Hyderabad Marathon is a special event in my brief running career because I ran my first official half marathon in 2012 at this place and from then on I slowly trained myself and graduated to run full marathons.
The early morning chillness on the race day, the gloomy clouds, the energy which was out bursting from my fellow runners, the pleasing weather and the magnificent arrangements made by the race organizers – I was completely lost in all these for me to even think about the distance and the difficult terrain ahead.
I stood humble among the running stalwarts of India. There was Ram Singh who ran in the London Olympics and other elite runners who had represented India in various arenas. There were ultra runners who could run 100 kms at a stretch and barefoot runner’s who wanted to stay connected with nature. Probably, marathon is the only sport where an amateur like me would get the privilege to line up with an Olympian and running stalwarts without any ‘pick and choose’. I was more than elated to share the line up with the running legends of our country.
My Strategy is NO Strategy at All:
There were various buses promising 4.30 hours; 5.00 hours and 5.30 hours finishing times and runners were talking about ‘negative’ and ‘straight’ split timings, run-walk-run strategy. Some were curious to break their personal best timings and for few like me who did not believe in all these strategies, ‘completion itself called for celebration’.
The early morning silence, the chillness in the breeze, the high energy levels of runners, my meditative mind, pleasantness in my heart, the paining muscles, the sweating body, the love and affection of the volunteers and the comradeship exhibited by the fellow runners were SUPREME for me and I thoroughly enjoyed all these feelings in this 42.2 kms course. My solitary runs at Marina beach has taught me that I am blissful when I am alone on the road.
Clean, Green and Cloudy Hyderabad:
The tag line for the event “celebrate Hyderabad” lived up to its reputation. The roads were neatly maintained and there weren’t much of filth or smell in the course. The loop around the Hussain Sagar Lake was a pleasure to run in the early morning hours. I could not stop myself from falling in love with the fresh breeze rubbing the water and soothing my body. My sweating body was thanking the chill breeze every time when it gently rubbed me – may be my body was in deep love with it.
Hills, Flyovers, Roads, Highways, Streets, Schools and University:
The running route was cleverly stitched to connect flyovers to the hills; it passed across busy streets, empty highways and went through schools and university. It was a delight to see ocean of runners all through the course. I passed across variety of runners and the striking beauty was everyone had a glittering smile on their face. Some ran for a cause, some ran for fitness, some ran to prove to them self what they are capable of; some ran because it was their passion. On the whole we all were connected on the road through running. I doubt if there is anything better than running which would connect a complete stranger to me and bring a smile in me on the road, except for running.
While I was running through my 27th Km I passed through a school which had almost all the school children lined up on both sides of the road cheering us up. I went tapping their hands and accepting their affection – may be one of the greatest privilege a slow runner like me is entitled for!
A blissful Solitary Run:
Except for few occasions where I met my friends, I ran the entire course alone. I stood to stare at the mammoth flyovers; I walked to relish the thick woods of Hyderabad University; I ran in the never ending highways; I loved the empty streets; I admired the dark clouds – maybe I should consider running in groups people say running in groups is more fun. Am afraid I would stop admiring the beautiful nature and blissfulness found in the solitary runs if I were to consider their advice.
The Last few Miles – A test to Body and Mind:
While the first 35 kms was crossed relishing the wonderful things unfolding before me, the last 7 kms tested my endurance, I realised that the toughest part of a marathon for an amateur like me are the last few kilometres. I was afraid all the blissfulness I had will be over shadowed by the last few miles; I had to overcome my mind which was saying give up the race; I had to bear the pain of my crying knees and conquer the feeling of exhaustiveness.
At the end of my 42.2 kms journey my heart self-realised that if not for the last few miles of toughness this day would have been a normal day in my life. Thanks to the last few miles the blissfulness I encountered is deep-routed into my soul.
Happy Running,
Durai Murugan