Running....water, that is...

Choosing a running path which has water fountains along the way is critical to me when I go for a distance run. The alternative is to carry water, which adds weight.
An interesting point is that in my class of 27 students not one drinks colas. The students drink water or juices. Red Bull is of course a favorite for many.

Out of Running or Run-out?

I was telling my students the other day about the various sports terms and analogies that creep into everyday life, especially work life. In cricket, there is the run-out, equivalent to getting caught in a rundown in baseball.
On the other hand, this year's London Marathon did not feature Paula Radcliffe, the one who ran the marathon in a spectacular 2:15:25 in 2003. Paula has done well since, but she has never come close to this time. The running world would like to see Paula or another woman post a sub-2:15 time.
Paula has some interesting comments here..

Paula Radcliffe bemoans men running scared. Owen Slot, Chief Sports Reporter

Male distance runners in this country have a weaker mentality than their female counterparts, they are scared of having their egos bruised by testing themselves against top competition and are more likely to “bottle out” in poor conditions. Two days before another London Marathon in which no Briton is likely to challenge in the men's elite race, this is the view of Paula Radcliffe, the women's world record-holder.

In an interview with Spikes magazine, Radcliffe said that many male athletes are psyched out before they have even got to elite level. “A lot of it is about the mental outlook of the athlete,” she said. “The youngsters coming through now in male middle- distance are in an era where they're being told, 'We haven't got anyone as good as Coe, Cram or Ovett.' So they never think they're going to be able to live up to that.”

Radcliffe also said that, in the United Kingdom, “our squad development and group training mentality fell apart” and that female runners were far better equipped to cope than the men. “Men in particular need that more than women,” she said. “Women will either be able to get themselves together in a group or they will go out and hammer it in training.

“In my experience, women can train more closely to their maximum on their own for more sessions in the week than men. It's just the way the physiology is. By putting men in a squad, you force them to push a little bit harder and train a little bit harder.”

However, she said simultaneously that the male elite “avoid” each other in training and are scared to leave the comfort zone of their local training groups to pit themselves in training against their peers. She added that their mentality is, “‘We're not going to train together because it might hurt my ego.' That doesn't help, either.”

And in a withering assessment of the psyche of male runners in general, she said: “Women are generally better organised and more consistent. You might see the guys start off a bit faster and probably running at a quicker pace, but they're fair-weather runners. If the rain or snow comes in, the guys are going to bottle out.”

Radcliffe also suggested that attitudes at the elite level are too soft on the young talent of both genders. “The whole country went through this phase of thinking, 'Oh, you shouldn't give it all in training anyway, you shouldn't train too hard, you can overtrain,'” she said. “They are competing against people who were out there being the best in the world and winning world championships already at 20, 21, and yet we're saying, 'They're only just under 23.'

“We're creating a whole new extra age group to ease that transition, when really we need to almost be throwing people in and getting them aware of what they're doing.”

Runover

The flu season is upon us- Swine flu, avian flu, ...

Keep running, is the advice...

Runner's Lows

Quite a lot has been written about a "Runner's High." The flip side is the lows a runner experiences when he/she cannot do the running he/she has become addicted to. I used to feel sick if I could not run a distance every day, but have slowly de-runified myself.
Another depressing feeling is when it becomes a struggle to run a distance which one could cover easily before. Ah, the anti-gravity of youth...

4 44 - the magic needed to surpass Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia

Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya won the London Marathon today, finishing in 2:05:10. His countrymen took the next two spots. Martin Lel, the Ethiopian had pulled out due to injury. It is interesting to review the world record held by Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia- 2:03:59. His time works out to just a tickover 4 min 44 sec per mile, for 26.2 miles.
My fastest has been a 5:15 mile, and that was just one mile.
Running is basic - no special gear needed- just the heart, and the mind. The ability to channel energy from within.

Whether it is Asics or New Balance- the "Sole" of the Runner is what matters

One of my students who runs track is an 'Asics' person.
I have used many brands of shoes in my life. Over the years I have come to like Saucony, though Asics shoes are really light and one can run fast in them. I like New Balance for the widths.

The Chicago weather is becoming downright gorgeous. It is great weather for running, gardening, and other 'steamy' activities... My run today was just 3 miles or so, but it was quick.

Slothfulness is human, running is divine....

Indian summer, Indian Runner

Today was a warm day in Chicago. I had gone to my office to clean it up but interruptions by students cleaned up my time. After coming home in the evening I went for a 3.5 mile run. It was nice to see a lot of school girls running, with the nice weather a welcome respite.

