Cherrapunji half-marathon: Run in cloud


It was onset of summer 2016 when I thought to do some destination marathon. I was confused! More I searched online more I got confused! I was looking for a race where I don’t find any weather problem and a place where we as a family, could enjoy. Finally without consent of my wife I zeroed down to cherrapunji marathon. Youtube video of the route and the race was more than enough to close the selection process! That’s the time when I had come to know about Maffetone method and the approach appeared really exciting so I decided to train for the race in MAF way! No spped training, nothing!



Anyways, First I registered and then I told my 2 yr old kid we are going to Meghalaya in July! She asked what is that papa? It’s a place where you could touch the cloud, you could play with the cloud, cloud will kiss you and you would think its papa who is playing with you- I replied and she exclaimed wow! But a voice suddenly appeared “Pagal ho kya Amit! Har bar aise hi karte ho.. Baaris mein Meghalay! Dimaag toh theek hai?” (Translation: “Are you mad Amit! Everytime you do the same thing. Meghalay in rain!! Are you out of mind?”) it was voice directly emanating from the leady sitting beside my kiddo- Yes! You are correct! My wife!
But the air ticket was booked, so she didn’t have any choice! We reached Shillong (Capital of the state) 1 day before the marathon. We went to the bib collection center and roamed around the beautiful place. People were helping and energetic. Next morning there were multiple buses starting from Shillong city to the starting point of HM/FM race so I asked my cab driver to reach early at the hotel in order to catch the bus. Our plan was- I will go by bus, finish the race and will wait at the finishing point for my wife and kid.

Next morning when I reached at the suggested location, all the buses had already left. It was the last bus carrying volunteers and a truck carrying their bicycles getting started. I requested if they could manage to drop me to the start point of HM. They warmly said ‘yes’. As soon as I left Shillong, visibility became very low due to cloud density. It was raining cats and dogs when I was dropped at the starting point!



Race director was announcing something but all the standing wet runners could hardly able to listen to anything he said due to rain. Race started and we all left like tortoise! It was hilly terrain with zigzag path and I held back to get the body warmed up. Minor uphill and downhill kept on coming and I kept on going. Volunteers of the race were amazingly supportive in that harsh weather (Harsh was for them from support point of view!). At 13KM mark ,a relatively long uphill came so I decided to slow down with the same rule ‘Respect the mountain!’ Once I climbed the hill, I felt really strong and energetic so thought to take charge and try for a PB (It used to be quite a fancy word at that time for me 😉)! So, I caught up with a lean marathoner who appeared to me most impressive and the race started from there. Everywhere there was cloud, it was like running in heaven. From 15 to 20 my pace was 4:19, 4:10, 4:05, 4:12, 4:06 and 4:12 and the 21st km was tough incline so could finish it in 4:58 where that lean guy overtook me easily in last 200m. 



Finished the race in 1:36 but the story doesn’t end here. Its not a happy ending movie!  Sad part starts now!

After reaching delhi I became overoptimistic about my performance. If I could get 1:36 without any speed work then why not to try 1:30 in ADHM which is still 4 months away. Left MAF method and jumped onto the normal training plan where tempo, intervals, hill training are very common. The biggest mistake of running life was my hurry! I didn’t take rest and started training! Got carried away and whatever happened is now a history! Ultimately I landed up being 2:50 pacer in ADHM that year because of injury and never raced fully fit and injury free till date! Ladakh marathon 2017 was only race where I ran but that too with a very narrow mindset and in very conservative manner.

Story doesn’t end here also! In 2018 I revisited my process , mistakes and came up with an idea to start a group for MAF so that I don’t get distracted with normal training plans. Like minded people help you achieve higher and it’s a competition of mine only with myself so why to be in hurry! Everyday I should just be a better runner than yesterday. Leave the PB, leave looking at the peer performance, start running for yourself, be healthier, stronger and happier, be at peace! That’s how MAFia/Heart rate Trainers originated. Now lets see what is written next in this story….






Comments

  1. Murali5 July 2019 at 08:24

    Superb and very well articulated. Must important for us not to get carried and stick to what we feel is helpful. Biggest lesson from MAF health first and fitness follows. Being fit is not always healthy. That's what I cud get after going through Phils book. I struggled last year with Ankle twisg prior to Hyd run in Aug and followed by Shin Splints which held me back by 4 months. Now trying to overcome injury and work towards effortless running.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amit Sinha5 July 2019 at 09:14

      Yes! Marathon training is long journey. Be healthy first and then be fit! Your fitness will keep on increasing, just have patience.

      Delete

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