Happy New Running Year

2013 was the Year of the Snake per the Chinese calendar.

For me, 2013 was the year of breaking new grounds, discovering new limits and testing the power of will over and over again.

On and before December 31, 2012, running was a way to stay healthy and to fight off those extra pounds that my body magically piles on as soon as I try anything that is not a fruit or a vegetable. January 1st, 2013 started out as a day full of nervousness. I had just signed up for 2013 Hyannis Marathon knowing well that I was not ready to run 26.2 miles let alone 15 miles. The longest I had ever run until that point was 13.1 miles, which itself was challenging at the time of running it. It was an impulsive decision. I had less than 2 months to train and did not know what to do. I was a person experiencing the "deer in the headlights" syndrome. I was in the middle of the winter. Freezing temperatures were the norm and snow storms were expected as a normal occurrence. My goal was to train for a 26.2 mile marathon in less than nine weeks. We (my buddies and I) stayed with the basics and on February 24, 2013, we ran our first marathon in sub 20 degree (F) temperatures, high winds, heavy rain and sleet. It was not easy running that marathon but it is not the struggles that I remember. What I remember is the overwhelming sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing a marathon. This sense of accomplishment is similar to acing a long and a tough exam that someone has been preparing for a while. I tasted the joy of finishing a marathon. Running was no longer about staying healthy. I was now addicted to the drug called "the finish line".

2013 was a year full of experimentation with runs, excitement of the next race, many missed running goals and many new earned run records. It was a good year. I learned from training for each race and from running each marathon.

• From the Hyannis Marathon, I learnt the importance of preparing mentally for a marathon, not just physically.
• From the Vermont City Marathon, I learnt the importance of staying disciplined while running every mile and not getting caught up in the moment.
• From the Quebec City Marathon, I learnt the importance of tapering well before a marathon.
• From the Lowell City Marathon, I learnt that my body has a tendency to cramp painfully when it is pushed after being drained of essential electrolytes.
• From the Honolulu Marathon, I learnt to respect running in high heat and humidity.

All of these lessons will make me a better runner for my next race. I am smarter and now more experienced because of 2013.

When thinking of 2014, I think of a popular doha from Kabir (a mystic poet and a saint of India)

Kaal Kare So Aaj Kar, Aaj Kare So Ub, Pal Mein Pralaya Hoyegi, Bahuri Karoge Kub

When translated in english, this means:

Do Tomorrow's work Today, Do Today's work Now. If the Moment is Lost, How will You do the work

The year 2014 is already upon us. We know that resolutions are meant to be broken. New York Times in its article claims that 4 out of 5 people will eventually break their resolution. I don't truly have a resolution for 2014. For me, a new year has always meant reenergizing myself and adding an extra Oooomph to the energy that is needed to accomplish set goals.

In 2013, I logged:

• 1151.49 miles
• 188:47:05 of running hours
• 1,36,380 calories
• Five marathons
• One 5 k
• One 3.2 k
• One 16.1k Trail Run

Year 2014 will be more aggressive.

• I have already signed up for a couple races in 2014 (Hyannis Half Marathon & Cox Sports Providence Marathon). 
• My buddies (Rahul, Stanley and Pavan) and I have already set a pact to create a streak of running a mile (at a minimum) every day of this month (January).
• I plan to strengthen my core and gain more upper body strength that can last me more than 26.2 miles
• I plan to run at least one ultra marathon and multiple trails and short races. 

The first half of 2014 is already planned out.

It is now time to run and make new history in 2014.