Mallika Sarabhai - Running

Interesting article on Indian Politics...
On the campaign trail, the renowned classical dancer Mallika Sarabhai walks past a foul-smelling trash heap and a gate adorned with coconuts to enter the maze-like slum where ragpickers in this western Indian city live. Little girls welcome her with rice grains mixed in auspicious vermilion paste and garland her with hand-spun cotton threads. She squats on the floor and breaks into a folk song, and women in floral saris and colorful glass bangles clap and sing along." Other candidates wave at you and go away. Our democracy has room only for leaders, not for people like you and me," said Sarabhai, 56, a slim, short-haired woman with kohl-rimmed eyes and a red-glitter bindi, the decorative dot worn on the forehead by many Hindu women. "But I have come here as one of you, as your sister." Sarabhai, a first-time independent candidate, is running for a lower house seat in Parliament in national elections this month from one of India's most high-profile constituencies, a state capital that has been polarized along Hindu-Muslim lines since riots in 2002. As a dancer, she has used performing arts for years to challenge social taboos that limit women's aspirations. In her new political role, she calls herself a "people's candidate" who is fighting to reclaim the idea of an inclusive and secular India.

Running for Cover

I haven't run in three days...but I happened to remember the cover drives and square cuts of Gundappa Viswanath. A treat to watch, but one who could never be counted on for delivering a big innings.

The clock ran out....

Tomorrow I will be performing some rites on the anniversary of my father's death. He passed away in 1990, when he was only 62 years old. He took me out to fly kites, he played table tennis with me, he took me on his bicycle. The unrelenting saw of time fells many a fine human even at a young age.

Running rampant..musically

Today was a washout....it was raining all day, and I had to grade an exam on which students did poorly. However I got to listen to some excellent music- the gift from the Gods and Goddesses. I am forever indebted to great maestros like Shankar Jaikishen, Madan Mohan, Pendyala, Ilayaraja, Jaidev....folks who composed brilliant tunes.

Glory Days of a Running Commentary

As I went out on another six mile run on a dull but warm evening my mind ran backwards to my youth and cricket. I loved playing cricket and enjoyed watching it. I had gone to quite a few matches at Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad- I saw the famous West Indies team of 1974 with Vivian Richards, Clive Lloyd, Andy Roberts, Van Holder and Bernard Julien, I saw Gary Sobers play in his farewell benefit game, I watched the famous English team with Old and Arnold, and many Ranji trophy stars like Padmakar Shivalkar and Rajinder Goel. My fond memories include watching Pataudi get out quickly and return to the Pavilion when he spotted his wife there, and Prasanna getting me an autograph of Pataudi who was notorious for not signing.
I also fondly remember listening to cricket commentary on the radio. Called the running commentary (as opposed to recorded commentary) it featured stalwarts like Suresh Saraiah who were our eyes and ears. A classic statement was "The bowler appealed to (the umpire) Shivaramakrishnan but neither Shiva nor Rama nor Krishna heard it."

Running up a Six

Today was a gorgeous day in Naperville, with the temps hitting a downright steamy 70 degrees. After I got out of my office and came home at 5:00 PM, I put on my shorts and went out on a 6 mile run. It felt absolutely fabulous- but more sunny was the outlook of people everywhere. The tellers in the bank, the assistants in the school, the servers in the restaurants- everyone had a glowing outlook...sunshine runs in the people.

Summer Runner

Today the Goddesses decided to bathe Chicago in 70 degree weather..the first time this year in Chicago that I have gone running in shorts and a T-shirt (I did do that in Konya, but it was in 50 degree weather...). It is truly a "moving" feeling, but runs by really fast!

The Running Machine

Today BQ from LifeFitness came and talked to my students about doing business internationally. He talked about treadmills and spinning bikes and Hammer Strength equipment...I simply cannot tolerate the boredom that accompanies indoor exercise. Running indoors is not for the free spirited.

The loneliness of the long aching runner..

As winter draws to a close, I am getting more regular in my running. As I went out to run on a dull, drab, dreary day, I felt quite well and the mind was interested in running a distance. However the aches and pains resulting from years of pounding the pavement apply rather painful restraint. 

Given that I first ran "officially" in 100 metre heats in sixth grade and then stopped running until I was twenty three, it has been a long interesting journey. Have covered a distance, but a heck of a long way to go further. That's the trouble with expanding one's horizons...

Having a run-off

Today It was dark by the time I came home, and my running went dark as well. As I reflect on the glories of my running past, I remember the time I ran a 10K in under 40 minutes and a 5K in less than 19 minutes.  While they are good, what was memorable was running with some good people and having fun while doing it. Metaphor for life- share what you are doing with good people, and have fun doing it.

A fumbled run...

After a long day spent scrubbing the floor of my garage and removing all the salt and grime from the winter, I went running this evening. As I struggled to keep a semblance of pace through my "run"ning nose, my thoughts went fumbling back to 1993. I remembered a woman I was interested in then. Both of us had hit it off rather well. We both liked the music of a then new artist called Sarah McLachlan who had released an album titled "Fumbling towards Ecstasy." In this particular relationship my pride and ego was the stumbling block, something that one recognizes and controls over time. In memory of that quite nice person, I took out my Sarah M. album...The lyrics of Fumbling towards Ecstasy...

