Racelogue : Airtel Hyderabad Marathon (AHM) 2019

If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon.

Emil Zatopek

If you are not into long distance running you may have not heard of Emil Zatopek. Best known for winning gold in 1952 Helsinki Olympics in 5000m, 10000m and his first marathon 42k. He is considered one of the greatest runner of the 20th century.

Last season was eventful, ran plenty of races. If you have missed them here you can go through them

https://samudrajeetghosh.blogspot.com/2019/05/racelogue-adhm2018-to-sbi-green-kolkata.html. 

I had omitted writing about  the last race of the season which was Women day run on 10th March. But let me come back to this. There was peer pressure since 2017 after completion of my first 21k in Hyderabad (AHM 2017)to run for 42k. Many runners that was first 21k and they used the certificate for registering 42k at TMM 2018. I believed and still believe FM needs training and dedication, so I didn't. Even in last season I didn't registered or planned for FM.

So in Jan 2019 I decided its time, needed to plan, choose and train for FM. I am a sucker for training plans, so I put in the data in RunkeeperGo, my last 21k timing and out came the plan which looked something like this

Preconditioning- 3 week/11 workouts

Balanced Training- 8 weeks/32 workouts

Getting faster- 7 weeks/28 workouts

Going further- 6 weeks/24 workouts

Race simulation- 3 weeks/12 workouts

Tapering & Race Day- 3 weeks/12 workouts

Recovery- 2 weeks/9 workouts

I had selected 4 days for running - Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday, the plan was designed on this. The start date was 31st Jan and since I started before season ended, I ran 3 races during this Feb-March. Jan -March , I missed few runs here and there travelling for work. I decided to register for Hundred Days of Running, as I needed some motivation to conitnue in the summer. It started from April 27th and ended on 4th August. 

Registration began, I did it on the same day. After a weeks time, registration got confirmed and I booked my flight tickets on refundable fare.

Running in Summer in Kolkata during the summer is really challenging with humidity over 90% thoughout. I was travelling for work as well, this time carried my shoes and planned accordingly. I ran in Bangalore/Raipur/Jamshedpur/Ranchi/Guwahati/Rourkela. The workout designed by Runkeeper was something like this 5k recovery/Longer fast run/ 5k/Long Run (pace as per plan). As I was running 100 days of running (HDOR), I had added a progressive 5k/ 4k intervals to this. Additionally, I did core/strength training. To strengthen my calves, I started skipping once again. Initially I was doing about 100-150 then moved to 400-500  twice a week. 

1st Sunday of May was first long run in the plan, struggled badly with humidity and realised need to carry more water, 500 ml bottle will not suffice. Decided to purchase 1l hydration bag with two 500ml soft flasks. This helped me in all the long runs hereafter. And this was not enough, at times I purchased 500ml  water and filled my flask. 

                                  P.C. DG Images @ Happy Feet Howrah Collaboration run May

Nutrition part was important, had a balanced diet with higher protein content.  As Hyderabad has flyovers/rolling hills, I needed to do some hill training. My runs in Jamshedpur/Ranchi/Guwahati covered bit of that part.

I didn't loose much weight in this training period but lost fat. In other words fat got converted to muscle. I was careful on the food part while travelling, avoided roti/junk/fats. I skipped anything which would keep me up late, as next day runs were important. I avoided travel in morning, and if I was travelling in morning then ran in evening. I ran on roads/ground/trail/treadmill whichever was available in this course of time.

Few of my long runs were with Laltu Bhakta of NKR, he decided to jump in around end June for Full marathon.

This was more or less my design of training and upping the mileage for the race on 25th August. My last long run was on 4th August of 32k, and it was in  collaboration run hosted by North Kolkata Runners. I started running 4.30 in morning and finished at 8.00am completing 30.2km, weather was so pathetic that I stopped running. 

                                            P.C. DG Images

August 11, 2019 South Kolkata Runners (SKR) planned a long from Nicco park till ecospace and back. The route plan was for 21k, my training plan had 16k and I turned back from 8km mark. Highlight was keeping Hyderabad in mind course planner had out 4 flyover one way which meant 8 in total.

                                                With SKR Gang

Like all outstation run, we had wap Airtel Hyderabad group. All who planned joined or were added. Many in the group had to drop out for personal/health grounds. 

7 days to go for the D-day,  the same week I had to travel as well. This I had bit injured my should due to bad posture during nights sleep and also had cut in the arch in a silly incident. Nevertheless, I was excited and looking forward to event.

