Whose Fault is it ?

Have been thinking for few days on writing this and stumbled on one Kosuke Takeuchi post - about a tool he developed to generate traffic scenarios - Thanks a Ton !

Now - First we see Cyclist and Car minding their own business and going in proper lanes and suddenly a HERO comes in motorcycle from wrong way - or as the biker says - 'MY WAY or the HIGHWAY'.

Then I play out just two of the many scenarios and what I want to know is - whose Fault is it ??


1. Cyclist - for riding cycles on Indian Roads ?
2. Cyclist - for riding on roads and in correct direction - may be cyclist should have used footPaths - if bikers can do it - why not our cyclist ?
3. Cyclist - for not driving in the right most lane ?

3. The Car - like the driver should have anticipated and left space for the cyclist ?
4. The Car - for whatever reason..

5. The Government/RTO - for not able to reinforce the traffic rules effectively ?

6. No One to Blame -- Like it is just another day in world - or city traffic - especially India or Bangalore !

Now - all yu experts and noobs out there - who would yu put a blame on if yu were the judge dealing with this case..


Linkedin post -- drawtonomy_linkedIn post
Tool Link -- https://www.drawtonomy.com/

Discovering FastF1: Telemetry, Tyre Strategy, and My First Steps with MCP

 I stumbled upon FastF1 only recently — and honestly, I’m still surprised I missed it for so long.

FastF1 is a Python library that exposes an incredible amount of Formula 1 data across an entire race weekend: practice, qualifying, and race sessions. Not just results and lap times, but also detailed telemetry — speed traces, throttle application, braking, tyre stints, compound usage, and much more.

It turns out FastF1 has been around for a while. But as they say, better late than never.

As someone who loves both Formula 1 and building things, discovering FastF1 immediately opened up a flood of ideas.

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Why FastF1 feels special

What makes FastF1 exciting is not just the data volume, but the granularity.

Instead of asking:

• “Who was faster?”

You can start asking:

• Where was a driver faster?

• Why did a lap work?

• How tyre choices shaped race outcomes

• How two qualifying laps differ by just hundredths of a second

This moves F1 analysis away from headlines and into cause-and-effect.

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Enter MCP: learning by building

Around the same time, I had been reading about MCP (Model Context Protocol) and wanted to understand it beyond theory. MCP, at a high level, is about exposing structured tools and data in a way that agents (or other clients) can call reliably.

Rather than learning MCP in isolation, I decided to combine both interests:

• learn MCP properly

• apply it to something I genuinely enjoy — Formula 1

So I started building a small F1 MCP server, backed by FastF1 data.

For now, this is very much a learning project — not a product — but it’s already been surprisingly rewarding.

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The first two tools I built

At the moment, I’ve implemented just two core functions, keeping things intentionally simple.

1. Tyre strategy visualisation

The first tool generates a tyre strategy timeline for a given race, showing:

• which compounds each driver used

• how long each stint lasted

• how strategies differed across the field

This makes race strategy immediately visual. Instead of reading pit-stop summaries, you can see how races unfolded strategically.

image shows tyre strategy for each drive — along with it — in github copilot chat — it throws more insights into the tyre strategy across the race

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2. Qualifying lap telemetry comparison

The second tool focuses on qualifying, comparing telemetry from the top drivers’ fastest laps.

It plots:

• speed vs distance

• throttle application

• brake application

Side by side, this reveals exactly where time was gained or lost — often in places that don’t show up in sector times alone.

Yu can compare segment by segment the driving style of top 3 drivers and in the chat window it throws details about remaining 7 drivers — ie top 10 qualifing results

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Why MCP fits nicely here

Wrapping these analyses as MCP tools felt natural.

Instead of scripts that only I run locally, MCP encourages thinking in terms of:

• clear inputs (season, race, session, drivers)

• predictable outputs (tables, plots, structured data)

This also opens the door to multiple interfaces later:

• CLI tools

• dashboards (Streamlit / web)

• or even AI-driven queries on top of the same data

For now, though, the goal is simple: learn MCP by doing, not by reading specs.

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What’s next

There’s a lot more I want to explore:

• combining telemetry with race notes, penalties, and regulations

• richer driver-to-driver comparisons

• experimenting with live data once the 2026 season starts

• exposing more race-weekend concepts as structured MCP tools

I’ll keep this project intentionally lightweight and exploratory.

