SF Half Marathon – Part Deux – The Revenge of the Geek Runners!

Starring: Team Asha 2008 runners, Coaches, Ops folks, cheerleaders

Also Starring: City of San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Weather

Co-Starring: Malati Gadgil

Also Ran: Bharath Prabhakaran

Logline (for the busy moguls, those with ADD etc.):

Team Asha 2008 with its army of geek runners descends on the City of San Francisco during the early dawn hours. After several hours of ferocious battle, pavement pounded by feet, bridges trespassed, hills captured and surpassed, paper cups being flung about, and general mayhem, the city proves no match as Team Asha 2008 returns victorious after having captured the dangling gold (like) medallions J

Rating:

Karnazes and Galloway give this film ‘Two ITBs up’ !!!

Details:

Aug 3 2008 dawned like any other day in the San Francisco Bay area. The weather was not as cold as usual, the fog mostly dissipated – there was an aura of calmness – almost like the calm preceding a storm! Little did the City of San Francisco know what was about to hit it. For unbeknownst to the city by the bay, a band of finely trained men and women (pretending to be engineers and accountants as their cover) was about to descend on it with the goal of conquering its hills and bridges and returning to their homes with the gold(plated!) medallions as loot. And this band of warriors was unlike any the city had seen – they were finely trained (by a group of excellent coaches and trainers with a great supporting staff) running machines (well with a few rickety parts J) - committed and driven by the noble desire to make a difference to the lives of underprivileged children. It was a heated battle between two worthy adversaries and like with any story, multiple accounts exist (without this concept, Bollywood would have to stop releasing films with the same storyline over and over again!). The following is the narrative in the words Geek Runner 10126 – an also ran called Bharath Prabhakaran (who only managed to get into the movie because he was able to survive weeks of rigor at Sergeant Tony Patel’s Tracks Group 1 boot camp, bribe Coach Raman with Samosas and Lassis, hold Coach Martina’s bib at ransom, and dutifully following Coach Char’s injury rehab strategies!). No names have been changed to protect the guilty parties – any resemblance to characters living or otherwise is purely intentional (who cares about litigation - lawsuits filed against the zero overhead non-profit Team Asha will yield absolutely nothing J)

Geek Runner (GR)10126’s log on that fateful day:

Aug 2, 2008 – 2000 hours

• Military rations consumed (a concoction consisting of gruel, beans, rice)

Aug 2, 2008 – 2130 hours

• Combat fatigues neatly laid out
• Location sensor detached from number-tag and attached to combat boots
• Number tag (for GR 10126) attached to Team Asha uniform with clasping devices
• Hit the Hay early to get 5 hours of shut-eye
• Failover mechanisms in place – alarm on cell phone, clock radio, electrodes strapped to temple wired to deliver stimulus at precisely 0230 hours!

Aug 2, 2008 – 2230 hours

• Sheep counting currently stalled at 22,264
• Sandman visit awaited
• Neurons still firing contemplating attack strategies

Aug 2, 2008 – some point later

• System shutdown

Aug 3, 2008 – 0228 hours

• Ocular systems fired up and open
• Electro-shock stimulus not needed J
• Preparation rituals completed (further details censored to avoid court-martial J)

Aug 3, 2008 – 0315 hours

• Frantic cellular communication with Comrade Venu regarding delayed arrival at pre-arranged meeting point for transportation to base camp

Aug 3, 2008 – 0325 hours

• Comrade Venu arrives – finally! Has been engaged in own pre-race preparation (some obscure technique called Yoga – note to self – needs further research – is it a performance enhancing drug?!)
• Rapid (and I mean rapid – 60 mph on city streets!) progress to pick up Comrade Preeti from her quarters

Aug 3, 2008 – 0340 hours

• Arrive at base camp (aka Sunnyvale Caltrain station) – brilliant strategy I might add – launch an attack from a location 40 miles away!
• Commander Gurpreet is standing on steps of transport (looks remarkably like a bus) screening the recruits (apparently entry into the transport vehicle required some sort of pre-payment of $15 J)
• Commander spots me and assigns my chores – pick-up Bananas, bagels, and nutrition sachet (aka formula – GU) from his luxury vehicle and lug them over to the bus for distribution to the troops
• Excellent arrangements as always by Operations Commanders (Esther, Srini, Asif, Jaya and others) to ensure ideal preparation
• Have also been assigned duties to distribute rations to troops on board the bus – need to lead them well fed to battle!

