Twin Cities Marathon - an odyssey!

Prologue

Training done as best I could
Eagerly awaiting race day
Tapered loaded up with food
Trying to keep the flab at bay J

Friday – Oct 2nd, 2009

Come Oct 2nd, time to leave
Goodbyes to the family
Rushed to airport after appointment
Long security line – now, really!

Discovered flight delay, sigh of relief
Ran into some familiar faces
Warmed up for what lay ahead
TSA agents putting us through our paces!

Reached the food court, got a table
Hours to kill – sipping gatorade
Bad weather in Minneapolis
Hope it won’t rain on our parade!!

Uneventful flight, four hours late
Would we be in time for dinner?
No food for us Economy class peons
But first class – now there you’re a winner!

Rounded up the crowd, Patel shots
Time to get on the local train
Several stops later, time to get off
Trying to stay out of the rain!

Skyway to hotel, elevator up,
Thanks Sahana – really nice digs
Settled into suite, quick change
Down to get some dinner quick!

Burger and Fries, Lemonade
Nice conversation, long day
Good nights exchanged, head up
Exhausted, time to hit the hay

Saturday – Oct 3rd, 2009

Group breakfast starting early
Need 2 hours – says Coach Raman!
Cooked to order, lavish spread
And here we thought we’d be eating Ramen!!

Shuttle arrives on the dot
We get in and we’re on our way
Get to the expo, disembark
We’ve got 2 hours for work and play!

Pick up bib and chip quickly
Walk around the different stores
Lots of overpriced stuff on sale
Don’t really need anything more!

Done with the expo, back to base
Major debate on where to lunch
Some folks want Thai, others Indian
Oh my – what a rowdy bunch!

Join the group wanting Indian
Get there – now it’s the North/South debate
No greasy spicy food says one
So Dosas it is – two to a plate J

Post-lunch plans – nothing much
Why not a movie and rest our feet
Discussion on choices now ensues
As we walk to the theater down the street

$5 for a movie – holy cow
Boy is Cali expensive
Inglourious Basterds is the choice
Hope the gals don’t find it offensive!

2.5 hours of fun and mayhem
Enjoyed a satisfying flick
Oops we need to get to the carbo-load dinner
Let’s hightail it –come on quick!

Run/Walk back to the hotel
The folks there are ready to begin
Coaches Tony and Raman giving out tips
And then we all start digging in!

The banter and chatting comes to an end
The crowd disperses for an early night
Each and every mind wondering
What’s going to happen come daylight!

Back to room, bib on shirt
Chip on shoe, get everything done
Time to hit the sack early
And wake up for the all-important run!

Sunday – Oct 4th, 2009

8 am start – great idea
Extra couple of hours of zzzs
Hotel close to start – awesome choice
Three cheers for Sahana if you please!

Get out of bed, ready real quick
Down in the lobby at 7 o’clock
The entire group is ready to go
And we walk briskly the couple of blocks

Temps in the 40s, light wind
Good conditions, should be fun
Humidity at 85% though
Hydrate hydrate – we tell everyone!

Get in the port-a-potty line
Long line and not time enough
10 minutes to go – no luck
Rush to find 3:50 pacer – yikes it’s tough!

Line up near the 4:30 group
Speeches, anthem, there’s the gun
Crowd sets off, trampling feet
Right – now let’s go out and have some fun!

People start out like they’re shot from cannons
Lots of happy faces and smiles!
Words from the coaches echo in my ears
Start slow, remember, it’s 26.2 miles!

Weave around traffic, 8:50 pace
Keep that for miles one through four
Running through streets, lots of crowd
And thankfully, no downpour!

Reach the lakes, still keeping pace
Body warmed up, feet going well
Build up a nice rhythm through mile 10
You’re almost there the crowd does yell!

No, I’m not I think to myself
Only 16 more miles to go
They’re just showing trying to show support
And mean well – I know, I know!

Mile 13 surpassed, Halfway there!
The clock shows 1 hr and 54
Lots of beauty on the course
Makes me want to go for more

Mile 16 goes by, pounding on
Oops what’s that twinge I feel
Right hamstring or God forbid
The ITB that can make one kneel!

Strong pain signals sent
And received by the brain loud and clear
You need to back off the pace
And By the Way, no PR my dear J

A little dismayed, no PR
But it seems like an easy choice
Keep pushing and pull up lame
Or finish – says the little voice!

Decision made, I soldier on
Miles going by, Gu being taken
The lakes, rivers, all the beauty
The crowd, but it feels so God forsaken!

Mile 20 goes by, and I suddenly wake up
Hey what’s with all this despair
Focus on the goal, remember the cause
You’re well trained and it will get you there!

Chocolate Gu with caffeine
Just the right adrenaline shot
Pace is slow but the spirit is strong
A Team Asha member quit – most certainly NOT!!!

Miles 23,24 go by in a blur
Running through the tree-lined street
Hey – they said this course was flat
What’s with all the hill repeats J

Mile 25 passed, 1.2 to go
Can hear the crowd roar, thank you all
Keep hydrating I tell myself
I seem to have crashed through most of the wall!

Cross mile 26, 0.2 left
Time for an all-out burst
Pick up the pace as much as I can
Thanks to tracks – they really aren’t the worst J

Cross the finish line, head held high
Hands in the air, smile on face
Another thing drilled into us by the coaches
Finish strong and smiling at the end of the race.

4:05 says the clock,
Not too bad, only 8 mins off
Given that 10 miles were on one leg
I can’t thank my stars enough!

Get medal and refreshments
Wander around looking for the Asha tent
Kind of hard to find and it’s getting cold
Windy to boot – and I’m a little spent.

Find the Asha folks, grab some goodies
Samosas, Pakoras, and assorted treats
Thanks Asha Minneapolis folks
Much appreciated – to celebrate our feat

Wait for others to come in
All Team Asha runners do us proud!
Strong finishes, smiling faces
Make us stand out in the crowd!

Bus back to hotel, walk back up
Shower, rest, then meet in the bar
Drinks are consumed, stories shared
Boy so many of us have come so far.

Evening celebration, Indian food
Awesome spread, lots to eat
More stories of valor and courage,
First-timers especially, what a tremendous feat!

Head back to base, time to rest
Early morning flight to catch
Tired, Aching, but elated
A sensation that cannot be matched!

Monday – Oct 6th, 2009

Flight back home, smooth enough
Just real early in the day
Land in San Jose, say goodbye
Team Asha has triumphed come what may

Upon further reflection and introspection
As we drive home sitting in the car
For an out-of-shaper who started from 0
6 marathons done – how did I get so far?

For this, I owe a debt of gratitude
To my extended family
Coaches, Co-ords and volunteers
Team Asha helps each of us create our own history!