Running for the real sake of running! Mann-Meet ! and the shout out ...."Bardoli !"

The shimmering eyes, the galloping feet, the never fading smile and the curious expressions, is what best describes this duo!

Brothers in arms as they are, are the faces of future of running in this part of the running world.

I always shouted out “Bardoli..!” when the 10k runners makes fly by past us slow 21k runners after their delayed start of about 15 to 30 minutes in any event.! And each and every time I have shouted, they have raised their hands and waved acknowledging the cheer. ! This particular routine adds a great cheer in me and somehow and I don’t know why the nervousness of a race turns into joy then onwards!

In VCHM this time, there was some confusion at the race start, and when we were about to reach second km mark, we saw the antelopes of 10k lead pack darting ahead, and Meet was among them and we tried to cheer him too but he was too busy to listen !

Then after a very short while, there was this left behind antelope jettisoning past us, asking Amishbhai in who’s bus I was travelling, “ketla jan gaya aagal..?” (“How many have gone ahead?”)

Amishbhai replied instantly to the familiar voice without having seen that "it doesn’t matter now, just go!"

So it was a bit of confusion state we thought for 10k lead pack now, and then we were off to our own stuff for the run ahead, at a slow and steady pace.

Meet managed to get a podium, and Mann also tried best but his late start costed him the place in the lead. Having known this, I was sad that the deserving chaps could not get it. But it was just another race i thought !

Walking back to the stay places, we caught up with the duo and the most appealing thing that I notice which I always knew there was, was their innocence and a “just another race” attitude !

The shimmer in the eyes the same, the ring in the voice the same, the innocence in the smile the same !

Races come and go, these types, a very rare breed I would say, be the same!

Not only their bodies are light, but they don’t have any baggage in their minds too !

Stay this way guys !

God bless !

Valsad again ! - VCHM 2018

PB, in a bit of unprepared fashion, not exactly a strong finish, Thank you Amishbhai for a comfort pacing in the first 12k ! Having not practised hurts in the last laps for sure. Running low grade fever since 4 days earlier, its a strange experience how body reacts to stress, nervousness and adrenaline.

With Nishbhai and Ashish sir flying on the road ahead, its just an honour to have drifted to cut a couple of minutes from the Adani timing a little more than a month ago. !

Summit 3.0 gave me a sprained ankle and a truck full of exhaustion, and that could be felt through the days till VCHM.

I was a way too cautious in going in for full push due to the right ankle, so a guarded run anchored on the calmness and comfort with the pacer Amishbhai made me push through first 12K , chit chatting - well i was listening more of, and Amishbhai checking every now and then by asking his questions engaging the passengers in talks to gauge their comfort level. a casual but very effective way to help runners keep up with him mentally.

comfort level went up and down every now and then , and post 12K i asked permission for a try to go slight ahead as the visible down was coming. I could gain a little ground and that i think helped to cover up some minutes.

Much Much better ho sakta hai ..! (the comedy dialogue from the movie "Rock on" sort of situation it was ! Not a strong one as i would like it ! And strong enough to get a couple of minutes cut is a solace. !

Tried bandana and cap for the first time, and as they say don't try anyting new on the race day and thats so right...it affects your "race" a lot (read as "race-photographs...!") heheheheh !

Some issues with 10k start did not go well with the 10 k runners in our troup, so a bit sad, as VCHM is alla bout simple but good organising, and this time it was a lacking it seems.

Route as usual, the best we can have !

Had a big contingent if team PRAYAS running 10k and a couple doing the HM, and that is a huge happy factor for me.

Great Time Again

Ever since Ajay started to feel the pain of his illness, I had thought to share his pain by doing something that would put myself to equal hardship physically.
And somehow this 10kmph became the benchmark to do so.

Couldn't do running though started a lot many time when Ajay was going through hell. Started wrongly , left in between, then left totally as he went away.... in some strange sense of guilt, now today accomplishing it in a half marathon.

Dedicated to Aajay.