All the fear has left me now
I'm not frightened anymore.
It's my heart that pounds beneath my flesh.
it's my mouth that pushes out this breath

and if I shed a tear I won't cage it.
I won't fear love
and if I feel a rage I won't deny it.
I won't fear love.

Companion to our demons
they will dance and we will play.
With chairs candles and clothes
making darkness in the day.
It will be easy to look in or out
upstream or down
without a thought

and if I shed a tear I won't cage it.
I won't fear love
and if I feel a rage I won't deny it.
I won't fear love.

Peace in the struggle to find peace.
Comfort on the way to comfort

and if I shed a tear I won't cage it.
I won't fear love
and if I feel a rage I won't deny it
I won't fear love.
I won't fear love.
I won't fear love...

AyRan to I-Ran

On my recent trip to Turkey, I had the yogurt drink Ayran multiple times in a day and loved it. Tastes a little like buttermilk but has a different consistency.

On a different but equally wonderful level, I nostalgically remember the wonderful 1997 Iranian oscar winning movie Bacheha-Ye Aseman or Children of Heaven. One can watch a bit of it here..

Going the distance....

As I went running on my usual route today and was struggling, I remembered the time I used to run 90 to 100 miles a week, every week. There was a time when my yearly total of miles run would be more than three thousand...and I had no car at the time! 

Why do people consume their time doing something as mundane as running? For me, it is the time to think and ponder....

Racing through a hairy situation...

As I was leaving my office building to get to my car today, I was hailed by two of my students who were leading a group of prospective high school seniors and their parents on a campus tour. I was introduced to the group as "my favorite professor" by the two, one of whom was part of our Turkey group. This was one day when I was dressed casually, without my tie. Further, due to a concatenation of circumstances, I had not been able to see a barber for a while and my hair (or whatever is left) had grown quite a bit. Right after this encounter I went to a hair stylist Melissa who did a wonderful job cutting my hair. Unfortunately by the time everything was completed and I got my library books (Women's Wicked Wit and In Defense of Food), there was no time left for running. 

Well, running to live or living to run....

Running out on coffee

Anyone who has seen the movie 'Blues Brothers" appreciates the bluesy songs about the woman running away with another man and leaving the kids behind...
The time has come for me to cut back on my favorite drink, good coffee. While coffee, even in excess, is not as vile a habit as other vices, it is becoming imperative that I curtail its consumption. In Turkey I greatly enjoyed the "Ayran" buttermilk drink. Perhaps I will migrate to a yogurt based drink as my next mainstay!

Running off a happy day

A bad case of sneezing, cold, and other ailments had put a damper on my outlook and on my running.Today I had a great time with the parents of a student of mine, and after coming home, decided to sneeze and drip my way through a run. I went for a a 5K run, but it felt like a 10K to my runny nose. Now for the showers and dinner- a nice end to a rewarding day.

Missed it by a nose....

The worst part of catching a really bad cold, which I did on Friday, is that it runs down one's running schedule. Add cold weather and incessant rain to the mix, and it results in a whole lot of wetness. To add to the Chinese torture, one of my best friends send me an email that ran like this.."On March 15, our condo here in Tucson got drowned. Bad news: our condo and much of our stuff is drowned. Good news: nobody was injured; it's just stuff."

The scale of events is always important in the frame of reference. Here's hoping that my running will jog forward on terra-firma.

Took a tumble in Istanbul, but back on my feet in Chicago

Recently I became acquainted with a young lady from San Jose who is also a runner. She told me yesterday that she was back to running five miles twice a week. I became somewhat embarrassed and went out and ran about 3.5 miles today. Slowly getting the feeling back in my feet.
Right after we landed in Istanbul a couple of Saturdays ago, I raced a student up the steps of a hill and took a couple of falls. This hurt a bit, but slowly the running is coming back to me.

Running in Mevlana's Land.

I was in Konya on March 25, 2009. After visiting the all girls school Guventas at noon, we came back to our hotel at around 3PM. It was about 45 degrees, but I decided to run. I put on my shorts and my T-shirt and ran around the Aladdin Hill a couple of times. Then I ran into the the city and explored the town. It was getting old, but I ran for about 45 minutes.It felt marvelous to run in the land of Mevlana. I was deeply honored to have the opportunity. I returned, showered up and took a walk in the city. Konya is a fascinating town, and I learnt a lot through running on its streets. The following day, March 26, I got up and walked for about an hour in the morning before leaving for Mevlana's museum. In the afternoon I walked around in the town again.