Philadelphia Marathon - victory of mind over body
Sunday, November 20th was one of the most memorable days in my life. I managed to successfully complete the Philadelphia Marathon. If I have to summarize the entire experience during the 26.2 miles into one line, it would be
"Victory of mind over body".
Here's a detailed account:
I have been preparing for this for almost 6 months now, and was really looking forward to it and literally raring to go. Unfortunately 2 weeks back I got a knee injury in my right knee, and since then I have been putting icepack on it, doing stretching exercises, taking rest, and most importantly I have been mentally preparing myself for it. I was mentally prepared that my knee might start to pain during the run, but whatever happens I had to complete the marathon.
The start of the run was very exciting, I started with the 4 hour pace markers, since that has been typically my usual speed. The crowd at the beginning of the race, and the entire atmosphere was so festive that the enthusiasm was contagious. The weather was not too cold, perfect for running. At the start it was around 39-40F. Some of our Sunday morning runs have been much colder than this. I started the race wearing a t-shirt, a sweatshirt over it, and a sweater on top of it, and a woolen cap! Right from the start of the race, my right knee started paining, but because of the festive atmosphere around me, I totally forgot about the pain. At around the 4 mile mark was when my right knee became really bad, every stride I took, it started paining. I started shifting my entire weight to my left leg, taking 2 strides on my left foot for every stride on my right foot. This seemed to work well as I was still maintaining a good pace, until the 10 mile mark, I was still with the 4 hour pace markers, despite limping and running!
Then at the 10 mile mark, something happened which I didnt anticipate. My left knee started paining. The exact same symptoms as I had been having in my right knee until then. That was when I started feeling helpless and miserable for sometime. I kept running trying my best to forget the pain. Every time I would see some Asha volunteers cheering for me, something magical would happen to me, and I would start running faster. And after sometime my knees would start to pain again. At the 14 mile mark the circuit came back to the start-finish line (the only small problem being there were 12 more miles to go :D). The crowd at that mark was just amazing. Thousands of spectators cheering for the runners. Since I had my name on my Asha T-Shirt, I was hearing people all around cheering me "Go Pravin", "You're doing great Pravin" and so on. It felt just amazing.
I kept going this way limping/running till I crossed the 16 mile mark. And that was when the situation turned really bad. I was limping along when suddenly my knees totally gave way and I just slipped and fell on the ground. For the next 2 minutes I was trying to get up but couldn't. I felt like crying. Lot of people started coming to me and asking what happened and do I need help. I was really scared because what was going on in my mind was that an ambulance might come and take me away on a stretcher, and that was the last thing I wanted to happen now. I HAD TO complete the marathon. I told them I'm fine and just resting. I crawled to the nearest pole, and then with the support of the pole, managed to stand up. But I just could not move. That was when I started thinking about the cause for which I am running, and all the people who had donated towards the cause, some of whom I dont even know directly. I just could not disappoint them. After about 4-5 minutes, I was finally able to walk, and then I just started walking more and more briskly. I still had doubts in my mind whether I would be able to do it. From that moment on, until the next half an hour, I kept continuously saying aloud to myself "I can do it and I will do it". By that time I had turned off my IPod, and did not start it again till the end. I was just speaking aloud to myself. After about 10 minutes of walking, the confidence started coming back to me, and I started believing more and more that I will make it.
During this time most Asha runners were passing me, and everyone would ask me what happened, seeing me walk, but I just made a brave face and said I'm fine. When I reached the 20 mile mark (thats the place where we turn about), that was when I met a lot of Asha volunteers, Praveen, Diwakar, Hitesh, and that really cheered me up. And that was when I realized that Bala was also in great pain and walking behind me. After some time I saw Bala on the other side, walking bravely despite the pain and that really inspired me. From then on I was sure I will make it to the finish, and I started feeling mentally better and better. This was clearly an example of mind winning the battle over the body. At around 22nd mile I saw Chandru who just told me "You're doing great". And it felt just great hearing that. A little later I saw Raj and Suhas (my roommates) who had come all the way to cheer for me. They walked with me for about a mile and that did me a world of good to me. Then around the 24th mile I saw Sheetal and she gave me some really inspirational words which felt great. She walked with me till almost the 26th mile. Every step nearer to the end I was feeling better and better. And I decided that just before the finish mark I had to sprint. About 200 metres to the finish, suddenly there was such a huge amount of spectators again and they were cheering for me, and I could see the finish mark, and I could see Raj and Suhas ready with camera. That was when I started sprinting. I still dont know how I managed to sprint with 2 non-functioning knees, but I just ran to the finish mark. The feeling of having finished the marathon was just too awesome. It took me a lot of time for the feeling to sink in that I did it. The pain was the last thing on my mind now, and I was just savouring the moment.
My final timing was 5 hours and 39 minutes. In retrospect I think yes if my knees were alright then I might have been probably able to make the 4 hour time or something, but having endured the broken knee that I did, just finishing the race was more satisfying than anything else. Just after I had finished, Partha told me, "Congrats, this is your personal best time!" I really loved that line. In your first marathon any time you make is your best time :) and all that matters is to complete the marathon.
