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| Weekend matters |
| Monday, February 15, 2010 |
As I have said many times before, sports and I are like parallel lines, we can never meet. But circumstances have turned out such that the morning of this Sunday, coincidentally V-day, saw me along with DH, in foggy SF, warming up with several other seasoned runners to run the 5K race. Ok, I will give you a minute to finish that laugh and bring yourself together.
We found a parking spot not far from the gathering place, which was very odd, but can be attributed to the early morning Sunday. We walked to the registration booth and got our bibs. We met a fellow DailyMiler who easily found us, as I had expected, as we were probably the only Indian couple in the whole crowd. We still had 10minutes before 9, and we stood there watching people around us. Many were warming up, running along the road. Some were jumping on the spot, stretching, all very professional. And then there were some, like me, not too fit, a bit fat, just standing, watching.
Sharp 2 minutes before 9, we were asked to step behind the starting line, there were about 150-200 of us, including people with kids, prams, and even dogs. Moments before the race began, an overwhelming sense of failure crept into me. OMG! These are real runners, they look so professional, I am going to be like the LAST person to finish the race, even if I run the fastest! I voiced my fear to DH, who did his best to cheer me up with his usual humour. "Lets be at the back, so we will go past atleast a few people, and not many will pass us, because we are already at the end." Yes, good one. We were pretty much at the end. And DH said he will run with me, which I didnt want. I wanted DH to run at his own pace, so he can really push himself and give his best.
Suddenly the crowd started moving, the race was on! I put on my music and turned on the timer on my iPhone, I didnt use RunKeeper because I was low on battery. I started running. DH moved a bit fast and went ahead. Some time later I was stuck at the end with very few people. I decided not to give up and just focus on MY goal, which was to finish the 5K without stopping or walking, even if that meant running at 4mph ;--), but atleast I would be on the run.
We started at Terry Francois/Illinois Street intersection, ran towards the AT&T park, ran around it twice and back. As I just started running around the park, I saw the fast runners, coming for their second round. It was very motivating to just see them run. Once again I decided I will not focus on the people ahead of me or behind, I will just run, as fast as I can. And I will not stop or walk.
Soon I was in the second loop as well, when an old man definitely in his 50s overtook me :--S Just showed how unfit I am. I kept on. Soon it was time for me to overtake some people who had stopped running and were walking. I overcame my desire to see the time. Somehow seeing the time, only make me want to stop, expecting for the time when I can stop. I just kept running, the last miles seemed like eternity, as I looked for the Finish.
And there is was, bright orange markers with many people standing around. Everyone had finished the race, well except for the very few behind me. I kept going. It was amazing how the organizers kept cheering every person who finished the race. Its nice to see their cheery faces, even though you are one of the last people to finish. I saw the time. I wont specify how long I took to finish the race, to just save my face. (Please to refer to the very first line of this post).
DH and a couple of other DailyMilers waited for me and it was very nice to see them so excited about my finish. We went for the goodies right away, I was too hungry. Then we watched the winner being given ribbons. Everybody was so amazingly fit. The DailyMiler we met was over 50 and he ran like the wind!
Overall it was an amazing experience. I fared much better than my previous run a month ago, where we went late in the first place, started some 10mins late and then I stopped and walked in the middle.
***
After discussing a lot about what to do over this V-day weekend plus long weekend, DH decided to gift a unique gift this time. No flowers or chocolates. But a fish tank and fishies!! Before going to Church he said we should stop by somewhere and get this V-day gift and that I should select whatever I wanted. Of course I couldnt stop guessing. As we took the known road to the shopping complex, I asked," Are we going to Target? Are you going to let me buy anything at Target?" And then," Oh you are taking me to PetSmart to get fishes!" We had talked about fishes earlier on. DH tried to hide his bummer look and asked," Is PetSmart really here? I didnt know there was a PetSmart here." Which led me to continue guessing some more, with OfficeMax and Michaels.
Of course we went to PetSmart and DH was like, " Why are you so smart, never let me give you a surprise?" :--P
Anyway we got the tank including a heater, too much I say. A heater for the fishes? We had a lecture on how fishes die in a new tank and how the tank has to grow some bacteria for the fishes to survive and how the tropical fishes can only live in water with temperature between 72-78F. Too much. But I can imagine. Their little bodies can only take so much temperature variation. Since its a new tank, they adviced us to take 3 fishes at a time, and see how they adapt. Dont want all fishes to die on the same day I suppose :--(.
For now the three fishies seem to be fine, swimming happily exploring the little 10G tank. Hope they dont die on me. More fishes will be added in the coming weeks. |
posted by SK @ 3:36 PM  |
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| 5 Comments: |
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That's a nice gift! I'm scared I will kill the fishies, so not got one :)
I want to run too, and haven't even started doing anything about it. I'm giong to start once I get back from India.
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fishes..nice.. not get a cat.free
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Great job running - what is important is the run, not the position!
Nice fishes! You might find a visitor in your home soon to oggle at the fishes ;)
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Yesskay.. Yaaru last la first varan nu mukyum illa:)
And man is DH sweet. I mean I do not see myself doing all this. VDay gift a? Pah! He treats you so well.
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Nandini,
Kavitha was the motivation for running, you should join soon :--))
Soin,
What with the ..free.. after every single sentence ;--))
Saumya,
Yes I suppose, thats how I can not be ashamed hahaha.
And you are more welcome to visit anytime. ;--)
Bodhi,
Side la nakkala pantiye man ;--)
And dont talk so soon, lets see what happens once you get hitched :--D Its all about finding the right person.
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That's a nice gift! I'm scared I will kill the fishies, so not got one :)
I want to run too, and haven't even started doing anything about it. I'm giong to start once I get back from India.