The twilight runs...

The twilight - colorful blood on the sky's body

Twilight is the best possible cocktail that Nature can create.  The mixture of the dying daylight and the growing dark.   The wounds of the sky after its losing war with darkness, and the multi-color blood sprayed on its body - scaring the birds into their nests;   the kids moving towards home.   The street lights glowing announcing a new war against darkness.   The masons and workers returning home, exhausted after a day long work;  Office commuters returning with groceries and other purchases;   kids winding up their play and hopping their way for completing their homework,  the nocturnal animals and insects hiding behind the ever growing cover of darkness.   Such is the beauty of twilight. 

The amber lights join the war against darkness

And enter me - the runner.  Dressed in Chennai Runners' T's, and Nikes' - the good old Red Running Hood.   Mingling in this cocktail of life and colors, each step of this short run helps me participate in the short episode - as a voyeur.  

Cattle impervious to the rain!

And another day, you miss the entire show.   The curtains are on - grey in color.  The stage is being washed.     There is no usual audience.  But this no-show gives life to another set of characters.  Teens love to kick the ball with their tireless feet.  Cattle, impervious to rain, graze around.   And the colorful umbrellas come out.   And slowly the entire picture disappears fast, consumed by the dark sky.  The amber street lights slowly fix the problem - the road glows in their reflection.   Beautiful, ethereal.   

Only teens and no soul on the street - no show!

These days, my runs are short.  But they help me steal some time mixing with this real beauty of cocktail and colors.  The mind just switches off, leaving the hullabaloo and chaos of the daily chores behind.    A true tequila shot!!!

- Road Runner!

Paralympics - Patronize our Parathletes!!!

The paralympics are on.  And nobody is turning towards the TV.  Does anybody know it is held in the same venues as the Olympics?  Is anybody aware that India has sent a 21 member contingent?  Which channel is telecasting it in India?  Where are the sponsors?

Paradox - we look for inspirations as examples of how somebody overcame difficulties to achieve something?  Are not the stories of Paralympics participants inspiring? Most of us would be watching an EPL or India vs New Zealand cricket match.   This is not wrong, but only to be expected.  Audience interest is paramount and every'body' goes after it - channels for TRP and others for other reasons.

London Paralympics are on -
are we hooked on?

Cricketers and the Usain Bolts make the stars.  Luckily for us, after the success in Olympics, this year, we had more medalists than ever before.  So some offbeat stars were born post this Olympics success.   Each story of success - how a mother of twins, how somebody broke the Chinese wall, how rural Haryanvi's won medals in wrestling, how a soldier and a civilian shot their way to glory - and the acceptance of them by this cricket crazy population was one stepin the right direction.

But Paralympics - may be still way off.   But the efforts to win a medal for the country and the pride thereof are the same.  Our discerning public, am sure would recognize this.  If you are looking for heroes beyond the above, it is here.

Fan support and awareness will bring the best from our parathletes, and encourage the differently-abled people to aspire for achievement in all forms of sports - especially in sports represented in the Paralympics.   If there are any differently abled people in your vicinity, please make them aware that this is one aim in life trying for.   Wear the Indian colours.   Lift the Indian Flag high.   Getting a shot at the medal.  In a field of fair play.

Below is the list of athletes who are right now in action -
http://www.indianewsbulletin.com/london-2012-paralympic-games-list-of-indian-contingent-members.

Telecast rights :  Channel 4
Opening ceremony highlights : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBmmA7rfliw

Indian contigent in the opening ceremony:

Please patronize our parathletes! Wishing our paralympic team all the best!   Please post snippets, video clips!   Glory to them, and Glory to Parathletes to all over the world!

- Ashok Speaks!

LOL - Lil'ol'liability?

It is the adoration of the public that is the protection.  And the fear of the selectors.   But the need - the contracts that expire in 2014.  This article was pretty damning.  But this appeared in the pink newspaper - a business newspaper, which only a few elite business-mongers read.  That was saving grace.

All of Sachin's contract
are due to end in 2014, and no
new contracts, so is that the answer?

The article explains when the little master willretire.  The first sign of his brand becoming stale - no new contract was endorsed after his hundredth hundred.  But the bigger fact - the necessity of him to play till 2014, when all the 17 contracts expire - which is 2 years from now, is the damning truth.  It is 120 crores too much for anybody - forget the little master - to refuse.   His new house in Bandra costs 30 crores after all!  

