Chennai Half Marathon - Pre Run Arrangements - Better than Anticipated..

Give Life Chennai Half Marathon - September 27, 2009

I know there has been some skepticism  around the Chennai Half Marathon, in terms of organization, arrangements etc.. I am one of those skeptics as well.  However, if what I saw today is any indicator, this Chennai Half Marathon promises to be different.. It promises to be better than the previously held ones...

Ramani and I went to Lady Wellington College in Beach Road to register, do the formalities and collect our BIBs.  I was expecting chaos, crowd and noise.. but the entire process was organized, orderly and cordial.

Registration, medical checkup and other booths were neatly laid out and the folks managing the counter were courteous and helpful.  Though I registered online, had to register again because there was no record of my online registration and I didn't have any evidence (email) to show. Even then, manual registration process was simple and after registration, I was advised to go for the medical checkup.


Medical checkup was also neatly laid out...  First) A medical assistant / nurse took BP / pulse and asked a few basic questions.  Second) A Doctor asked about my running history and advised me to  get an ECG as I am 40+ Third) Got my ECG done and went back to the Doctor who verified the results and gave me the coveted 'FIT' stamp.


Last step in the process was BIB collection... Gave the 'FIT' certificate and collected my 'Indian' BIB.  The friendly attendant was insistent on giving me an 'International' BIB.. though I repeatedly told her I am தமிழ் and local.. She reluctantly agreed that I am 'தமிள்' and gave me an 'Indian' BIB.


My only crib is this.. All this setup with know garbage management.  I hope this gets fixed soon.. like by today... otherwise, it will start stinking from tomorrow..
 

Haile's Interview

Here is Haile's interview in front of Brandenburg Gate.. I mentioned in my previous post.. even I show up for a fraction of a second.. you will miss if you blink.. !!!

(Via Anuj )

Chasing Halile

This is perhaps the closest I will every get to Haile.  I was 'sight seeing' around Brandenburg Gate and stumbled across Haile.  Marathon organizers were doing a promo film of sorts and presented BIB to Haile.  I was fortunate to be part of the ceremony.  Here are few snaps from the 15 minutes ever I will be in the vicinity of Haile.


Bunch of runners from Brazil also spotted Haile and invited him for a photo.. I joined the crowd as well.. but my self portrait missed me by miles..!!! Here is the moment anyways..


Promo included Haile running through the famous Brandenburg Gate.


I overheard Haile saying that he is well prepared for the marathon and wanted to do his best.. Is he going to break the world record this Sunday..?


BIBs were handed out to Haile and Peter in a brief / simple ceremony...

Derek Redmond - Will to Finish

Derek Redmond is the most talked about athelete of 1992 Barcelona Olympics. No, he did not win the most medals in that Olympics and for that matter did not win any medal at all in Barcelona. In fact, he came dead last in the 400m event he participated recording the slowest Olympic time ever. So why is so popular ? This video will give you the answer..

No one might remember the name of the person who won the 400m in Barcelona but almost everyone remembers Derek Redmond. So much so, Visa did an ad on him for the subsequent olmpics. Since then he has retired and goes around the globe now as motivational speaker.

John Stephen Akhwari "My country sent me to Finish the race"

1968 Summer Olympics - Mexico City

A group of die-hard spectators remained in the Olympic Stadium to see the last finishers of the Olympic marathon. More than an hour before, Mamo Wolde of Ethiopia had won the race to the exuberant cheers of onlookers. But as the crowd watched and waited for the last participants, it was getting cool and dark.

It looked as if the last runners were finished, so the remaining spectators were breaking up and leaving when they heard the sounds of sirens and police whistles coming from the marathon gate into the stadium. And as everyone watched, one last runner made his way onto the track for the last lap of the twenty-six-mile race. It as John Stephen Akhwari from Tanzania. As he ran the 400 meter circuit, people could see that his leg was bandaged and bleeding. He had fallen and injured it during the race, but he hadn't let it stop him. The people in the stadium rose and applauded until he reached the finish line.

As he hobbled away, he was asked why he had not quit, injured as he was and having no chance to winning a medal. "My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race," he answered. "They send me to finish the race".

10th Full Marathon.. Most challenging todate

Past Sunday (Aug 30, 2009), I completed my 10th full marathon with timing of 4:25:54.. inching slowly towards my lifetime target of fifty. This was perhaps the most challenging ever course that I have run to date. I knew Hyderabad terrain has rolling hills, but had grossly underestimated the 'steepness' of them. Considering the hills, I am happy with the where I ended in terms of time..