Aug 3, 2008 – 0400 hours

• Screeching tires shatter the deafening silence as several GRs scramble to reach base camp.
• First busload of soldiers dispatched (with a planned pit-stop to pick up several more at Camp Belmont).

Aug 3, 2008 – 0415 hours

• Second bus-load (with self on board) leaves for battle

Aug 3, 2008 – 0415 hours to 0510 hours

• Atmosphere aboard bus strangely subdued (compared to expedition in 2007) – I guess we need a shot of Comrade Mehul singing the battle cry ‘Ek Chatur Naar’ to rally the troops!
• Nervous energy abounds though. Hushed conversations taking place discussing strategy, offering reassurance and motivation; several catching a few extra winks to recharge.
• Proceed with assigned task along with Comrade Vivek for assistance (having interrupted his secret routine of placing bullet-proof armor on chest to avoid chafing of chest protrusions which can result in the ‘shot-in-the-chest’ look post combat!).
• Distribute bagels, bananas, and nutrition sachet. Receive mumbled words of thanks.
• Warriors appear well fed and ready.
• Sit with Rancho training division for last minute strategy briefings.

Aug 3, 2008 – 0510 hours

• Arrive at destination
• Team Asha 2008 Army congregates at Start area
• Shout words of encouragement to rally the troops
• Amazed at number of warriors from other divisions who have apparently descended on the City on the same mission!
• Take a quick survey of the location – great views of the Bay, weather appears warmer than expected. Decide to discard outer-covering Kevlar jacket.

Aug 3, 2008 – 0515 hours

• Troops start walking to Location C – ‘Sweats Check’ – to deposit protective equipment to be claimed after combat has ceased.
• On the way, see large lines waiting to jump into large green objects (codenamed Port-a-Potty - some of these appear to be shaking – what’s up with that?!)
• Get into one of these lines to avoid delays during mission

Aug 3, 2008 – 0535 hours

• Still in line to attack the large Green monsters
• Pre-mission plans going awry – inadequate time to warm-up and stretch; Team Asha soldiers going in all different directions! Chaos already!!

Aug 3, 2008 – 0545 hours

• Two waves of combatants have already set off on their odyssey
• Get into pre-assigned ‘Wave 3’ to begin combat
• Frantically look for Comrades Kiron, Saumil, and Malati (who were supposed to be in my platoon!) Finally sight Comrade Malati just as the gun goes off

Aug 3, 2008 – 0545 hours to 0737 hours

• Initial foray – the thundering herd charges onto the streets – pounding pavement into submission
• Try not to get caught up in the initial excitement – keep to a 9 minute pace over the first mile
• Resistance is futile – miles 2 and 3 are around 8:20 pace (pre-mission target it 8:30 pace)
• Take in scenic views along Fishermen’s wharf and other landmarks
• Start to turn into East Beach en-route to first hill capture. Pace remains consistent.
• Arrive at first hill-test – months of hill training over previous winter with Coaches Raman and Martina have been mostly forgotten J - ITB issues and reduced hill running have made this a worthy challenge.
• Push up the slopes – amazed to watch Comrade Malati glide over the hill as if non-existent. Comrade Malati is a finely tuned running machine! (note to self – need to get rid of a further 10-20 lbs of excess baggage – mostly around abdominal region in order to attain optimal performance).
• Slightly labored breathing as this hill is conquered. The good thing about up hills – there is usually a downhill following it (well except at Big Sur where it seems to be all uphill!).
• Arrive at familiar surroundings in Crissy field – pre-mission war-games there have left us perfectly prepared.
• Breeze past laboring combatants (who were not as well coached!) – approaching obstacle 2 – big hill before Golden Gate – drop the pace a bit and make the climb – Comrade Malati as usual gets ahead and I work to catch up.
• Arrive at base of Golden Gate bridge – last year’s recon did not yield anything due to the fog cover. Marvel in beauty of the bridge with the clearer weather! Glad to see Comrades Arun and Anu on photo-recon mission and wave to them as they cheer us on!
• Run across the bridge taking in the views and keeping good pace.
• Arrive at turn-around point and pick up refreshments (have been partaking of liquid refreshments at all re-fueling stations – liquid called Cytomax not as palatable as Team Asha offering ‘Gatorade’!)
• Cross mat and hear beeping noises all over the place – aha – the enemies are tracking our every move – attempts to short-circuit the course will be rendered futile!
• Head back across the bridge and left hamstring starts acting up again – this is what happens when pre-mission routines are not adhered to.
• Keep motoring along despite discomfort – meanwhile Comrade Malati is striding along smoothly like a gazelle!
• Pass the bridge and accomplish second objective.
• Having been part of prior year’s mission, know that battle is not complete and there is more danger in store. Warn Comrade Malati to slow down a bit.
• Reach Mile 10 marker at about 8:40 pace. Need to pick it up a bit to reach target.
• Speed up a bit on downhill leg but have to back off almost immediately due to the rolling hills – a worthy adversary indeed!
• Somehow make it through miles 11 and 12 – hamstring tissue sending stronger signals – need to pay close attention post-mission!
• Finally the last half-mile – really pick up the pace here – goal in sight – pumping arms, furious feet fly all over the place – notice that fellow warriors also doing the same (with varying degrees of success).
• Finally arrive at destination side-by-side with Comrade Malati! Timing device on hand that says ‘1:51:31’ – Mission Accomplished! (for real this time J)