That was on April 1st 2012.  Cut to September 1st - almost 6 months later.  Doug Bracewell castled Tendulkar, almost 22 years after his uncle John Bracewell did.  Well, 22 years, is one hell of time for longevity.   The little man has climbed many a summit between the two Bracewells.   Some of which, no other human will ever dream of achieving.   But what triggered a renewed discussion on the dismissal?   The eternal question - when should the little master go?

Tendulkar castled by Doug Bracewell

Two masters of test cricket, Gavaskar and Manjrekar expressed concern about the way the little master was dismissed.  Bowled through the gates.  Full length delivery - a stroke against which requires the maximum hand-eye coordination for a batsman.  As the ball dips into one's blind spot, right below, the hands have to get the bat in the right position to block or whack the ball away.   And the little master missed - like the last test.   His furniture was rearranged.   

Rustic?  5 months out of cricket, yes.   Out of form?  May be.  Others also go through it.  Technical deficiency?  After 22 years of cricket, if this is still a concern, then worries me.   The most plausible reason is - age and obstinacy.   The little man says that he knows when he will retire, and other people say - only the man can decide when he will.   Why?  The protection - the adoration of the public, and the fear of the selectors.  No one dare call the shots on this.   And the man will continue to play, as long as he says he wants to.

And what is the cost?  The number four slot in tests will be occupied for another two years at least.  Some talent youngster would have to wait forever - and few careers might be wrecked.  Opportunities lost!   The very reason some youngster might be inspired by the little master will fall victim to the extended longevity of the genius.   

Finally, there is shelf life.  Everybody knows that the little master is a mortal, and at someday he has to hang his boots up.   It better be done when people ask 'why?', rather than 'when?'.  Perhaps the powers-that-are know the answer, as the economic times article explains.   Just pray that he does not become a 'LOL' - a Little Old Liability!!!

- Ashok Speaks!

Mumbai to Thane - Taking the bend...

Well, the Ghodbunder road was conquered last weekend.  This was my identity run, a defining and a cut off run in many ways   I will write about the Ghodbunder run in the next blog.

Sometimes, it is like that hard-cut off that we force - like ending a sentence with a full stop - capital, bold and italics.    Well, let me save my words for the upcoming - Ghodbunder road - the story of the runner, and the story of the road.   The story of the runner will be published in the forthcoming blog, and the story of the road will be published in Ashok speaks.   Now let us go back to the last two runs in Thane- short, but powerful ones.

Running in Mumbai was a struggle - it was always an
emotional catharsis 

The city of Mumbai has taught me some hard lessons.  The city is like a deep ocean.   It can drown and choke the weak, who can feel out of depth.  So I felt, in the last 9 months.   This chaos hit my runs - as my earlier blogs would illustrate.   The Mumbai runs, were emotional catharsis to my mind - to sooth the failures and curse the frailties of life.  They were my emotional sink and guardian of my sanity.

For the weak and the wounded, it might sometimes be prudent to move from the depths and survive in the shallows.  You can sail in the deep sea everyday, but it is good to have a shore - shallow and safe.   Where time is more structured - even for running.

Runs in Thane, have been more liberating -
free mind, flying feet!

Some places carry such vibes - important for a runner.  Thane is very much like Velachery.   Velachery taught me to run almost 5 years ago.   The place, despite being chaotic, was a great inspiration.    The vibes, here in Thane too, are similar.   In this context, the last two short runs in the Hiranandani Estate - Brahmand routes gain significance.

Now, the difficult phase is over, and the mind is prepared to deal with matter.  With such preparation, the mind is free.  That makes the feet on the street happier.

My shoes have started talking to me and know that I am taking the bend.   The changes are positive and powerful, slow but sure.

The road called life is there to be taken.  And the two short runs signify that.  Patience and perseverance.  The strength of the human endeavor is unparalleled.   I am going through it right now.   And the shoes know that! They will help me do that.  Wont' they?

- The One 

Pics courtesy The One

Eraser run...

