joy of learning

Post the marathon I rested on my laurels. A few days later, there was this incredible feeling of loss- I felt a void due to the lack of a goal. Pushing my accomplishment out of my mind I looked ahead. All I saw was the long road ahead with no real aim. Next year’s marathon is too far and as the summer looms ahead of me, there is no other run planned. I could, of course continue running, but that somehow was not motivating enough to get me out of bed in this prolonged Bombay winter.

As the weather gets warmer, after I ran a half marathon for fun, I had the urge to learn something new….i want to learn to SWIM! The breast stroke that I had learnt as a child was enough to save my life, but now I need swimming as a cross trainer to improve my running……for better lung capacity- to run faster!

So here I was-one morning on the day of the spring equinox- bright and early- waiting at the club for the coach , who had also trained my little fish, Sanjana. And the session began……step by step; I was initiated into the technicalities. Each step was apparently simple. The trouble began when half an hour into the class, Sailesh told me to do them all together. To co-ordinate my breathing, with the rhythm of my legs, as well as smooth arm motion was not only daunting, but an impossible task! Invariably I would forget one or the other. The worst was when I forgot breathe and I went under. I came up sputtering much to the amusement of the seasoned aunty swimmer gilding past me!

The joy of learning a new thing is what really stimulates the mind. While swimming, I forgot everything around me and I was in the moment to grasp the action. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge as I tried again and again-

As kids we constantly learnt new things. That is why childhood was spent in happiness. Then as we got older the mundanity of repetition took over.

And now, as I learn, I am alive again!

So that is the key- one new thing a year!


“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” ~Confucius 

A Fine Balance

DNA women’s 21k run….4 days away!

After all it IS a half marathon-not a small distance! And I have taken it easy all along, running short distances a couple of times every week since the marathon. i am enjoying these shorter runs….

Leaving the park after the speed workout today, I was chatting with Varsha. She used to be a national level athlete. This 800 m champion, who clocked an incredible 1 hour 40 minutes at the Mumbai half marathon says, she is not running the DNA half as she is not prepared! And my eyes popped out! NOT PREPARED ! For this tiny event!!!!!!! My natural response to her was, none of us are……..and she calmly replies – she doesn’t want a worse timing than her previous run.

I have grown up believing that participation is important and not winning. But now I wonder……is it about timing? Only about doing well?

As a converse to this…..

I was chatting with Chaya…my running partner for the entire run….

After the 42 km I wasn’t tired. It seems a little ridiculous, but I really didn’t feel like I was going to collapse or anything, instead I think I could have gone a couple of kilometers more. She felt the same way…. As a checked my certificate I discovered that both of us had cruised at a constant pace throughout the run!

So I say to myself that I didn’t push hard enough. Yes I ran the distance. I did well.

BUT

I could have done better. I needed to give it all I have got so that I feel spent, and then feel the satisfaction when I have pushed at least until my limits if not beyond.

This is where I need to train my mind – to give it all….

Push yourself to the limit
Don’t ever quit.
Work till your legs are going to fall off
Or you fall apart.

Even when you fall on your face.
Get up, wipe yourself off and say
“Okay let’s do it again.”
Do it till you get it right
Not until you start to hurt.
Never stop until you have nothing left to give.

- Victoria Leann