Am still savouring the great feeling. I would like to take this chance to thank all the Asha volunteers and my co-runners and coach Tom, who all did a fabulous fabulous job, and I am definitely running again next year!
"Victory of mind over body".
Here's a detailed account:
I have been preparing for this for almost 6 months now, and was really looking forward to it and literally raring to go. Unfortunately 2 weeks back I got a knee injury in my right knee, and since then I have been putting icepack on it, doing stretching exercises, taking rest, and most importantly I have been mentally preparing myself for it. I was mentally prepared that my knee might start to pain during the run, but whatever happens I had to complete the marathon.
The start of the run was very exciting, I started with the 4 hour pace markers, since that has been typically my usual speed. The crowd at the beginning of the race, and the entire atmosphere was so festive that the enthusiasm was contagious. The weather was not too cold, perfect for running. At the start it was around 39-40F. Some of our Sunday morning runs have been much colder than this. I started the race wearing a t-shirt, a sweatshirt over it, and a sweater on top of it, and a woolen cap! Right from the start of the race, my right knee started paining, but because of the festive atmosphere around me, I totally forgot about the pain. At around the 4 mile mark was when my right knee became really bad, every stride I took, it started paining. I started shifting my entire weight to my left leg, taking 2 strides on my left foot for every stride on my right foot. This seemed to work well as I was still maintaining a good pace, until the 10 mile mark, I was still with the 4 hour pace markers, despite limping and running!
Then at the 10 mile mark, something happened which I didnt anticipate. My left knee started paining. The exact same symptoms as I had been having in my right knee until then. That was when I started feeling helpless and miserable for sometime. I kept running trying my best to forget the pain. Every time I would see some Asha volunteers cheering for me, something magical would happen to me, and I would start running faster. And after sometime my knees would start to pain again. At the 14 mile mark the circuit came back to the start-finish line (the only small problem being there were 12 more miles to go :D). The crowd at that mark was just amazing. Thousands of spectators cheering for the runners. Since I had my name on my Asha T-Shirt, I was hearing people all around cheering me "Go Pravin", "You're doing great Pravin" and so on. It felt just amazing.
I kept going this way limping/running till I crossed the 16 mile mark. And that was when the situation turned really bad. I was limping along when suddenly my knees totally gave way and I just slipped and fell on the ground. For the next 2 minutes I was trying to get up but couldn't. I felt like crying. Lot of people started coming to me and asking what happened and do I need help. I was really scared because what was going on in my mind was that an ambulance might come and take me away on a stretcher, and that was the last thing I wanted to happen now. I HAD TO complete the marathon. I told them I'm fine and just resting. I crawled to the nearest pole, and then with the support of the pole, managed to stand up. But I just could not move. That was when I started thinking about the cause for which I am running, and all the people who had donated towards the cause, some of whom I dont even know directly. I just could not disappoint them. After about 4-5 minutes, I was finally able to walk, and then I just started walking more and more briskly. I still had doubts in my mind whether I would be able to do it. From that moment on, until the next half an hour, I kept continuously saying aloud to myself "I can do it and I will do it". By that time I had turned off my IPod, and did not start it again till the end. I was just speaking aloud to myself. After about 10 minutes of walking, the confidence started coming back to me, and I started believing more and more that I will make it.
During this time most Asha runners were passing me, and everyone would ask me what happened, seeing me walk, but I just made a brave face and said I'm fine. When I reached the 20 mile mark (thats the place where we turn about), that was when I met a lot of Asha volunteers, Praveen, Diwakar, Hitesh, and that really cheered me up. And that was when I realized that Bala was also in great pain and walking behind me. After some time I saw Bala on the other side, walking bravely despite the pain and that really inspired me. From then on I was sure I will make it to the finish, and I started feeling mentally better and better. This was clearly an example of mind winning the battle over the body. At around 22nd mile I saw Chandru who just told me "You're doing great". And it felt just great hearing that. A little later I saw Raj and Suhas (my roommates) who had come all the way to cheer for me. They walked with me for about a mile and that did me a world of good to me. Then around the 24th mile I saw Sheetal and she gave me some really inspirational words which felt great. She walked with me till almost the 26th mile. Every step nearer to the end I was feeling better and better. And I decided that just before the finish mark I had to sprint. About 200 metres to the finish, suddenly there was such a huge amount of spectators again and they were cheering for me, and I could see the finish mark, and I could see Raj and Suhas ready with camera. That was when I started sprinting. I still dont know how I managed to sprint with 2 non-functioning knees, but I just ran to the finish mark. The feeling of having finished the marathon was just too awesome. It took me a lot of time for the feeling to sink in that I did it. The pain was the last thing on my mind now, and I was just savouring the moment.
My final timing was 5 hours and 39 minutes. In retrospect I think yes if my knees were alright then I might have been probably able to make the 4 hour time or something, but having endured the broken knee that I did, just finishing the race was more satisfying than anything else. Just after I had finished, Partha told me, "Congrats, this is your personal best time!" I really loved that line. In your first marathon any time you make is your best time :) and all that matters is to complete the marathon.
Am still savouring the great feeling. I would like to take this chance to thank all the Asha volunteers and my co-runners and coach Tom, who all did a fabulous fabulous job, and I am definitely running again next year!
thus spake PS at
11:07 AM
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