If there’s a specific race, driver comparison, or kind of plot you’d like to see, feel free to suggest it — I’ll be iterating on this over the coming weeks purely for learning and fun.

GitHub link coming soon once things settle a bit.

Wrapping up the year on a High! - The Dancing Champs :D

 In March this year, I wrote Fighting the Inner Demons We Create Ourselves, where I mentioned how I started dancing again because of an office event and our little group.

After that event, life went on as usual — no new dance practice, no rehearsals. Then, in the middle of the year, at one of my colleague’s weddings, we decided to perform again… and I went with it.

I joined the group, and this time we even stayed together in a hotel a day before, so we had good focused time to practice and perfect the moves — and everything went well.

Practice Video :)

I enjoyed it. It was fun again. And it made me let go of that hesitation I used to carry around dancing.

Fast-forward to a few days back — I danced again, probably the last time for the year. And like everything else, I became a bit overconfident and didn’t practice enough at home (the homework I was supposed to do 😅).

It showed — I missed a few steps here and there.

Just highlighting the fact that I missed few steps — but overall we synced and Rocked :D

Prof - Sandy !

But the group, as a whole, did well… so well that we ended up being crowned the dance champs for that event!

Fine, fine — it wasn’t a grand show — but winning is winning, and for me, it was a pleasant surprise.

This time it wasn’t just dance — we also had a storyline woven into the performance. The team did a fantastic job bringing everything together. And for the next opportunity, whenever it comes, I’ll make sure to put in more effort and perfect the nitty-gritties.

Sharing some snaps and clips from the event below…

And again — a big THANK YOU to Ragi.

She has been my dance teacher throughout — a trained classical dancer, an expert in her art. It was a privilege to watch her solo performance last evening as well.

I always assumed it must be a cakewalk for her to dance with us to movie songs… and I still remember her saying,

“I have to unlearn my dance to learn this dance.”

Just shows — everyone has their own unique challenges to deal with before they deliver their best. 😊

We Know What’s Healthy. So Why Don’t We Do It?

The real reason we don’t follow healthy habits is not lack of knowledge — it’s lack of a big enough purpose.


Last Sunday, I went to a street-side book vendor and noticed a guy wearing a retro-style cap and sunglasses walk up as well. We had a brief chat, and he casually mentioned that he was buying books for his 90-year-old girlfriend.

(He might have been joking — but honestly, it didn’t feel that way.)

That one line sent my mind in so many directions.

1. Someone at 90, still active and still reading.

2. A girlfriend at that age — I mean, the relationship must have gone through so much. Both of them clearly invested in life and each other to make it till here.

3. The sheer energy and freshness that guy carried.

Then, just last week, while travelling to Mangalore for a friend’s wedding, I happened to cross paths with a Kannada actress — Geetha Suratkal. I learnt who she was during our conversation. She might be in her 70s now.

The first thing I noticed — she wasn’t wearing reading glasses or any kind of specs.
The second — her energy. Happy, smiley, warm.
She mentioned she still travels for work.

She also shared that she’s a retired bank employee and even while working full-time, she used to do theatre. If you’ve seen Sapne vs Everyone, she reminded me of Prashanth — managing a day job while still nurturing passion on the side.

And then this morning, a thought hit me.

We — almost all of us — know what’s good for our health and happiness. For our body, mind, and overall well-being.
Yet, many of us struggle to follow it.
While for a select few, that way of living feels effortless — almost automatic.

Maybe the problem isn’t that we don’t know what to eat, how to sleep, or when to exercise.

Maybe we don’t need to force healthy habits at all.

Maybe what we really need is something meaningful to move towards.

Have a purpose. A goal. A reason.

When you’re training for a marathon, you automatically move towards healthier food, better sleep, and early mornings.
When you’re preparing for a competitive exam, distractions reduce on their own, stressors are filtered out, and you naturally prioritise focus, rest, and mental clarity.

Yesterday, I was listening to ideas from the book 10x Is Better Than 2x. One thought stood out — big goals shape behaviour.
When the dream is big enough, the path becomes clearer. And while walking that path, taking care of your body and mind stops feeling like a task — it just becomes part of the journey.