Aug 3, 2008 – 0740 hours to 0940 hours

• To the victors go the spoils – pillage for loot and pick up shiny round object, and raid the refreshment area – already long lines here!
• Meet Comrades ‘Fly-Boy’ Sandeep Borle, and ‘Running Machine’ Raj to exchange congratulations.
• Comrade Malati decides to step away to share news of conquest with significant other.
• Spend next 2 hours close to finish line cheering and watching Team Asha combatants arriving at goal after having vanquished the demons (both physical and mental).
• See Rancho gang – Anup, Vikranth, Ram, Venu, Arvind, Narinder, Preeti, Ruchi come in and finish – the expressions of joy, relief, and excitement fill me with joy and pride and make the 3 month journey training hard at Rancho worth all the effort!
• Would like to linger on and await the few remaining Rancho ‘mentees’ but the last shuttle to the starting point where Team Asha has set up a victory camp and party is to leave shortly – so trudge off.

Aug 3, 2008 – 1030 hours to 1215 hours

• Reach Asha victory camp with Comrades Venu and Preeti who sight the tent where the victors are enjoying massages from the vanquished –they immediately decide to partake in the festivities
• Reach Asha tent and sight Coach Tony and several others who have come earlier after finishing – high-fives are exchanged and stories shared.
• As always, the excellent Team Asha Ops squadron has arranged a lavish spread (including the secret weapon codenamed ‘Samosa’). Wolf down some nourishment – ahh the sweet (or should it be spicy and tangy J)taste of victory!
• Talk to several fresh recruits on their first missions and share in their excitement and offer words of congratulations! Lots of hooting, whooping, and hollering happening!
• Official photographers (and several unofficial ones) come by and several group pictures are taken to record the victory for posterity
• Finally all the Rancho crowd (including Sumita, Aditi, Commander Gurpreet, and Kiran) come in and we all huddle together for a mini-victory huddle and group picture!
• Stand by, watch, and enjoy the looks on the faces of the first-timers, and the expressions of pride on the faces of the Coaches (Tony, Martina, and Raman).
• Congratulate the heroes who undertook the 26.2 mile mission – Coach Raman, Rajeev, Reshu, Vivek etc. – they have truly slain the beast!
• Think about leaving for transportation back to base (Caltrain) – but kindly Rancho group family members (Saket, Mahalakshmi, Payal etc.) and injured comrade Arjun offer to provide transport for us (no doubt moved by the sight of the walking wounded J).
• Make our ways back to base with plans for further celebration at Comrade Anup’s house at 1900 hours)

Epilogue:

Aug 3, 2008 – 1900 hours onwards

• Wild scenes of celebration at Comrade Anup’s house
• Traditional Marathi cuisine is served up thanks to Anup’s mom!
• The wine and beer are flowing freely (and for once I sit back and abstain from stopping them in my role as Gestapo!).
• Stories are shared, a few tears shed, friendships formed and bonds forged and strengthened by fire!

This in a microcosm defines Team Asha – where the spirit is strong with further conquests to follow!

Coming soon this fall (straight to DVD J):

• Team Asha conquers Portland!
• Team Asha does Chicago!
• Team Asha decimates Silicon Valley!