If there's one thing that I have loved doing since childhood, it's running.
I have worn spectacles since I was in third standard in school. I never knew that I could run fast. But one fine day just before the athletics day of the school that year, we had trials for selecting 100m and 200m runners from each section. Participation in trials used to be compulsory. We used to wear canvas shoes and i still remember that on a hot day they used to literally burn the feet.
Our PT teacher had a loud voice (a pre-requisite for any PT teacher). She was hyper active and had a huge temper. She was not huge but we used to fear her a lot.
On that day she was very strict .She quickly arranged the enthusiastic children in a row, showed us a wall at the other end of the ground and and shouted Go!!
I have not looked back since. I won almost every short distance running competition during next 5 years in my school. Though I was good at academics in school but still I pocketed more certificates for running than academics. From 100m to cross country to relays. I loved it all. I must have been an amusing sight - a thin boy with huge spectacles on, running fast. I still have a photograph clicked at the end of a race in 3rd standard where I am posing with my medal. The spectacle is covering almost half of my face!!!!
As I entered into 9th class , my school stopped organizing athletic events for seniors and the focus shifted more and more onto academics .I am not sure though if that’s the right approach that some Indian schools take. I believe that extracurricular activities and sports are as much important if not more than academic books and exams. Leading a team of cricket in my schooling days taught me the fundamentals of leadership and team spirit which have helped me become what I am today. No exam that I ever took in school talked about team spirit. A practical lesson can never be forgotten and I believe that Indian education system needs some transformation.
Anyways coming back to the time when I entered 9th class, gradually I stopped running.
College happened but I did not run.
Got a job in a company but did not run.
Came to a different city - did not run!!
I had forgotten the bliss and joy that I used to get from running , just running.
I was working one day in the office and suddenly some friend e-mails me about an event in the city. Bangalore - 10k. A medium distance run.
The old memories came back. I was again in the third standard , running a 100m and sprinting towards the finish line.....
Without thinking much I enrolled myself into the event.
The experience of Bangalore 10k not only brought me close to the city but also reignited the desire in me to run. Although my main motive while running the 10k was to just enjoy and spread the message of peace ( I was supporting Sparsh-Ek Prayatna's effort for helping underprivileged kids) still i managed a respectable time of 65mins for finishing the 10k.
As soon as I crossed the finish line, I realized that running is still something that is and will always remain very close to my heart.
Currently I am practising with a couple of friends to compete in an event - Urban Stampede, this August.
I feel free, I feel close to nature, I feel power, and most importantly I feel bliss when I run
I am not going to stop running anymore.................
PS: A special thanks to Guppu who encouraged me to start running again