Fighting the Inner Demons We Create Ourselves

 I first published this on medium - on 9-March-2025 -- https://medium.com/@sandyshah1990/fighting-the-inner-demons-we-create-ourselvesdancing-with-my-inner-demons-a-journey-beyond-829dacca9f8f

I have always told myself that I am not a dancer, that I can’t dance. Not sure if it was ever really true, but it became something I just believed. I would never dance at parties — maybe once in a while during Garba, but nothing more than that.

As a kid, I do have this one image — I was in school, participating in a dance. I was way too small to remember much, but I know I was there. I was also part of the Lazim team during the Ganpati celebration. And then, there was another time in school when I wanted to dance, but in the first step of the audition, where we had to move our necks, I couldn’t do it properly (or at least that’s what I thought). Within less than a minute, I was sent back. Now, thinking back, I don’t know if that’s the moment that completely put me off dancing, but I know it played a big role.

It’s funny how childhood experiences shape our beliefs about ourselves. Just like how I thought I wasn’t good at GK because of a few early experiences, the same thing happened with dancing.

Me as a Kid — getting ready for Dance Performance :)

The GK Incident and Its Impact

It wasn’t just dance. In the same school, there was another moment that shaped me in ways I only realize when I started writing this post. One day, the teachers asked if anyone wanted to participate in a GK quiz. Like dance, I enthusiastically raised my hand — I wanted to try everything as a kid. So, another student and I were taken to the principal’s office. When we got there, teacher introduced me as “Sandeep” but introduced the other student as “ABC, son of EFD.” No other test or a word from me and I was sent back again.

I never really processed it back then, but now, as I write this, I see the connection. That moment might have played a big role in why I never really got into reading news or keeping up with political discussions. It’s strange how one small experience can ripple through your life without yu even realizing it.

The Positive Side: Computers and Coding

But not all experiences were limiting. The same school gave me my first exposure to computers. The teachers there encouraged us to experiment, and they even let me (specifically) spend extra hours in the computer lab. I would code (probably in some programming language like Logo or Turtle, God knows), explore different things, and, yes, also play Road Rash during those extra hours. But looking back, that freedom to explore helped me continue pursuing coding. If they had discouraged me, pushed me down, or restricted my time there, I might not have ended up as a data scientist today. I am forever grateful to my teachers. The ability to solve analytical puzzles and approach problems logically — those roots were planted right there in that school.

The Conscious Effort

This isn’t a story about me becoming a great dancer. It’s not one of those where I magically discover a hidden talent. But it is about the moment I decided to challenge this self-imposed belief.

At an office event, there was going to be a dance performance. It was decided few days before event and I joined the party just a day before. Coming back ome seeing my friends practice — I stumbled on some fortune telling video and that mentioned dancing and I was like lets go for it. So a day before I joined them and decided to participate in couple of short songs only. 90 seconds in total :). Also I don’t mind being laugh at — especially when I am trying something new and for myself. There was no stage fear and so one less thing to deal with. Friends were there to help me practice, guide me through the steps, and somehow, I did it. I danced.

video quality may be compromised coz of format !

the Dancing Group !

And then?

Nothing drastic happened. No huge emotional rush. No life-altering epiphany. Just a regular moment. The event ended, and everything felt… normal. I may participate in future but that’s it. The real story wasn’t about that moment — it was about everything that led to it.

The Journey is Where It Happens

This reminded me of my marathon journey. I didn’t feel an overwhelming rush of emotions after crossing the finish line. The transformation had already happened in the months of training — the days of struggle, the self-doubt, the small wins, and the persistence to keep going. The event itself? Just a checkpoint.

Dancing, for most people, is a small thing. But for me, because of my self-talk and past experiences, it had become my Mount Everest. Overcoming it wasn’t about the dance itself — it was about stepping out of my comfort zone, fighting my own mind, and proving to myself that I could do it.

We Create Our Own Barriers

We often let small moments in childhood turn into massive roadblocks in adulthood. A failed attempt, a teacher’s remark, or even our own overthinking can shape how we see ourselves. But the truth is, those are just stories we tell ourselves. And just like we created them, we can rewrite them.

