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Life's Conundrum

Who should be blamed when a leaf falls from the tree? Is it the wind that blew it away...Or... Is it the tree that let it go...Or... Is it the leaf that grew tired holding on? Life has its conundrums, unfolding differently every day, every moment Can you  plan life ...or  plan for life ? Life...Unpredictable...Mysterious It is up to us to adjust to it...reconcile with it...overcome it...or surrender to it!

Year of the Corona

With the COVID19 pandemic ravaging the entire world, 2020 has been a year of introspection, of reset, of a new normal. People have had time to discover new abilities and talents, rediscover old hobbies and passions, rekindle friendships and reboot relationships. It dawned on people how much they have exploited Mother Earth and how it is still possible to retrieve what we have destroyed, provided we step back, respect nature and let it reclaim and recharge the environment. For a few months of the lockdown we experienced the bluest of skies, cleanest of air and purest of water. The grass was greener, the flowers had more colour and the birds were chirping.   For runners too, it has been a roller coaster ride. In the initial phase we were shell shocked by the unfolding crisis. Quite clueless, locked down at home, frustrated and chafing to run. The crisp air and clear skies beckoned, but the fear of Corona had us pinned down. Not for long though!! There were a few furtive runs here and...

Running as Therapy

I thank God 🙏 for having given me the strength to run, the ability to think and the drive to improve.    Running as Therapy  For the body:  I guess most recreational running starts as a way to physical fitness. The reasons may be different: wanting to lose weight, need to smarten up for an event, medical reasons such as high sugars or hypertension etc. The main goal is to improve your cardiovascular and physical conditioning. As a domino effect, one starts eating healthier, having more regular work hours, partying and drinking less, sleeping better...all resulting in a fitter you. Do remember, it isn't an instant fix and it does take a few months of persistent effort for the positive effect to be apparent. The end result: A healthier, better looking and happier YOU.    For the mind:  As running becomes a regular and you are comfortable with the physical aspect of it, your runs tend to become an exercise in mindfulness also. The cobwebs of the mind sta...

Controlled Run

Today was a good day in Delhi for an early morning run. The temperature dropped to a comfortable 24C, relative humidity was down into the 70s', AQI moderately good. Made most of it and did 21K at 5:01 pace.  A chance remark today by a fellow runner on how he was doing a heart rate controlled run and wanted more guidance from me on the subject. Me?...absolutely the wrong person to ask!! 😂 As you take up running more and more passionately, you will hear about cadence control, pace control and heart rate control...the merits and wonders of each 🤗 Lot of technical stuff with medical terms and biomechanics lingo....am sure much of it is well researched and probably true. But, does an average recreational long distance runner like you and me need to fry our brains with all this stuff? No real need, in my opinion.  We run for the love of running...free-spirited running . No need to be weighed down by the technical jargon. Just go out and run the way you feel on the given day. If ...

Is Running a Religion?

For some like me…YES…almost a religion. Let’s explore its tenets. 1.       Discipline: Come what may, step out almost daily and run. Regular sleep hours and no erratic work hours. No excuses! 2.       Self-Denial: Avoid the ‘sin-foods’ fastidiously, moderate the alcohol and avoid late nights. 3.       Self-improvement: Through running become a better person. More positive, healthier, more humble and more helpful.    4.       Contentment: Be happy with what you have and thankful to God for giving you enough. 5.       Sharing: Share your experiences, your learnings. Give back and make a difference to your family, friends, co-runners and community at large.  6.       Peace and Harmony: Be at peace with yourself. Learn to be happy in other people’s happiness and achievements. 7.       No ‘One Upmanship’:...

Believe it or not

When running alone and running long, one has plenty of time and solitude to ruminate about life. Some profound truths strike and you develop your own philosophy around them.   In the course of my runs, two statements that one hears often have struck me as gross untruths: 1.       I don’t have an Ego: Everyone has an ego. You must have an ego. There are no two ways about it. If one were to genuinely not have an ego, you would go through life without a challenge, without being noticed and without achieving much. One has to keep the ego on a tight leash, so that it works for you rather than controlling you.    A well-molded ego drives you to do all the hard work, achieve excellence and rise higher and higher. An unfettered ego turns one into a megalomaniac and sends you into an unhealthy downward spiral. 2.         I don't have any Stress:   Believe me, stress is good for you! In today's modern lifestyles, stress i...

Dressed to Kill…oops…Run!!

Before you actually start running, one needs to look the part!😎 You need to kit yourself up smart and sensible, feel good about yourself and be raring to hit the road or trail.   THE most essential part of your running gear is your shoes. Not just any pair of sneakers, but proper running shoes. A good pair will give you adequate cushioning and support, translating into low impact and a stable stride, preventing injuries in the long run. It is advisable to have running shoes ½-1 size up from your regular wear shoes, because when you run, your feet slide forward within the shoe. About half an inch of space between your great toe and the toe-box of the shoe gives adequate space for the feet to move freely within the shoe while running without the toes repetitively hitting the toe box, which results in abrasions and bleeding under the toe nails. The forefoot section and toe box should not be narrow either, thus allowing for the natural splay of the toes when you run.   The socks ...