Fast forward to 24th August, boarded the GoAir flight and reached Hyderabad around 8.30. We were 7 guys and on reaching finished off breakfast at food court. We moved to Expo and reached around 11am. Nikhil was 5hr pacer and he was already there.

Collecting the Bib, Avik Pal - the star runner was there as volunteer. After bib collection, collected the t-shirt and went stall hopping. Fast &up; up, Unived, Decathlon, Performax, Garmin of few buggies were there. 

Met Kiran H after 6 years, he was running 21k. Had a photo ops and got some tips from Avik regarding the course. Laltu reached around 12.30pm to expo, he was staying at same hotel as mine. Laltu went to check with 4:30/4:15 pacers. They informed him considering AHM course, need to add 15mins to his TMM time. Both of us takend 4:15/4:30 pacer bands. We pushed off around 1.30 to hotel. After Checking in, I went out for lunch with Ravi at Minerva Coffee shop. Met him after few years, chatted a bit about many things.

Came back to hotel and decided to give the legs but of rest. Evening , I went out to buy Banana's (magic capsule of runner's) and water. Around 7ish Laltu came back from shopping at Karachi Bakery. We went for dinner in the restaurant, needed to do carb loading for next day.

I tried to get to sleep early, but unfortunately the excitement doesn't let you sleep. Still to say, I slept , woke up in between and saw had some hrs to sleep, decided to use them. Finally, woke up around 3.35am, got ready. The kit had been laid ready at night. Got ready and came down with Laltu at 4:15. Shalu was already there from 4 am, she told we were the last ones to leave. I felt she was bit tensed.We reached the starting point in 10 mins. We had baggage which needed to be dropped, we had struggle there for 15mins and then went into holding area. Zumba warm was already over. We got 5 mins to warm up. It had rained previous night and there was water everywhere. Found some space and managed to get the routines over. Other runner's from Kolkata had came in. 

Organisers released the coral into the starting point. We started to move in and towards the start point. By them many of us from Kolkata had pooled at one place. 

Sharp 5 the race started, and we were on the right side on the road. Laltu and I started moving slowly into free zone. We had a loop of 9.3km around Hussain Sagar. About 1km on the route , we crossed Moushumi, know runner who is from Kolkata, was  in Kerela, now Hyderabad and a member of DOF (one of the most active group in fitness in the country ;) ). Both of us had planned to do a positive splits considering after 30k its unpredictable. We had decided to run at avg pace of 6 min/km.

Around 2km, SBro and Manish crossed us and vanished. We were running to a plan, keep an eye on pacers band, trying not to push too much. The arrangement were nice so far. It was dark, street lights were on. After 5km, one of the segment of road was water flooded, one volunteer was there shouting and telling runner's to keep left. We had bit of rains after this but not for long. Here, we overtook the 4:30 pacers After 7km mark, I needed to relieve myself, I told Laltu to.keep moving and I will catch him. Lost couple of minutes', I caught Laltu before the start point. 

21km runner's were cheering us, and we moved to 1st flyover. Manish joined us from behind and after a bit again vanished. By this time , light was getting better. We got down and moved to Rajbhavan road, it was past 6am and the elites of HM passed us here. Avik trotted past us here. 

Slowly, we were Somajiguda circle and Panjagutta flyover was next

We saw SBro ahead taking the turn, and moving. We caught up him just 200metres on the flyover, he was gulping down Unived gel. For some reason, he stopped and was waiting.  We kept moving forward and landed on the rolling hills of Jubilee Hills. From here to Hi-tech city it was rolling hills past KBR park/Jubilee check post. Out water bottle had finished by time we had crossed 1st flyover. By the time we crossed 21k, we were 5 mins ahead of Satish pacing plan, and had finished it on 2 hrs 5 mind.

The route from coming down from Panjagutta flyover onwards were filled with volunteers and additional water stations such as Glucon D and Titan. 

Having previously run HM here and being my old office route, I was guiding to tackle the course. Close to cyber towers, We filled our bottles as much possible (not wanting to loose time), I didn't miss drinking fast & up reload in water stations.  

We had finished 21k in 2:06 hrs, maintaining the target average pace to 6min/km plan. We had planned positive split, considering you don't know what happens after 30k.

                                                           Near Cyber Towers

 After this the 10k route was merging. This time they had kept the routes separate till mindspace crossing/underpass. Volunteers were standing and ensuring 10k runner's don't obstruct the FM/HM. We kept running maintaining the pace towards old Mumbai road. 

                                                             P.C Veeru Photography

Before the Gachibowli flyover, I got bottle of water from one water station which was setup someone else than organiser. On the flyover I caught up with Laltu. The flyover was filled with school kids giving high five. Coming down from flyover we could see the sky clearing and sun shining. We could understand weather becoming harsh. Laltu remarked the route is tougher than TMM.