This experience reminded me that real change doesn’t come from the final moment of crossing the line — it comes from the journey, the battle with our inner demons, and the willingness to take that first step, even if it’s just a small dance move.

Someone is Happy and someone Sad !

 

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Someone is Sad after a sub-four hour marathon, because they didn't hit their personal best.

Someone is Happy just to make it to five kilometers in an hour, without a break.

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Someone is Sad that they got two percent less increment than they expected.

Someone is Praying hard to get their first job offer.

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[The sensitive, yet powerful, contrasts]

Someone is not happy because they have two daughters and no son.

Someone is Trying hard for years to get a baby.

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Someone is Sad that they took only two, and not three, abroad vacations this year.

Someone is Happy just to be home once a year for Diwali, thanks to work and cost barriers.

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Someone is Sad since they cut fewer cakes this year on their birthday.

Someone is Blushing after their crush wished them Happy Birthday.

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Someone is not so happy with only five hundred stranger followers.

Someone feels Blessed to have all near and dear ones just a phone call away.

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Someone is Sad that their melody wasn't too melodious.

Someone is Happy since something Happened over coffee.

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Someone is too scared to take the next small step towards their Goal.

Someone is full of Belief that they will crush whatever obstacles they face.

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-- If yu need timely updates - Then follow my BlogPost !
-- Would Love to hear your feedback and views on the above line - drop in your comments below :)

A picture is worth a thousand words - ThrowBack

 

I won’t say I stumbled on this image — I was intentionally hunting for it in my photo gallery.

I wanted this exact pic because I planned to talk about clipless cycling shoes — the ones with cleats that lock into specific pedals (shown below). The idea was to highlight how many times I fell while learning to use them. With these pedals, when yu brake, you better remember to unclip first, or else — boom — yu meet the ground.

My plan was to connect it to a life lesson: In learning, falling isn’t optional — sometimes it’s necessary.

If anyone ever wants to learn skating, my first advice will always be: Learn how to fall first.
Once the fear of falling goes, your confidence rises.

Clipless Shoes

Anywho — when I saw this pic, it took me down memory lane and so many aspects have been captured here. In no particular order — yes, the jersey I’m wearing is specifically for running, and when this was taken, I had just started cycling again. And yeah — I love loose sleeveless T-shirts during workouts.

In one of my earlier posts, I used this pic to show the shorts — this was my fav running short. I had a pair of them, and I still remember going to CST (Mumbai market) with dad to buy it. It has a distinct cut (near the white stripes) and I am particular about some of these small nuances. Watching Kenyan and Ethiopian runners on TV wearing similar-style shorts only made me want one even more.

The helmet — of course, a Decathlon product. And yes — this helmet did save me a couple of times 😅

Then the watch — well, I love watches and used to even wear one while going inside Goa beaches. For running and training, my main preference used to be a simple stopwatch — nothing fancy. This one was a Sonata, and I used it for years, including both my full marathons. Now I have a slight upgrade — GPS and heart-rate monitor.

Then — then — ankle weights.
Man, this takes me straight back to Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, where Sanju (Aamir Khan) trained with ankle weights while cycling. Then later in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Farhan Akhtar was shown skipping with heavy ankle weights — and I followed that too. To this day, I love skipping with ankle weights — it works like magic for me. 🙂

This is almost a decade-old pic, and it reminds me of everything I explored, how much I continue to explore even now, and also what all I’ve stopped doing.

Closing this for now!

Would love to hear your side someday — and deep-dive into your photo gallery too. 🙂

Take a Knee

Life doesn’t always feel like a steady journey — many times, it feels like a battlefield. Deadlines pile up, a critical bug suddenly appears, an escalation email lands in your inbox, the calendar is packed with back-to-back meetings, and before yu even process what’s happening, everything feels urgent. The pressure builds, thoughts scatter, emotions start spiraling, and yu feel yourself inching toward that breaking point. And in those moments, the natural instinct is to push harder — to type faster, react instantly, scramble, multitask, and somehow fight the chaos by becoming even more chaotic inside.

