18th LAZY week!

This week I have taken it light! Not good...

I only ran about 8 miles for the entire week. May be I am getting a little nervous about running the marathon! I did some reading on that and some research says that it is not necessarily a good thing to run the marathon. So let's see where God is going to lead me in the next several months.

Quote of the week: Courage is not the lack of fear but the ability to face it." ---- Lt. John B. Putnam Jr. (1921-1944)

17th week - I ran my first 1/2 marathon

This might be a very ordinary feat for many people, but for a person like me who has never been in any sports activity and never won a single sports related prize in my entire life, it was a very big achievement.

I ran the first 6 miles faster than my usual (10 minute miles) then started slowing down with leg cramps. However, as my son always tells me, ' Don't give up, keep trying' I kept going and finished in 2 hour and 40 minutes.

Just 4 months ago, this was not even a remote possibility! Now in spite of all the aches and pains, I want to do more.

This was a great experience and I enjoyed every bit of the training. I had fantastic support from some very nice people associated with American Heart Association, especially Margaret Mette, the President of the Sacramento Chapter.

16th Week

This was a pretty light work out week after the mega run on Sunday (for my standards). Today (Saturday) was the last day of training for our American Heart Association group. I am happy that this was an opportunity for me to raise awareness and money for AHA.

I am looking forward for the half NEXT WEEK!

My interesting quote for the week:

"Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible." - Doug Larson

15th week and 1 day! Yes finally 13.1 miles

Today was a big day. In 2 hours and 42 minutes I completed 13.1 miles. It might be a small thing for the mankind but it is a huge step for myself. I hope that my persistence is a stimuli for others especially my children in my practice.

And for the quote:

"No doubt a brain and some shoes are essential for marathon success, although if it comes down to a choice, pick the shoes. More people finish marathons with no brains than with no shoes." - Don Kardong

14th week....

I finally crossed a total of 200 miles this week - I think personally, it is a big achievement.

I also ran a 9 mile this week. My travel in between hampers training. But I have to learn to adjust. Speed is still not my forte.

When I was travelling I saw the movie 'Invictus'

So the quote of this week is going to be from that poem:

For the records:

"Invictus" is a short Victorian poem by the English poet William Ernest Henley (1849–1903).

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

13th week! - Nearing the 1/2 Marathon

This week's World Cup Win for India in cricket was bigger than the 9 mile run I did!.

I still have not hit the 10 mile mark. I hope to reach that mile stone this coming week.

Otherwise, some aches and pains, trying to stay healthy!!

Quote of the week:

"When I thought I couldn't go on, I forced myself to keep going. My success is based on persistence, not luck."

~Estee Lauder~

12th week!

The total miles I have run so far is 185! I am proud of my persistence as I ran a 7 mile this Saturday in rain and wind. I am targeting about 2 1/2 hours for the 1/2 marathon on the 30th of April. Hope I can make it.

Quotes of the week:

Carl Lewis -Channel your energy. Focus

Carlos Lopes, Portugal -Second place is not a defeat. It is a stimulation to get better. It makes you even more determined.

Chairman Mao -Long distance running is particularly good training in perseverance.

Cheryl Bridges Treworgy, member of five U.S. World Cross-Country teams -Taking charge of your body can help you take charge of your life. And that power can help you go wherever you want to go, every single day.

11th Week....

Probably a very positive week as for the first time I did a 6 mile and a 9 mile! I also ran 2 hours on the trail to complete the 9 miles. For the first time I saw flooding on the American River Trail! Lot of deer on the way. It was very stimulating. But I am giving up on trying to run fast for the 1/2 marathon. Instead I want to concentrate on being able to complete the run. I guess it will be a good preparation for the CIM.

It is amazing to see the timings of some of these runners! ( just over two hours for 26 miles!)

Now for the quote:

There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life. But mostly I run because I am an animal and a child, an artist and a saint. So, too, are you. Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be. ~George Sheehan

10th week... I crossed 7 miles for the first time

I am learning to enjoy nature as I run. I love the birds, the clouds and the blue sky. I did not know that in spite of the aches and pains to can still have fun.

I did a 98 minute stint and a 75 minutes this week.

Moving on...

Quote of the week:

“We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves...The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, ‘You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.’ The human spirit is indomitable.”
-Sir Roger Bannister, first runner to run a sub-4 minute mile

9th Week... relatively uneventful

I did 2 long runs (one six and another five) but did not do enough this week. Hopefully my work will permit me to do better.

I definitely have to concentrate of nutrition and better running gear. I plan to take care of the running gear this week.

Quotes of the week:

“You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back.”

“If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.”

8th week - Visit to Central Park

Cannot believe that I lived for 3 years in New York and never actually went into this paradise. It was a beautiful Saturday and I ran a cool 6 miles inside the park and it felt like heaven.

One of the best things I have learnt from running is that it gives me time to think and enjoy my own time. When I travel, since in general I do not like parties (totally opposite to my younger days!) I tend to spend time in the room in front of the TV. Now, my new found hobby is keeping me engaged.

The only bad thing is after the run, I was so hungry for Indian food, I called Dr. Bala in Houston, an eminent cardiologist to give me some suggestions. He was nice enough to give me a good list of choices, but I chose the wrong one!

Well - so crossed the 6 mile mark this week!

Quote of the week:

"A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts, who can punish himself into exhausting pace, and then at the end, punish himself even more. Nobody is going to win a 5,000 meter race after running an easy 2 miles. Not with me. If I loose forcing the pace all the way, well, at least I can live with myself."

