Musings of an Experiential Runner

Would be tempted to say that it's never too late to run...rather start running, but in this post I want to highlight that it's never too late to learn. Most of my running life, my philosophy has been to enjoy the run and to go with the flow....nothing structured. However of late (thanks to the influence of my running mate, Dr. Gaurav Sethi) I have started looking at the technicalities of running. Mark my words: ‘looking’...not necessarily ‘following’!!😅 One term that intrigued me was 'fartlek'. It’s meaning was not readily apparent. No wonder as it's a Swedish term meaning speed play. Reading more about it I realised that it is something that quite fits into my philosophy of running, being nothing very strict or set in stone. So Fartlek was my next destination. Quite simply put....it is what it means, an almost playful way of approaching your run. No fixed pace, no fixed targets. Mix it up. On the go, you improvise...picking a looming landmark at random and racing ...

For the veterans and the addicts, running is intuitive and the question by a newcomer as to how to start running seems rather superfluous😏.  When my daughter threw me the same question, I had to think for a bit before giving her a useful answer.  For a new initiate, I feel there are 3 stages to be up and running. Stage 1.       Focus on time: All you need to do is spend time on your feet. Start with brisk walking, then start doing a walk-jog, walk-jog sequence and then graduate to a slow but continuous jog. The sole aim being to build up the minutes. So you only need a watch to track your progress. Be mindful, focusing on your posture, being aware of your feet hitting the ground, your stride propelling you forward. Starting from a 20 minutes outing and gradually going up to a 40 minute non-stop jog would be a reasonable goal.  Stage  2.       Focus on distance: Once you have gotten comfortable with jogging and attain...

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!

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...

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...

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 ...

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’:...