Labour Pains for 3 Hrs 42 Mins!

Foo..Foo.. Exhale.
Take deep breaths. You can do it.
C'mon, loads of people have done it before, it can't be that tough.

8th Minute of a half marathon and this is what I felt like.
I'd gone with the intention of running, (oh who am I kidding!) walking a respectable 10 kms, take some pictures and come back to sleep off the rest of the Sunday.

It just so happened that on that day I was 'encouraged' to run 21 kms and that it would be 'fun' and so I went ahead to grab the challenge, much like a mouse would agree to tear apart the next tiger it sees.

Everyone at the Starting Line. Basic instructions are given. I'm still looking at that tall, athletic girl who has the 'Bring It On!' look on her face, and that taller, athletic-er man behind her thinking ' aah, 21 km! i'm really downgrading myself this time'.

Whistle blows and I start running, keeping pace with the tall girl. I'm not all that bad. This is good. I can feel the steady running rythm building and a few people crossing me. 'That's ok, I'm only competing with myself, just keep running!'

Foo..Foo.. Exhale. Take deep breaths. You can do it. C'mon, loads of people have done it before, it can't be that tough.

Well, onto the 8th minute and I realise. It IS that tough! In fact a LOT more tough than I'd ever imagined. My stamina is un-minable and my will, dropping like the heart-rate of a patient who needs more 'dua' than 'dawa'.

'This was a verrry bad idea!' The entire crowd has almost taken me over by now, barring a few people, who probably have the same levels of fitness as me, and even that's not encouraging.

So I decide to walk it. Thankfully accompanied by my friend Sattu who would've run a full marathon had he not been injured badly, the last time he attempted it.

We'd decided to quit after some 5 kms and run back, but pride that baseless, emotional sense of completing the task at hand whether hell or high water (@#$@#%@%) pushed us to finish all of it. Winning was not important (thats what those who're losing or non-competing say!) but finishing was (cause I had to get back home!!!) so we walked..

When you're walking as far as I did ( I like how this sounds); the only hope lies in the two aid stations that you'll be crossing. Aid stations with water, biscuits and peanut butter-jam sandwiches. But even thoughts of food won't make you forget the fact that next station is 'just' 7 kms away.

7 kms means close to 70 minutes if you're walking fast and means much much more if you're walking your way back at 12:30 pm without a cap or shades or a bottle of water.. :)

Meanwhile me met 40 year olds who were disappointed they could run only 42 kms and not 56 like that 50 year old who had zipped ahead an hour back. Not good for the 23 year old walker who's taking 2 hours more to complete half the distance they ran! :)

In any case, I made it back finally, alive but unable to kick for several days I'm sure.
My friend Sattu, told me that running is like alcohol, people take it for the high.
Runner's High it's called.

What did the pains of my labour make me feel at the end of it? Walker's Woes or a Walker Without Toes? Both I guess. Someday I guess I'll look back and smile on it... (Ouchieees!!! I just got up for coffee) .. but I have a strrrong feeling it's not going to be today! :)