Running has never felt so good.   Today, there was standing invites for some evening get-togethers.  But today also was one of those days - where you just want to tear off from the book titled 'My life'.   Multi-dimensional self-worthlessness sometimes makes one cringe.

Should one so openly talk about these feelings?  I had found a temporary solution for the past few days.   Watching Discovery and Natural Geographic - taking things away from this material, inhuman world and into the wild.

Frustrated Leopard loses its
prey to the Hyena

Watching the animals, struggle for food, mates, territory and life makes me feel better.   So, struggle is natural.   It sometimes does not matter what you think?  The leopard loses its prey to a hyena or a lion.  It does protest, growl and snarl, but end of the day, it knows that it does not stand a chance against the stronger predator.   So it quickly climbs the tree to save itself.

Should the leopard feel self-worthless?   Or should it feel that it is the law of nature, and so 'move on'.  I try to find any form of emotion on its face.  Apparently, leopards can't emote.  So no answers there.

The hero runs in a lone beach
to beat his frustration

Then I saw this move called 'Force'.   He is a cop without any connect - which is his strength.  He falls in love, but finally when his love is killed by a vindictive villain - he could only cry and grit his teeth in frustration.  Another form - which caught my eye - is a sprint by this hero in a lonely beach to vent his frustration.   Humans emote, and express.   So running is a form of expression. 

Another movie called Eraser crossed my mind.  The hero has to protect the heroine, who the State has decided to erase.   No evidence.  No existence.   Kill them all.   The lead-actors run, hide and survive in the end.

The leads run away
survive and erase!

Today's run is a combination of all these.  From a feeling of self-worthlessness and frustration is washed away by the dripping sweat and the reality of all these tastes salty.   And finally a burst at the end, pumping the oxygen viciously into the lungs, erasing and burning all those who caused the feelings under the rubber of the shoe.  

Again, it sounds too much of philosophical rambling around a simple run - but as I always say - running has many avatars.  This one was the 'Eraser run'.

-The One

(Pics courtesy Internet)

NO-cotine run...

Friends,  today's run is a confession run.   I thought a lot, whether to share this.  Finally decided that I will.  

One of these days in December,  it started with a small fag.   It is still a small fag, but the occasions increased.   With a cup of tea.  With sun-downers.   It always never felt like a habit.   I took the butt, when my butt was kicked.  The fascination towards the smouldering end of the brown tobacco turning black was interesting.   Felt that I was thinking better. Stress? I think so.     

The runs were anyway drying up.  The forgotten february was the worst period in the last three years, as far as fitness was concerned.  But last week, the run finally came.  

But suddenly, my voice became hoarse and there was this, a constant niggle in the throat.  I could feel that some sputum was forming.   Secondly,  early mornings, my lower back - below the rib cage, ached a lot. And finally - there was a tightness in my lungs - during the run last week.   

Last two days, I kept away from both.   And this run - I ran like a creature possessed.  I was always afraid that the tightness would appear.   It did appear in the second kilometer, but with a deep breath, I pushed the tightness aside.   I paused for a moment and then started running faster, and faster.  

The Kandivili crowd, usually accustomed to runners - was startled because of the speed in which I ran.   The sputum disappeared, the lungs are liberated.   I feel better.   The run was truly invigorating.

Been there, tried that.  My affair with the butt ends, period. December - March 10th, RIP. This was the NO-COTINE run. 

-The One

( Pics Courtesy Internet)


.

A run, finally done!

It is like being an alcoholic - should I say that getting back at running is good, therefore it is good to be a runaholic?   The feel good factor after a run is unbeatable.   The forgotten february, where no run took place was a nightmare best forgotten.  Is life any better?  Not sure.   The struggle continues elsewhere.   When I moved to Mumbai, I expected to adapt and fly high like an eagle.  But I was stuttering like a dodo.  
Well, a runner does not give excuses.  So it did not happen.   Period. 

A run done!

Today I ran with confidence at the start.  The same breathing through the mouth technique worked well.   The run was short, but towards the fourth km, a small stitch around the rib told that the story.  The breathing was a little tighter and I slowed down further. The reason - a month of evening vagaries.   The lack of training was telling. 

It was a 5.5 km run.  The mind suddenly found its feet.  This run may not be a worth a blog.  But it was a start, so a feat.   A run, finally done!

-The One