Glad i missed the pacing time of 2.45 by 2 mins plus ....
As I gave a firm glance to
my TomTom the time read 2.41 and I could feel my inner voice saying “Nair saab run now, leave that lady alone , go for your
target pacing time “ ,being a 2.45 pacer at Pune Womens Half Marathon . Have
been pacing from few years for different time requirements at various events and have never missed a
pacing timing .
So on sunday , had a choice of
completing yet another pacing successfully or to cross the line with the young
lady whom I was pacing ….she too was aware that we had to cross at 2.45 .
Neha was running her first half
marathon and had ran few 10kms before . FreeRunners invited me to pace their event Pune Womens
Half Marathon first of its type in pune . Believe me , the registrations were
free and the registration had been full long back . Saturday was a busy day
since I was allotted a stall to showcase
the book TheyInspire . So , me , mala and shloka took this opportunity as a
break from our busy times . Met many friends Sunil and Sangeeta , Swetha , Amit
and Samaira, Kalyani and Shailesh , Yogesh , Taru , chandan , Aziz , Arati . Many friends from Pune whom I have known on social media .
We were up 0400 next morning and
along with sunil and sangeeta I reached the starting point , after warm up and
some zumba , meeting many friends , the race was flagged off .
Since , I was recovering from a
ITB few weeks back , my physio had instructed me to do runs of lesser distance
i.e 4 kms , 8kms , 10 kms and 21kms in a gradual progression as per my
treatment schedule . All my shorter distance runs were good and pain free , so
I decided to give my confirmation as a pacer .
I wanted to pace 2.30 but
Sangeeta requested me to pace 2.45 . For me 2.45 is a very comfortable pace
last one odd years since my training has been good and I was regularly clocking
2.10 to 2.15 in all practice runs . So I started cautiously, mind saying
“run easy” . Recently had attended couple of workshop on running and I
thought this was the right time to implement all the techniques . So started
running along with few lady runners most of them first time HMers . As the kms passed by so did the runners ,
some going ahead and some dropping the pace . Route was undulating and was a
tough one .
My only worry was people seeing
me enroute with a flag on my head like a roosters crown should not mistake me
to be a eveteaser who was chasing and running alongside the strong , beautiful
and tough women….. laath aur punch naa
pade.
Gave lot of input to many first time and seasoned runners who
were running with me. (Note : This inputs I have gained from many senior and
experienced runners whom I run with “I am not a coach”) . Told many running stories humorous as well
as serious . So 04 to 05 runners were part of my pacing bus , I took them till 10.5kms sweeping ,
motivating and visualizing them the
feeling of crossing the finish line .
A young lady probably in her
fifties did enquire whether I was from Telugu Film Industry (blushing ….no I am
from Malayalam movies …., I have come to pace you ) . She smiled and so did me
till we disbursed .
Two particular ladies were in and
around in my line of sight from 3kms .
So my task was zeroed on to get this ladies cross the finish line in either
2.45 or motivate them to goahead at right time . One of them was Neha I asked
her name around 17 Km….. was telling her stories and other girl I don’t
remember her name . She was ahead and would drop pace and I would push her
ahead . At 18th Km told her if you do it in 2.38 I will send you a
gift (#TheyInspire) , she went ahead and did complete . She later sent me a
message she did in 2.44 and the day she do a 2.38 she will ping me for the
reward. She want to earn it . Loved the spirit .
I was sharing with Neha inputs about running
and training . At 19th Km a
steep incline stared , she decided to
walk , I too followed her with constant
look on my watch . At 20th Km I told her we need to do a 2.45 since
we have a good 8 to 9 mins . However , she would run and walk . She was getting
tired , she requested me to go ahead , I had two minds , if I run I will
probably do yet another successful pacing and if I take her along I may miss
the timing by a minute or so .
Someone who trusted me to take
along as a pacer since this was a
special event since the task was to pace someone and to achieve her dreams .
She requested me to goahead and not to miss 2.45 , I stayed back with her to
complete along with her the first HM for her ……with she crossing ahead , I
following her , it was like “Jaa Simran jee le teri zindagi”, together we achieved a dream she crossing the
finish line and seeking a memorable event of lifetime for her and me crossing
the finish line and seeking the satisfaction of achieving her dream.
Glad that I missed timing by
couple of minutes or so…… 2.47.59 to be
precise (Official timing )….
