In the last couple of months, as preparation for the event, I had run regularly, completed a couple of 15km runs, an 18km one and even started weight training. However, i was prone to injury and diverted from the road of discipline by frequent bouts of gluttony.

But all things considered, it was still sufficient training. Aarti once again thankfully decided to do her thing photographing the action and cycling the route. Also, an old classmate of mine, Venu Madhav, a blistering half marathoner, decided to go the full hog and take on the 42km run.

We reached Bali a day before, a colleague of mine arranged for Aarti’s cycle, the running gear was picked up and we were set. The event had attracted more than two thousand runners including a bunch of elite Kenyans, many very fit looking athletic types and hundreds of no-pressure hopefuls like me.

Kenyans taking centre stage before (and the podium afterwards)

The Full Marathon started at 5.00am and Venu, delayed in the traffic, was the last one to scramble off. And half an hour later, while yet in total darkness, the Half Marathon took off. In the first few pre-dawn kilometers, as all the runners focussed on getting into rhythm, there was hardly a sound except for the thudding of feet hitting the road. An eerie start though an exhilarating one.

And they're off in a blur!

Pre-dawn fire torches

After 5 kms, the highway veered off into paddy fields and villages, and as the sun rose, we were treated to some serene sights. However, pleasant though it was, starting with two immediate brutal ones, the inclines got me gasping. The more the road meandered into the villages, the more frequent the inclines became. It required all the cheering kids and Balinese dancers to move us along. The organizers also threw in their own spokes by running out of water at some stations. Thankfully, at the 15km mark, Aarti, whose cycling efforts were also being rapturously cheered, provided much required liquids.

Kids pushing us on - Run fat boy, run!

Balinese dancers gracing the run

After the initial shock I soon learnt to walk up and zip down the inclines and to combat the Bali heat by hydrating myself regularly. In fact after the 15km mark, things improved so dramatically that i greatly increased the pace to try and make up for the slow first half. It was pretty terrific as many a fit looking runner was crossed effortlessly. However, just as i had started gloating, at the 19km mark, my right leg cramped up. No amount of coaxing and stretching would help and suddenly i couldn’t run anymore. The same fit looking runners proved why they looked so and I trudged the last two kilometers, humbled and wiser, crossing the finish line in 2 hours and 26 minutes.

Aarti meanwhile had a roaring ride. With her floppy hat and her big ass camera, she gained unquestioned access as the only cyclist on the track, and was cheered by runners and audience alike.

The final trudge - Undeserved ambition maketh a wiser man!

My friend Venu had a long run in more ways than one. Having only done half marathon distances in practice, after a very quick and steady 28 kms, his leg cramped up too, grinding him to a stop. With 14 kms more to go in the unrelenting heat, it then became a game of the mind forcing its way even after the body had raised its flag in protest. Being the warrior he is, he hobbled on for another two hours plus and finally crossed the line in just over 5 hours.

Venu (right) and I with our hard earned completion medals

As a final note, on our return flight to Jakarta we bumped into two of the Kenyan elites, who, outside the race track always seem to have the appearance of rabbits caught in the light. After gawking at them for a while, I ventured an enquiry to one of them. Yes, he had indeed competed in the Full Marathon and finished in 2 hours and 15 minutes. That would be less than my time for DOUBLE the distance. But hang on.. wasn’t that the winning time ? yes, was the casual very very non rabbit type reply – that was MY winning time.

After some more gawking i left him in peace to search for his luggage.

The idea was to do 12 kms, and since outdoor running in Jakarta traffic was impossible, it had to be the treadmill. Running indoors is a balance- on the negative, it can get completely boring. On the positive, I get to know all about Ms Kim and the jocks. And Bruce. THE Bruce Jenner, who re-defined the fitness regime and ran,jumped and muscled his way to the ’76 Olympic gold in decathlon. C’est la vie !

Today within two kilometres the cramps set in. I’d by now run long enough to understand that this was my body meting out punishment for the recent gluttony. The price for those crabs in the shack off the Indian Ocean. But I also knew that as long as I kept running, the cramps would pass. And so they did.

A real steal.

And you really have to gape at the endurance. Our ancestors had no choice – run or die. But for our pals, basic needs are a non issue. In its absence the driving force to get through hours of pain has to be pure will power.

Why all the jabber ? Because today I signed up for the Bali half marathon. My first. And I need a will power transfusion.

On the bright side, it’s Bali. There’s the beach on one side and pubs on the other.

How badly can I screw it up

And as some serious pain and disciplined eating are the impossible pre-requisites for the other,the only hope is that year of the dragon will just scare the fat away.

But as a friend and I were discussing, the main reason to run is the great adrenaline rush it provides, which is a truly astonishing feeling considering the doddering pace I stumble along at.

Anyway, the first few days of Tet have been fun and a bit unusual. We had a huge house warming party, I swam five metres without drowning and Aarti sent me hot steaming food for lunch in office!

And a 10km run was done today without too much fuss.

Who knows, perhaps the dragon might even be better than the cat.

Ironically, a dream during an afternoon nap a few weeks ago proved the savior. Suddenly, I was running with a group of elite runners, matching them stride for stride. Even I got it.

But fat cells are lethal enemies. When faced with an onslaught, not unlike guerilla fighters, they withdraw to lie quietly in wait. A week of French fries and they are back roaring.

So to my dismay, it was the starting grid again, with all the familiar aches and pains making unwanted cameos. However, after two weeks of work, today I managed a 10km run. A great feeling, magnified further by the celebratory dinner of sheekh kebabs and dal makhni with Aarti !

To quote Bollywood, abhi movie baaki hai…

Try not to fatally stab senior citizens who pass you while chatting with each other.

Reconcile with your wet t-shirt highlighting the fat.

Remember that winning isn’t everything,Rome wasn’t built in a day,tomorrow is a new day etc.

During WhatExactlyAmIAchievingHere times, think of the humans devoured in Jurassic Park by faster moving dinosaurs.

Then Ganesh with whom I had run my first 10km breezed in from Bangalore, Aarti started planning on cycling and shooting the run and two friends – Venu and Mani,seasoned runners both, joined in.

The positive energy got through and I was ready.

And We're Off !!!

Even though it was pretty hot and sunny, the race day was very enjoyable. Running with the crowd carried me far beyond previous limits and the finish line of 16.8km was crossed in 1 hour and 49 minutes.

Aarti cycled all over and cheered us on, Venu(10 in 52 mins) and Mani(16.8 in 1hr 29 mins) ran true to form while Ganesh(10 in sub 65)continued his incredible knack of running distances with minimal preparation.

I Can See The Finish Line !

Survived To Run Again !

Even at this very amateur level, the rush of freedom running provides is exhilarating – A true privilege.

The description could have been a fit on any of the athletes when they started their long journey to become the best they could be.

An Athlete at the IAAF World Championships 2011 held at Daegu, S.Korea