But if you’ve followed me for a while, yu know I resonate deeply with David Goggins’ mindset. One of his ideas that stayed with me — especially during tough phases — is the simple but powerful concept of “Take a Knee.” In the military, when bullets are flying and everything is unpredictable, soldiers don’t just rush blindly forward. They take a knee — not to quit, not to escape — but to pause, breathe, reassess the situation, understand where they stand, and decide the next move with clarity instead of panic.

We don’t live on battlefields, but we face our own kind of fire. Sometimes it’s in our careers: deadlines closing in, expectations rising, tasks multiplying faster than we can tick them off. One bug leads to another, testing fails, production goes down, and then that escalation email arrives — the one that throws your heartbeat off rhythm. In those moments, the brain says, “Move faster. Fix everything right now.” But that’s usually when the exact opposite is needed.

That’s when taking a knee becomes crucial.

Taking a knee means stepping back mentally — even if physically you’re still at your desk. It means acknowledging the chaos, but not letting it hijack your response. It’s pausing just long enough to regain control of your mind, reorder priorities, and remind yourself: “I don’t need to solve everything at once. I just need to choose the right next step.”

This applies beyond work, too — in running, when yu hit a wall; in relationships, when miscommunication spirals; in life, when things don’t make sense anymore. We’re conditioned to keep grinding, keep reacting, keep moving — as if slowing down is a sign of weakness. But taking a knee isn’t quitting. It’s refusing to let panic make decisions for you.

Sometimes strength isn’t about pushing harder — it’s about pausing long enough to reset your strategy, regain your breath, and rise with clarity.

So the next time life feels overwhelming — whether it’s a half marathon, a career deadline, or an emotional storm — remember this:

Yu don’t have to sprint through chaos.

Take a knee.
Breathe.
Re-center yourself.
Then get up — and move forward with intention.

Pause and Reflect — Before It’s Too Late

We’ve all heard that line in movies — a doctor looks up, sighs, and says,

“You have six more months to live.” -- And then, the whole movie unfolds around how everything changes — priorities, relationships, and even the meaning of life itself.

In real life, this happens too. People diagnosed with terminal illnesses — cancer or other life-threatening diseases — are often told how long they have left.
But some outlive that timeline. Some make peace with it.
And many live more fully in those months than they ever did in years before.

Now here’s the question:
What about — the “healthy” ones?
The ones not diagnosed with anything fatal (thankfully).
Do we ever pause to realise that we too have a fixed timeline — we just don’t know how long it is?

We live as if our story will go on forever.
But the truth is — it can end tomorrow.
Or in 30 years. Or 40.
And most of us only start truly living when it’s too late — when the body weakens, the mind slows, and regrets pile up quietly in our hearts.

Ask yourself —
Are you prioritizing what really matters to you?
Have you truly listened to your heart lately?

Take a moment — close your eyes — and imagine your 80-year-old self.
What would they thank you for?
And what would they regret that you never did?

This isn’t my idea, actually.
Jay Shetty once shared a meditation where you visualise your younger self and your older self — the child you once were and the elder you’ll someday be.
You ask both —
“What are you proud of?”
And,
“What breaks your heart that I stopped doing?”

It’s a simple but powerful exercise — because in those silent answers lies the truth of what you really want from life.

So maybe today, instead of waiting for someone to say “You have 6 months to live,”
let’s start living as if we do.

That One Letter Yu Never Sent - Why ???

For sure there will be dreams you never went after — regrets on the deathbed — if you are lucky to experience old age and a slow death.

But what about the things you didn’t say?

You didn’t praise or compliment?

What about the chances you didn’t take — the proposals? Anyway, it’s a no, so why not take a chance and propose?

Again, there will be business ideas you didn’t go after, and the trip abroad you never took to explore life — fine.

I am talking more about the gifts you didn’t give. The messages you wrote and never shared.

What about all the letters you wrote but never let anyone read? Do you still have them?

What about the wishes you made every time you saw the rainbow — why did you never act on them?

You know what — your crush felt the same, and neither of you took the first step. It’s not too late — while life is short, you can still make it fulfilling by taking that first step.

What’s the worst? It’s a no — so what? At least you tried.

Wait, wait — what if it turns out to be a yes? Why do you never think of that?

That would be the hardest but the most beautiful step of your life.

I know you have a strong heart and can live a life without them, but don’t be tough on yourself — you deserve love, a true one.

