The Lull Before the Run

 

I am in a lull – running wise.

While I have done a 5 kms and 3 kms run, well more like walk+run (I am still proud of the journey), this year I had a goal of at least achieving 5 kms run without interval and a 10 kms record for myself, time did not matter to me as much the distance did.

Have I reached it – No. In fact, I have stopped practicing for it as it more or less worries me.

Don’t get me wrong, the worry is for my lack of improvement. Maybe to find out I am not made for it. Well with knock knees and scoliosis as a partner in this journey, it is quite bizarre of me to pick this activity.

I look at runners on streets (no they are not chor’s but running athletes, even the beginners) I am full of awe and inspiration to one day be able to match them. With my situation, I understand this comes with me being patient and practicing my best.

My trainer has tried to inspire me, though, but I find my way to wiggle out of it. What can I say? I can be stubborn at weird times. My question at these times – Main aisi kyun huin? Arghhhh…

To help me get motivated, I got the book much talked about by one of the hosts of Chalchitra talks ( I do not know his name but he is the only “he” on that channel) – The book: What I talk about when I talk about running. As per him, it inspired him to take up 5 kms challenge and complete a running event.

Exactly what I feel I wanted. Click: Amazon.

Firstly, I was fresh off the bat from the ‘Haruki Murakami’ experience having read Kafka on the shore and Men without Women. This experience kind of rewired my mind a bit and got me into the surreal shadier stuff… Reading wise… Please… *rolls eyes*

Anyway, without digressing much, I was not aware of this side Murakami’s. So, I was quite keen to get into the book, being a somewhat ‘fitness freak’ myself.

It was a very well written book and felt more like a diary entry to track progress. Provide numbers, practice tips and incite motivation rather than just barking affirmations to yourself.

Essentially, progress tracking and yearly participation in a race is what helps keep you in tune with your body and that is enough motivation.

At the risk of paraphrasing the great Haruki Murakami, the two main themes or lessons I found in the book were:

·         Writing is a way of understanding what he wants out of life.

·         To have a goal that is suitable to you which you can enjoy.

So ironically enough, it did not motivate me much into picking up running, but did make me want to get into writing – whatever I feel like – certainly not an author. But dreams are free of cost, it’s the effort taken to fulfil this that matters.

Anyhoo, to summarize the book makes me want to write more than run more. I would say it is not the effect I was expecting but am not complaining either.

Running… Ah! As much as I do not like it may have to wait. There is something about it that gets me and at the same time bothers me. Is it the early hours required to turn up at the event? Well then, I do not even want to see what long distance running hours would look like.

The lull is a time for me to breathe, step back and take a look, relax. I will be ready to fly when its time.