How it Began
I was a regular gym freak until September 2006 when my trainer suggested that I participate in the Mumbai Marathon. Unlike many people, I too shunned the idea that I could run as I could barely run 300mtr at one stretch. Rujuta Diwekar started to motivate few of us who were likely candidate for this sport. At first, I thought it was another was to get business from existing customers, but I was so wrong. This took our fitness regime to entire next level and I thank her for pushing us toward running. During one of our training session on Sunday, I had reached a movement where I had to stop due to the initial tiredness from the run, our friend Chirag who was a better runner kept holding my hand and pushed me to complete the 12kms run without stopping. When we reached the 12kms mark, “Runner’s High” had set in, I wanted to run more to get more adrenaline rush from my body. That was the time when my mind decided that I could not stop running and running will be part of my future fitness regime.
Gear and Tech
I started with Nike but as I could understand the science for Running, I realized Asics was the best fit for my foot. Selecting a running shoe too is a science. One needs to be aware of their individual arch type, motion mechanics and foot strike style. Kind of Arch types are Flat, Medium and High. Types of motion mechanics are Under pronator, Normal and over pronator. Types of Foot strike are forefoot, Midfoot, Heel and extreme heel strike.
Initially I started using the Nike+ application on my iPod and Shoe to track my fitness and other parameters to improve my running. Then I moved to using the Nike+ Fitness band and lately I started to us the Garmin Runner’s watch which monitors parameters like, Distance, speed, Heart Rate etc. I’m hoping to upgrade my existing fear to Android wear when they are likely to hit the Indian Market.
Experience
Running has been a life changer for me. There hasn’t been a time where I have had to think to stop running and start a new fitness regime. Running has taught me more discipline and decorum in my life, better food habits. The value of life and body that is ready to stretch every time. Always test your body limits and surprise yourself that there is more than you can think you can perform. I’m now a morning person and there have been instance were my family and friends laugh at me when I tell them that I sleep at 9.00pm. Food lifestyle has been a huge change, no more you get the craving to eat the junk and it’s a conscious decision to choose healthy food. Even your sub conscious mind know the difference between junk and healthy food.
First Marathon
I started the training with my gym buddies, regular runs, increasing the mileage by 2 kms every week and reaching 20kms mark on 12th week. The week started on Tuesday with easy running, Wednesday was swimming or cycling, Thursday was speed run, Friday was easy run, Saturday was stretching and Sunday was long run. The food was very important part of our diet plan. Special care was taken to ensure that we are fully hydrated during and after run, sufficient multi vitamins and minerals are part of our daily food including Calcium and VitaminD3.
So far I have completed 16 Half Marathon since 2006. All in Mumbai and few in Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune & Thane. My current trainer is Lillama Alphanso who was the full marathon winner in women’s category for Mumbai Marathon in 2008. I intend to start running Full Marathon and sometime after than would like to run UltraMarathons.
Motivation
Information Technology as a career comes with its own set of challenges. It’s makes the CIO community so poor at fitness that they reach a point of no return. Having said that, there is always time for us to move on and make that change internally and set the milestone.
I strongly believe that we always have time for what we want to do, when I hear someone say that they don’t have time, it only means they don’t intend to give priority to their fitness and can’t take up the challenge. I would always want the CIO’s to start something they are comfortable, running, swimming, cycling or any other sports. At the end, it’s the fitness that is important, not which sport you play to be fit. Also this will get them to follow a proper diet which is very essential part of any fitness regime.
Keep participating regularly in events which are for running or cycling, this will keep you active for entire year. I personally participate at least 2 events in a year to keep myself
active.
As Rujuta Diwekar says, always motivate yourself by some incentives. I keep myself motivated by buying new gears after every run, this way I don’t feel guilty :).