No one is gonna love him (or her) the way you do, and you know it — they know it. It’s about that one little, tiny, huge step!

Go for it, my dear friend!

Just remember — when something bad happens, the person you call first is the person who loves you the most.
When there’s happy news, the person you call first is the person you love the most!

It can be the same or a different person, and I know deep down you know whom to go to — don’t hold yourself back, buddy!

I Apologize If I Haven’t Been the Friend You Deserve: My Sheldon-ish Confession

I tend to associate myself a lot with Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory and yeah — not 100% but surely more than 70%.

Before I get into some of those details, I would like to quote a line from the last episode — from his Nobel acceptance speech which is very close to me: “I apologize if I haven’t been the friend you deserve. But I want you to know in my way, I love you all.”

Seriously, I know I have not been the best of friends that you all have been to me. Yes, I am sharing this with my close friends and want them to know — now when I look back, I might have been a jerk at times and at times too cold to even understand your point of view. I still struggle with human emotions — totally like Sheldon — but it wasn’t intentional. You all have been an integral part of my life, maybe more so when we were together meeting daily, but even now too — so much of myself has been influenced and shaped by your love, presence, motivation and so much more.

I have been encouraged, sustained, inspired, and tolerated by the greatest group of friends anyone could ever have. I’d like to ask you all to stand — I thank you All!!

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Some of the similarities with Sheldon

— My Spot: Maybe everyone has it, but I surely do and I can’t tolerate anyone sitting there. Like Sheldon has his spot on the sofa, I have my desk chair at home, my spot in the hall and even though I am thousand miles away, I just can’t tolerate anyone sitting there :P Well, I don’t have specific reasons like draft and ventilation etc. to choose my spot, although over time I would gravitate to a fixed spot and then I just named it so :P Nowadays we have flexi-desk policy at the workplace and I struggled a bit at the start but got used to it. I took it as a growth challenge to get comfortable by going outside my comfort zone. In one episode he was so annoyed when Amy moved his books/bag from one location to another and I was like — that is so me. I want my stuff to be exactly where I kept it since in my own world that is where they belong — well organized.

— Touch: Hmm — how do I put it — but yeah I feel uncomfortable or rather I don’t initiate or feel too comfy in human touch. I remember as a kid I used to get so irritated and my brother would intentionally poke me to irritate me. It is only after watching Big Bang Theory that I realized this is not something specific to me but something far deeper. Sometimes even small things like handshakes become awkward — combine that with my introverted nature and that just portrays me as arrogant at times. Anyway — it is what it is :P

— Time Table and Planning: Yeah — I lovvveee to have that. I like to be on time and at times early and need to have everything planned. I need to know well in advance about my travel schedule, the connecting mode of travel and so much more. Also I factor in buffer time for safety and that doesn’t always sit well with others.

— Safety Freak: You have no idea how scared I am to walk on our footpaths — as they keep getting hijacked by two-wheelers and street side vendors. I love to buckle up even when I am on the second row seat. I think that is enough to cover the safety freak thing. I am sure and happy to know that many of you buckle up too in the rear seat — that’s how it should be.

Here I am just trying to tick as many boxes as possible that help me connect with Sheldon :P There may be more annoying things that I might connect with him on, but I don’t want to pour out everything here.

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Some of the key differences

— Eidetic memory: That is so central to Sheldon — he remembers everything, like even something from decades back. That reminds me of his enemy list too :P Anyways — yeah he remembers everything, has a PhD and is just so smart — I am not that close to him in that sense. He loves comics and all and I am not so much there. One reason I started loving The Flash was because I saw Sheldon wearing his tee in a few episodes.

— Hygiene / Germ Freak: I am not so freakish about it. Maybe it is also a bit of an American vs Indian thing, and partly who I am, but that does separate me from him a lot :P

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Well trying to keep this post short. My main point in writing this is that I want my near and dear ones to know — that I may not have been the friend you deserved. This is not an excuse post but a post to acknowledge who I have been, and I am glad that in spite of my idiosyncrasies you encouraged, sustained, inspired, and tolerated me.

Thank You!

Race Report - Bangalore Half Marathon 2025

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.

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.

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.

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.

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🔥 That’s the race report. Not perfect training, not perfect running, but one more half-marathon in the bag.