Hari Kirtan, Slumdog and Pandit Jasraj or How I managed the Half Marathon

18th January 2009

Last night started early

8pm was when I called in

My greatest fear isn't about the run

As much as it is about waking up

And that I manage...

The walk to the start is a warm up

In itself given the fair distance

As a result the take off is

delayed by 3.48 minutes..

Nobody seems to mind

The gathering is humungous

Less than 8 weeks after 26.XI

This is a terrors delight.. I think

As we run past Flora Fountain

My mind relaxes-let them come

And this time they won't need

A court..for lynched they will be

By humanity…

The thrill of running on the road

With no traffic is my first high

The second is going past Oberoi

My story began here…

The staff handsomely attired are out

And I wave them with gratitude

As they inspire me on...

The sea on my left gleams in motivation…

"The Oberoi Turn" reads the board

In the same graphics style..

that's branding for you..

The Ambassador roof top majestically beckons me

And from a distance I hear it call me closer

Passing the Rock-On lookalike group

I switch on the first concert I have lined up-

Hari Kirtan on my ipod stuck to my arm

The Lord spurs me on as I pass some run-walkers while some run past me…

Its the flyover on Marine drive

There are TV crew on it as are numerous other Mumbaikars..

Chowpatty approaches albeit slowly

I shall resist walking I tell myself…

The fun starts now as I follow the group onto Peddar road

My pace slows as I ready my calves for the climb..

Suddenly Peddar doesn't look all that appealing..

Why oh why did I do this the demons laugh..

To see the numbers on Peddar is

An athletes delight as that is how I feel..

I start the fight within..

I'm sure to lose I hear a voice over the other voice in my head eulogising the Almighty…

perhaps my way of having him by my side..

The early runners have begun walking…

I enjoy the downhill run down to Cadbury and then Haji Ali…

The juice centre should be open…

Hopes dash as some water on my self I splash…

And that fortunately will be my only attempt to rhyme..

Purely unintentional..

The sea appears again..

The cool air is a blessing..

The Mela turn is fast approaching…

Haji Ali ends..Worli begins..I spy Atria..

My first hurrah ..I haven't stopped my jog yet…

The 2nd hurrah soon as I turn and cross onto Atria

and the full thon runners come abounding…

Like black gazelles…they are sight to behold

Yipee I've beaten them…paisa vasool

Onto slumdog soundtrack now…

Boy am I charged

I flay my arms at ARR's magnificent composition

My hand brushes something matty..

Holy shit..I yelp..

Two enormous sheep and my petrified discovery of them

Raises a few laughs around…

A few cops chase them off the road…talk about sense of humor..

Back on Peddar-thank God no flyover...yet…

I support thee Lata ji…

But WTH ...the climb is there nonetheless

I realize is my real experience that ..

The skin is successful in keeping all my organs in..

Still no stop…

Petite hands hand out glucose biscuits…

God bless them all…

I wolf them down as

A deprived fourth world inhabitant…

And hey how much water have I had…

Chowpatty again…the sun on me

The cap feels heavy

If I survive no cap next year..

Jai ho..says Rahman as if intended…

Jai ho… I echo

The music pounds my drums

I'm desperate

My demons will win-No I scream..

Top gear now-I flick my pod

Its Om by guru Jasraj..

The power that is Om I learn quick

The adrenalin slowly creeps back in

I remember Avis' short note

Ruk jana nahin tu kahin haar ke..

Thanks Avis..nahin kabhi nahin..

3kms to go..I look at OM left

30 mins more

A quick calculation tells me I need

9mins per km to help OM help me cool off as well post the finish..

The demons lose the battle with my head

They're all over my legs and shoulders

Cheaters..

2kms...

Then One…

Over OM I lip read the furios shouts of "come on" from the bystanders..

500 metres...I m making it

I see a placard

“Well done Dad..”

Someone else’s kids

But I know back home that's what mine are saying…

My demons ..ha ha..they're off my back

Flung on the way side

Writhing on the road

Begging to be taken back.

Crying in pain..

As I take that final surge ahead

Cross the line

For Mumbai..

For humanity..

For the power

That I saw by my side as I won my battle today...