03:54:52

What started as a run without expectations (as I ran on tired legs) turned out to be something else. The best one yet..

Read on...

I started off well. Started from the 5-6th line from the start and I took a little time to weave my way through the runners and get to rhythm. At the NTR gardens, I overtook the 4:00 hour pacer and wanted to see how it goes. And it remained that way until the end. That I was ahead of the 4:00 bus..

Finished the initial part of the run without a glitch. It helped that we had a good weather for the initial 2 hours of the run and I did my best in that time. 

Finished 10K in under an hour. 15K in 01:18:24. 

HM in 01:48:07. 25K in 02:09. 

32K in 02:50. The last 10.2K took over an hour. 

Finally finished in 03:54:52. 

Started to have cramps at around the 32K near the Q-city. The glutes started to trouble a lot. It slowed me considerably. 

Later the calves started to pain but that wasn't too bad..

At 34th kilometre SAG point, met Subham who with his team iced the muscles and then sprayed volini all over. And then I slowly moved to the HCU campus (walking for a minute at the end of each 500 metres). The HCU campus looked nearly deserted yet it helped that we'd run here before. There's always a feeling of familiarity here..

At the 38th kilometre SAG station, I met Santhosh. He got me something interesting to eat and gave me a Chikki packet too. His words did wonders and I decided to stay on course for a sub-4..

At the 40K SAG station - had a glass of Fastnup. At 40K, it was 03:41. I was thinking that if I walked at 9.5-10kmph, I'd reach the finish line. Yet I thought I'll adopt a run-walk strategy (200-100-200). And then came the stadium gate. Just ran slowly to enter the main stadium with the tarmac. Anil saw me and he ran the last 50 metres and then I crossed the finish line in 03:54:52.

Was cramped up quite a bit but it didn't impact my walking..

Guess the effect of standing for 2 continuous days at the expo volunteering and manning the stall took its toll after the 32K. 

It was a different run after 32K. 

It helped immensely that I ran a really good first half and ~ 30K (when the weather was good). After that, it was about going to the finish line...

Guess it also triggered the weirdo in me as I heard a word from the 4:00 hour pacer (as I overtook the bus at the NTR gardens) . I didn't want to stop afer that ;)

Oh and I didn't get to meet Poonam at the start-line even after frantically searching for her :)  She's been my lucky mascot this season ;) 

Many thanks to all the volunteers and fellow runners who came forward to support the event. Also my mentors Chiru garu and Giri garu and to the LB Nagar Runners group :) 

Many thanks to Shiv, Shiva, Ravi, Narender and others who helped in conducting the Airtel Hyderabad Marathon so smoothly. 

Many thanks to the volunteers at Earthlings NGO who were exemplary all throughout. Airtel Hyderabad Marathon 2019 .

A dream comes alive...