The tough get going !!!

When the going gets tough, the tough get going
This is exactly what I felt during the 10k today in the morning. The event was supposed to start at 7:30 AM but I was at my home then, getting ready to leave :( When I reached the venue after a nightmarish parking saga, it was 8:10 already. I quickly strode through the place, reached the start point, stretched a little and then, started off the run. As I already told you, I’ve got this knee pain and so, I had this psychological feeling all the while behind my mind about my fitness. I thought I would need to break at least twice during the run so that I would at least finish it.
Well, I ran for a kilometer and lo, I started feeling the pain at my calf muscles. Though I was tempted to stop for a while seeing all the people around me, I some how managed to convince myself to stay running at least for 2 more kilometers. Another 100 meters and I was almost about to halt when I saw Raghu. Thank God…I felt really relieved. I ran towards him and greeted him. Even he was surprised. Though we planned to run the race together, we could not somehow meet each other at the start point. Thanks to Raghu, I continued the race for 3 more kilometers, taking the total covered distance to 4 kilometers. Now, this was the time I thought I needed to take a break. It was already beyond my expectations that I completed 4kms with out a break. Anyways, I told Raghu to go ahead in case I stopped in the middle to take some rest. Even he accepted. Though I told him this, I still felt a bit bad to halt. Reason, simple. All these guys knew that I’m a long distance runner and now, on the day that I needed to prove my worth, if I stopped, it would change their attitude towards me. So, this fear was some source of energizer for me all the while. We both covered another 500 meters when Raghu asked me if I wanted to take a break. I told that it was ok and I would see if I can still hold on. Now, here, I was seriously tempted. I saw a water booth and so, ran towards that, picked a glass with out stopping and then, drank half of that and splashed the other half on to my face. I just wanted to get going. To my surprise, after another 10 mins, Raghu told me he was going to stop for a break because he could not take it any longer. That was the moment I felt ‘The tough get going’. It actually boosted confidence and strength in me. All the while, I was of the feeling that it was me who was craving for a break and no one else. But, I realized then was wrong. I found it was a universal phenomenon.
With the new zeal, I continued the run. This went on till the 7 kilometer mark. It was three kilometers more and I was already drooping. You won’t believe, it was Anjali now, whom I saw. She was walking. I recognized her from a distance and again, my spirits woke up. Just at the point when I needed some company did god show me her. I ran towards her and greeted her. Seeing me, she was surprised because she thought she would never meet me that day and that I would have gone far beyond her by that time. I told her I was about 45 mins late to the race. She looked at her watch and said ‘wow, which means eight kilometers in 35 (it was 38, actually) mins :) ‘ Aaahh..That was some relief for me. I usually run 8 kilometers in 45 mins at the gym and this was kind of a new record for me…. :) I asked her if she wanted to join me and she readily agreed. We together ran for another 1 kilometer after which, even she gave up. She said she would walk for some time. This was again a cross road for me. To stop or to continue? I re-affirmed myself the quote ‘The tough get going’. So, I bid her bye and moved forward. The two kilometer mark seemed elusive and inexistent. It took a lot of determination for me to finally see that. Seeing that, I was again tempted to stop. This time, it was a guy who did the favor. He was jogging behind me all the while and the moment I slowed, he overtook me and went ahead. I felt bad. I felt I was paving way to others and more than that, he took the advantage of my lack of strength. Come what may, I decided I would cross him. I got prepared for one of the two things. Reach the finish line with out stopping or collapse in the middle. As simple as it is. So, with this new push, I moved on and to my surprise, found the guy walking about 10 feet ahead of me. Again, the tough get going. So, I moved on and there it was the 1 km mark. It was a deciding point for me. I thought I would save my energy by running slowly till the first 500 meters and after that, start sprinting. However, the road being serpentine, I soon was able to see the ‘FINISH’ point. Now, what should I say, I don’t know what happened to me or what was going on in my mind, but with in no time, I found myself sprinting towards the Finish point (like a mad dog, I should say:)) ) with all the force and vigor. There was not even an iota of strength left in me. I also realized I was shouting (like hell, believe me) and panting and even roaring, just to get that extra push. And guess what; there I was, collapsed on the other end of the finish line. Everyone was cheering me and two guys came to lift me up. The first thing I asked them was ‘What was the time?’ They told me it was 8:53 AM. Huh, there it is. My new record… 10 kilometers in 48 mins….
I was relieved. I was not even feeling any pains though I was not able stand. All that was in my mind at that time was ‘I completed the race and that too in a good time’. After about 10 mins, I started feeling the pain, first, at my calf muscles and later at knees and later, at every other part.
The legs are still paining but I guess, I have more beautiful memories to make up for the pain.
Luv