Monday, May 27, 2013

Yet another Run?

A long distance runner dips through different emotions  at different stages of his final run.

Standing at the start line on the race day, the waves of his thoughts and emotions which strikes the walls of his mind, are numerous. 

Self doubt, confidence, fear, self motivation, inspiration, passion, foresightedness and vigor, all appears at the same time. Of course, it's subjective and lot depends on the very fabric of the runner as a individual.

 One wonders, when does this actually starts? These emotions and thoughts must have some seed, when did this goes under soil of your mind? Is it always present? And a race day is just a catalyst. Or this builds up slowly.

It's open to debate! But my weight will be on the side that these are always there and a race is just triggers it.

Long distance running is not natural, whereas a sprint running can be called a regular activity.

A sprint running is sudden and fast, therefore, you don't have option of struggling or even addressing your thoughts and emotions. It's unilateral and monolithic. You have no option but to pump yourself up and move with the whole force after that gun shot.

Where is the time to think? Where is the time to even address your different thoughts and emotions?   Perhaps, there is, but it find its place way before the start line. The chances that there will be struggle of thoughts and emotions and one might dominates to other impacting the result, are minuscule. 

On the contrary, long distance running is entirely differently ball game at all.

A long distance running is a long conversation with yourself. Every thought which might be hidden somewhere in you, appears and echos in your mind. Every emotion which found it's place in you, but was suppressed or not acknowledged by you, appears to its full strength.

Why does this happen? Is it due to fact that you are venerable as your energy depletes, and what makes you stronger, and the only source of energy, are your thoughts and emotions?
The result of your run depends on which force of your thought wins! All your thoughts and emotions slowly group themselves into Victory or part of large crowd, Vigor or just enough, facing fear of Breathlessness or easy life.

A runner start harvesting these thoughts the moment he start training for his long runs. He faces these thoughts and emotions and he gets acquainted with them.
A winner knows that these are real and he must address and command them. He can't be ignorant towards these.

.....

Friday, May 10, 2013

Mystical Dusk

While I am writing these lines, a beautiful and mystical evening is melting in front of my eyes.
The different shades of colours which have appeared in last 1 hours, is nothing less than a magic. 

As if someone is painting on a large canvas of sky. Not quite satisfied with the colours with which he is playing, therefore, trying to play with all possible colours  he has in the plate. 

Now it's colour of gloom which he is trying to paint.

A stroke of a brush tells so much about painter's state of mind. It translates his thoughts into lines and brush of colours. It appears as if, it progresses as waves of his thoughts progresses.
His emotions, his thoughts, his inspirations unfolds in the form of pattern of colours on his play ground canvas. 

As Dostoyevsky might have put it in his words that man's organic need for self-expression, of his natural drive to be himself, leads to creation of an art. 
If it's done in words, it becomes Book. If it's done in colours, it becomes Painting! 

Monday, May 6, 2013

One good Run

Good and satisfactory runs are similar in so many ways. It definitely starts with your willingness to run, followed by a good weather(if lucky) and then perhaps a good finish. But when it's on Monday and a holiday with warm (British worm :)) sunny day, it's nothing less than luxury.

There comes a stage for every amateur runner when he gets so occupied with the timing and pace of his runs that he starts to miss the pleasure in running.
There's no doubt that people run for different reasons. Most of us run to get fitter and get healthy in life, few of us run to adhere to their new year resolution (because others are doing so) and there also exists a category of runners who take up running to prove a point in life. The trigger for later category can be a personal experience or incident. However, one point remains constant for all the runners that they should enjoy their run.

My today's run was triggered by a guilt that I missed my Sunday long run with SRC group. Perhaps I was too lazy and gave myself so many reasons why i should not run. It reached to a level that I returned from mid way run, feeling exhausted and sweating as if I was running in Sahara desert.

But deep down I knew that I was not enjoying. Albeit, I put my shoes on, but rhythm of my feet and shoes were not matching. One wanted me to rest while other reminded me of other 6-7 shoes which were waiting for me.
So here I was today, well rested, ready with my java jolt to exploit a bright and sunny holiday evening.
We never realised that people whom we cross during our runs, influence us in many ways. Their mood, dress and even gender has its impact on your run.
Today was a happy evening evening, thanks to bright, warm and sunny evening, people were at their jovial best. People in their summer dresses taking a stroll, people in their balcony enjoying their drinks, young kids in groups on roads enjoying a good laugh. All had their bits in my good run today.

I couldn't stop my self stopping and taking few pictures and capturing such rare moments in my iOS cam.
While doing so I didn't realise that I was also running. How can one go through so many experiences and swings while running.
Ended my 4.9 miles run @ 8.03 pace. But it was not timing but the time which made this run memorable and a realisation that it's vital for a runner to enjoy his runs!