Took Chairminar Express to HYD.. while my onward journey went without a hitch and the train reached on time, return journey was a different story. Had to take 4 different transports to the station and though train departed on time, reached Chennai 3 hours behind schedule.. throwing my work day schedule for a toss. Now coming to the photo here.. Found this guy precariously standing in a tall ladder (which was swinging wildly) and clearing the cobwebs in the Chennai Central station main hall. While this guy was sitting 30+feet up and holding on to his dear life, bunch of folks were manually pulling and pushing the ladder.. I said a prayer for him.

Stayed in the Ganchibowli sports complex dorm. The complex itself is relatively new and came up in the last 8 years.

Dorm arrangements were fairly decent and can't beat the price.. just Rs.250. One big advantage was we could just stretch and relax in the complex and the helpful organizers took care of rest. Also, the run ended @ stadium and we had to just walk to the dorm to crash after the run.

Called Ganesha for help with my running. Didn't have to go far to find one.. Lord Ganesha was everywhere and here is a drive-in devotee.. :-)

We were bused to the starting point @ KBR park and by the time we reached that place, it was already bustling with runners. Here are a few Chennai Runners who did a half.

Organizers had romped in police and defense personnel to join the run and that really really helped. With some senior officers running, Hyderabad Police regulated chaotic traffic for the entire period and went out of their way to help the runners. In my case, I had two wonderful officers follow me in their bike all the way through. They regulated traffic at intersections and encouraged me along. Dear Hyderabad Police Officers.. I don't know your names.. but a big Thank You for your assistance, which went a long way helping me run the difficult course.

Overall, happy the way things played out.. decent run.. amicable climate and well organized event.. couldn't have asked for more in India..

More Hyderabad Marathon Photos here and here

What next ? Berlin.. Here I come in 3 weeks.. !!!

Meet Chennai's Bolt..

Meet John Devasir, he is 84 and never misses a day of practice. Today, he had trekked all the way from Avadi to be @ Nandanam YMCA by 6:30AM.

I got to know Mr. Devasir thru a recent story in The Hindu. Mr. Devasir is very active in the Tamil Nadu veterans athletics forum and mentioned about several upcoming events he is planning to participate.

It is never too late to take that crucial first step.. Mr. Devasir started running 'seriously' only in the last 10 years.. before that he used to play Volleyball.. but infrequently.


He trains with folks half his age... and is a role model several people including our own Venkatesh.

You can catch him @ Nandanam YMCA on Saturdays and other practice days @ Nehru Stadium. He is focusing in the 100 / 200 meters sprint.

So How is Mr.Devasir Chennai's bolt ? For several reasons 1) @84 he is hitting the tracks and active 2) He can do 100 meters in 16.x seconds 3) Role model for several people and mine from today.

Is he your Bolt ? You decide.. Regardless hit the tracks and be healthy.....

Blog Vs Tweet

If I take my own example the verdict is clear.. In the last 3 months I did 550+ Tweets as compared to the measly 1 blog post. However, I do have the desire to do meaningful blog posts but haven't gotten around to it just yet.

Twits are easy.. are short requiring little or no formulation time.. and can be done via multiple channels. For that matter I hardly do twits via Twitter website. Most of my twits are done via TwitterFox or BB. Compared to twits, Blogs take time... and that perhaps is the primary reason why haven't blogged as much as I would like to ..

Because blogging isn't easy. More precisely, other things are easier – and it's to easier things that people are turning. Facebook's success is built on the ease of doing everything in one place. (Search tools can't index it to see who's talking about what, which may be a benefit or a failing.) Twitter offers instant content and reaction. Writing a blog post is a lot harder than posting a status update, putting a funny link on someone's Wall, or tweeting. People are still reading blogs, and other content. But for the creation of amateur content, their heyday for the wider population has, I think, already passed. The short head of blogging thrives. Its long tail, though, has lapsed into desuetude.

But then, I am not ready to write Blogging obiturary as yet. I am going to make a sincere attempt to get back to it on a regular basis. After all, I do want to make my millions from adsense and retire to take blogging (and running) full time.. :-).

Travelog # 50 - Paris

Quick update from Paris. I am here with my son for Paris Marathon. We walked, walked and walked looking for Eiffel Tower which we were told was just 4km from where we were staying in Montparnasse. But, we lost our way and language issues didn't make it easier to get back on track. We walked around anyways as the weather was gorgeous. We took this photo at the first 'sighting' of Eiffel Tower.

Kutcheri in the Park - Nageswararao Park, Chennai

Chennai Sangamam Scence - Nageswarao park, Jan 14, 2009, originally uploaded by rviswana.

This is perhaps one of the best avenues for the budding artists. Young performers to apply to perform at the park which happens on the first Sunday of every month. Sundaram Finance sponsors this program and interested folks can apply here.

Though this is an interesting proposition, budding musicians who are already nervous will have to perform without any audio system and will have to constantly battle the omnipresent mosquitoes. Even with these limitations, this a popular avenue and there is competition to get a slot.