So this is about the half marathon I ran last Sunday 21-Sept-2025
Before going deeper — a big shoutout to Koustubh, who inspired me to register for this run. He’s been pushing me to sign up for a few events now, and I kept declining. A few more colleagues from office had also registered, and when Koustubh finally signed up, I couldn’t resist. Watching his training and consistency pushed me too, and I ended up registering a week after him. For the last 3–4 months, it’s been constant back-and-forth, pushing each other to get better.
Also — he gifted me one of Ranulph Fiennes’ books, about his Interpolar Global Expedition — attempts at both the North and South Pole, some in teams and some solo. That book shifted my perspective: the human body is capable of so much more. Honestly, it was depressing at times — here I was struggling to run 10 km while these superhumans were dragging hundreds of kilos across polar ice for months. But in the end, the book helped me — made me stronger, both physically and mentally.
Now, to Race Day!!
Let me take yu through that run — I was well… not so well prepared. Morning started with delays: 10–15 minutes late leaving home, then no cab for another 20. Drivers would accept, wait 5 minutes, cancel. Finally had to bump my bid from ₹175 to ₹260 just to get one. Somehow I made it on time, and my dear friend Koustubh was there to help me pin my bib.
It was cloudy and cool — I prayed it would stay that way, but it wasn’t to be. Crossed the start mat around 6:25, and in the first 200m my body already felt off. I thought, “Man, not today, don’t give up on me.” A few hundred meters later, all was fine. First 2 km I was just fighting the crowd — narrow lanes, packed runners, me weaving and overtaking. I’d earned zone C, but it took forever to find space.
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Somewhere on the Track ! |
Usually I start sweating after 4–5 km, once rhythm sets in. That day, drops rolled down my forehead at 1.5 km. “Okay, this is going to be humid,” I thought. Strangely, it wasn’t as draining as expected.
Around 5 km, a thought hit me: Why do we do this? Why the hell am I even here? I told myself — “Not the time, dude. We’ll discuss after 15 km.”
By 8 km, I was cruising. Overtook the 3-hour bus, then the 2:45 pacer too. I wasn’t sure if they started in Section B (10 minutes ahead of me) or C, but either way it gave me confidence. My goal: best case 2:35, worst 2:45. Staying ahead of them meant I’d be fine.
In training, on 10-milers (16 km), I wouldn’t touch water till 12 km. Just rinse mouth, pour some water to cool down, maybe grab coconut water around 14, then finish the run. Same strategy here — ran till 12–13 km before my first stop.
But unlike Mumbai marathon — where you grab bottles and tetra packs while running — here everything came in plastic glasses. Had to stop, gulp, splash, then go. Annoying, but well-organized — aid stations almost every km.
At 10–12 km we entered Cubbon Park, and at 14 km came the dreaded U-turn. I’d seen that stretch earlier from the cab, and nerves crept in: downhill on the way out meant brutal uphill on the way back (17–19 km). From 11–16 km I wasn’t fighting the road, I was fighting my own thoughts about what was coming.
The inclines kept testing me. I wanted to quit, but David Goggins’ voice popped up: Don’t quit when it’s hard. Quit when it’s easy. That line carried me through every climb.
Also, I realized — if I stop at 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 — too many breaks. Better to extend. So I pushed: first stop at 12, then 15, 18, and 20, then finish. The scary incline turned out not-so-deadly — maybe I went slower, maybe the ORS worked, maybe both.
At one point after 10 km, exhaustion hit hard. I scanned my body: legs fine, chest fine, breathing fine. Nothing wrong, just fatigue. I laughed: Damn, I’ve got nothing to blame. Body’s fine, so no excuses. Kept going.
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Fellow Runners from Office - each with their own journey and unique Story ! |
That last km was brutal. I couldn’t see the finish. Finally spotted the park entrance — thought it was over. Nope. Had to run past it, straight for 200m, U-turn, then back in. I actually stopped for a few steps — but then that inner voice shouted, Not now, not here. Pushed through. Crawled across the line: 2:30 stopwatch time, 2:30:15 official.
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Some Stats for Nerds ! |
Afterward, I had no mood to walk, but still grabbed some breakfast. Koustubh dropped me close to home, I showered, ate lunch, and crashed for hours.
Pain lingered for days, but by Wednesday I was back at it — a light 10k. Friday, another 10k, 3 minutes faster, feeling even better.
And today (28-Sept - Sunday), I wanted to do a 10-miler, maybe stretch to 18. Ended up at 20 km. Strava said stop. I walked a few steps. But then that Goggins voice again: You reached here, so what? You stop? No. You push. So I pushed, completed the half-marathon distance again.
🔥 That’s the race report. Not perfect training, not perfect running, but one more half-marathon in the bag.
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