I always loved running... it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs. ~Jesse Owens

7th Week completed!

Well I did a 5 mile on the treadmill and 4.5 miles in the trail. I am still keeping up my training schedule. My son as been advising me not to do the marathon this year and just do 2 half marathons. He does not want me to be injured. However, I do not want to give up. I bet a wonderful 64 year old young lady Cindy yesterday who is running the 1/2 marathon for American Heart Association. Her commitment to the cause, have me more vigor and served as a tonic to work harder.

This week quote will be from my daughter's blog - Mahadarshan.blogspot.com :

Darshana Prakasam:

It only takes a little extra effort to be extraordinary.

Interesting 6th week!

I am starting to believe that I may be able to do it (aches and pains are still scary)

I am able to do 4 miles on the trail without stopping and I am now able to do it in 40 minutes!

The cross training is interesting.

I learnt a lot about running shoes today!

When you do a new thing thats when you learn how little you know about other things! It brings humility into oneself!

“If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.”

5th Week - So my first big run...

5th Week went by - good training. Kept my schedule.

I met my mentor, Mike. Excellent man. He has run multiple marathons. He suffered a stroke few years ago, went through rehabilitation and has run a couple of marathons after that! What a determination!

Meeting people like this in life, I think is a gift and I was fortunate.

I completed a 3 mile run without stopping or walking! Not bad (patting on my back!)

April 30th is the 1/2 marathon. I hope that I do it well.

Now for the quote:

"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit."

Dr. George Sheehan

Am I still there?

It is the end of 4 weeks - since the decision was made to try this out. I am glad that I am still there. But I am also scared to see that I have not made a great deal of progress.

I went to the kick off meeting for the American Heart Association heartwalk on the 30 of April. The exercise physiologists were excellent and gave us some good guidelines. I finished 4th in the 1 mile trial run!!! Not that I have achieved something. But felt good that I did!

So I am still there!

3rd week Completion - Still clueless

While I am continuing to work towards becoming more fit, I do not seem to have any clue. I seem to injure myself easily. May be because I am not used to it. I am looking forward to having some formal training - I will be attending the AHA - program next week!

Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts. ~Steve Prefontaine

End of Week - 2

I ran mostly indoors on the elliptical as I was told by my advisors to strengthen up!

I am scared and I am worried how am I going to go after my dream and commitment.

I went to the 'Start training' meeting with the American Heart Association. It seems like a nice idea to run the half marathon.

They gave me some training material as well as some fund raising goals!

So let me see how the next week goes as I am traveling a lot.

Quote of the week:

I have two doctors, my left leg and my right.

- G. M. Trevelyan

First Seven Days: You do not run to get fit, but you get fit to run!!

It was interesting how it went by! I very quickly realized that with the kind of work schedule and commitments I have, it is not an easy task! In addition, having never been a ‘fit’ person most of my life, I learnt from a good friend, that you do not run to get fit, but you get fit to run!! – That was the lesson of this first week.

I have to mention about two very nice people here:

1. Carol Parise – She is a PhD in Statistics, a very smart research scientist, an excellent athlete and a very good friend for over a decade. She has done all the crazy healthy lifestyle things including running the marathon more than a dozen times. She has been giving me a lot of advice – Thank you Carol for all of them and I am anticipating your continuous guidance over the next 12 months.

2. Gus Torres – Is the Western Regional Director of Endocrinology for Novo Nordisk, who is passionate in anything he does. He trains school children in long distance running. He is a voluntary running coach in a Los Angeles Area School.. Gus has been my friend for many many years and he has gracefully agreed to be my long distance (yes he lives in So Cal) coach as well. Thanks a lot Gus

I also met a physician who is a very health conscious and fit person and she advised me against running the marathon. She said that it is too hard on the body, that one might get hurt and it is not worth it. But I am not running to get fit, I am running for a reason…

FINALLY

What did I do these 7 days?

Couple of 3 mile runs on the road

Couple of 2 mile runs in the Gym

Couple of hours of random exercise including stationary bike

I have an excuse; I was traveling 3 of the 7 days!
Should do better next week!!

First day of my training..

From Naïve Doctor's Marathon of a Mistake

Got up at 5.30 am as always. Had my coffee and was on the computer, when suddenly it occurred that I did say something about running the marathon.

Looked outside the window, it was dark, cold and raining. Is it really worth it on a Sunday?

By 6.30am I decided, yes it is, dressed up with the oddest looking clothes and of I was to start my first training session.

I came back after 45 minutes - 21 minutes of jog and 24 minutes of brisk walking.

5 minutes of fast walking, 7 minutes of jog, 5 minutes of walking, 7 minutes of jog, 5 minutes of walking, 7 minutes of jog and 9 minutes of walking

My wife took a picture of me coming back

How did all start?

January 1st 2011, we were on our way to the temple when we started a discussion on being fit. One lead on to another and I said 'How nice it will be to run a marathon? '

One lead on to another and by 2 pm my son walks into a Nike store and got me a pair of running shoes!!!

Now I am really stuck. All my life I have been telling my children about aiming high, look for the stars, setting goals which are seemingly impossible etc...

It is time, at 47 years, I have to say that I will do it

So I did - Save be GOD!!!!!

We came home, I googled - to look for an idiots guide to running marathon. Finally landed up in the California International Marathon Page (http://www.runcim.org/) Went into my calendar and marked December 4th, 2011 - for running the Sacramento Marathon.

Watched a movie and went to sleep.