Its not about the Race - 2

Its not about the Race - 2

We had an Accounting Quiz today and that meant less sleep one night before the quiz. And then yesterday they announced that the Adventure Club selection run will take place today.

Well not really a good sign.

Anyways all I knew was that I had to run this race. But I couldn't practice for the run. All I could do in these days was just one session of 1 round of campus. That wasn't enough. To make it worse it rained today and the humidity was at its peak. The only silver lining was that the race was in evening and that meant no sun.

After a 4 and a half hours of sleep in the night I made a plan that Ill sleep for one more hour before going for the race between 4:30 and 5:30 just after the quiz. Well... I couldn't do it. In preparation for the run, I took water 20 mins before the run. I didn't wear a cotton vest or Tee. Instead I preferred the sports Tee. I remember my lead (S) in my previous company told me that such Tees are good because they don't absorb much water. He is a good runner and I truly believe him. I also wore the supporter I had bought for gym when in Bangalore. I kept a handkerchief to wipe my face and left my room at 5:15 to be on time.

The seniors made us stretch before the race which I thought was a good thing to do. I thought of three breathing patters for myself.

In from nose out of nose one breath per two steps
In from nose out of mouth one breath per two steps
In from mouth out of mouth one breath per two steps
And the contingency plan mouth in mouth out one breath per step

I don't know what real runners do but this is a plan I made for myself. May not be technically the right thing to do. All I wanted was to keep myself occupied throughout the run. All I knew was I had to finish it. By the way top 20 were to get in straight, next 20 were to go through interview and 10 were to be selected.

My Plan A was to get in top 20 and Plan B was to get within top 40. There was no Plan C.

And then the race started. Pretty soon I could see that there were some 25-30 people ahead of me. I chose to stick to the basics. Just jog the 3 rounds. However I started jogging a bit faster to overtake at least the ladies. I was within top 20 now. I used the pattern-I for breathing. By the time I was done with one third of race (near campus gate), I had to switch to Pattern-II. I didn't stop for water. No one did. I completed the first round easily. Thanks to the only practice run I did. I stopped for water at the NTB (starting point). Took my glass and walked till I finished it. I didn't drink the water. Just soaked the throat and threw the glass. It didn't get into the bin. I stopped and threw it again to make sure it was in. And I ran again.

I walked at Main gate and near howrah bridge this time. It was just to take deep breaths so that the breathing slowed down. Second round was over and I had energy left. I still was on breathing pattern II. But by the time I reached main gate I switched to III. I stopped for water and slowed down my breathing. Ran again with pattern II. Walked again near howrah bridge. I saw that S was running just behind me and I started running with last energy I had. He gave up. Near Audi I overtook 2 more people and the senior shouted at us. "You are within top twenty. Run guys". And suddenly it occurred to me that I had chance. One of the guys behind me started sprinting and overtook me. I told myself that it was the time. Don't know what gave me energy and I started running fast. Faster. I couldn't believe that I was running so fast. And it was time to switch to the contingency breathing pattern. All I could think of was the finish line. I just ran without any second thought.

I finished 17th. Within top 20. I was into the Adventure Club at IIMC. I was feeling a bit of backache but it was fine. I did it. More than the race what mattered was that I kept the promise I made to myself. It indeed was not about the race. It was about the will. I did say that only will is not sufficient to win. I needed practice. I would like to modify my statement now. It indeed is about will. Its the will which made me come up with all those weird plans.

But in the end what matters is the result. And the result says I did it. Without caring about what it took.