
Music was played in high pitch. Clock ticked 8:00:00.Great enthusiasm and energy kicked
the Bangalore runners to start off with a power. I expected energy of most
these runners would be burnt off before 5Km but my jinx was broken. I came across
many men in 40s and young girls running in 7-8 Kms distance. 
This run is not easy for all. Pain spreads from your thigh to hip as you move on for miles.. You can’t hold your breath.. You would be panting like anything….mind slowly lose your body balance. You have to overcome all to keep yourself running or else you would be a loser on the day….. Your own limitations are broken here. A strong mental strength needed to catch hold of your energies and confidence.
There were hundreds of photographers clicking continuously
all my sides along the running track. Many children were cheering us from the
sides of the track by giving flowers, holding pluck cards and charts with
inspirational and motivating quotes. I have got few flowers from a foreign
nation woman who said to me “You are doing great! Enjoy!!”. I have never come across such a beautiful path
ever before in my life time.
Some Quotes from the cheerers I could remember:
“Pain is temporary; Pride lasts forever”
“My Hero!!
Never Give up!!”
“Know your limits, then ignore them”
“You are a Rock star”
“You are stronger than you think”
NIKE Company has promised to give Special Marathon
Edition T-Shirt for first 1500 Finishers. This challenge was put up against 21000
runners. It can only be earned by running fast. It can’t be purchased anywhere
in the showrooms. Somehow I managed to finish
as 507th runner. I would be Proud to wear it as a Finisher.
Try out new things in life!! New Challenges!! New Experiences!! Keep Refreshing life!!
Or else your Time SUCKS..!!
I got a call from NIKE Showroom, Brigade road to collect
my finisher tee. I’m going this weekend to collect it J