                                             

As we approached towards Gachibowli stadium crossing, we saw Neo standing there waiting for us. We asked who have gone through, he said only Tapas. And we took left at Yashoo Point(infamously named after Yasho since he missed in his FM here and went straight). This time it was being  announced that FM Runner's need to turn left.

 The route was starting to look tougher, had bit downhill and then up hill till Gopinath''s academy. This was about 30k mark. And after that it was downhill and about 1km to Wipro circle, here we didn't needed to give effort. Till 30km mark, we did it around 3 hrs 5 mins, we had managed to keep pace around 6min/km. I did a bit of mental calculation and told Laltu if we have descended so much then it means we will need to ascend this elevation as well since Gachibowli stadium was on higher ground. 

Around 32km I decide to take the course on its merit. This was getting tougher, number of runner's were less than earlier.  I was trailing Laltu. Around 35k, I decided to slow down a bit , and took time at water station to sponge myself as sun was up. In this stretch there was a Bike Marshall - for the people not familiar about them - these are cyclist who monitors racers throughout the route and sees course safety and security. This guy was cycling near to each runner asking do you need water, volini, gel, so on. He was carrying everything with him, like a mini aid/water station. 

Close to 36km as I took turn towards UOH (University of Hyderabad), Aniruddh 4.30 pacer overtook me, he asked if I wanted to do 4.30 and I replied hope so. He said just continue. As I was approaching my shoulder pain had returned ( this was from post 34k which I was ignoring) - the pain killers effect was wearing off. I asked volini from the Bike Marshall, he stopped and sprayed on my shoulder. It felt better after that. 

Entering into UOH,  there was water station, sun was scorching. Stopped and used a water sponge to cool down. Somehow gulped down water and remembered I had Five star, had it. Kept moving inside. I tried to running in the shade wherever possible, I could see many runner's walking , some overtaking. The race was on.

I got another water station at 38k mark, another sponge bath, the picture below you can water dripping off me. I filled my bottle, used my fast & up gel. This was last in my series of gels. Another 4kms to go, around here Satish 4.30 pacer crossed me, glancing at my watch I could see he was going faster than his plan. 

Here onwards there were patched of shades , most runner's were using them to run in cool. The route here was not as flat like plains, had minor ascent and descent. I was in trance, just focused on keep moving, ignore the heat.

Slowly I was on stretch which was familiar, I had been to UOH long ago. And finally to 40k mark and water station. Ritual was same, had fast & up water, sponge bath, filled bottle but this time half. I wanted to avoid additional weight. 

I again started running, came out of UOH, towards the Gachibowli stadium. Here there was shade close to median separator of road, not much though. I kept myself to that side.

Approaching towards 41k, I saw one lady  21k pacer, there she ran with one runner for bit and again cam back. I guessed she was waiting for someone from her group. And then I saw NEO coming with water bottles, offering to the runner's. He reached me and said " Chalo". He was Godsend, seeing him gave a boost of energy, and ran together. 

Crossing the 41k mark , I could see photographer ahead . Decided to do a jump and did it. Crossing  him , I asked if he got it and he confirmed in affirmative. One note at 41k sign, my watch showed exactly 41k. During the earlier signs my watch was ahead by 200-300 metres. 

                                                   P.C. Anoop Tandon

Both of us entered the stadium stretch,  a signed welcomed us saying 700m more, NEO ran with for 200 odd metres and said I am going back for others. 

                                                          P.C Veeru Photography

I got into the stadium, I didn't have energy to do sprint but was running. I crossed the finishing mark, stopped my watch and saw the time 4:28:33 (official time was 4:28:23). Finally, I completed my first FM and same place where I did my first HM. Laltu was standing there, he had finished around 4:19. We took couple of snaps , then saw Kevin of Procam. He had been running the 10k.

I took my fast & up recover tablet from pouch and put it in water and consumed it. The quads were hurting like anything. 

The stadium was crowded like always. We met Amarjeet who had done HM this time, his first HM after his bike accident. We went for the breakfast which was pretty crowded. 

We finished and came down to finish point for taking pics. As we were taking pics, Shalu was finishing. She finished in 5:17. She went off to take the medal, and we moved out in 15 min time.

More or less, the race was satisfying being the first one. Few things which helped were - familiarity with route 80%, strategies. The resources, having ample water. Most water station had fast & up reload which I took. Taking excess water can result in hyponatremia   . In hyponatremia, an excess of water in the body can lead to a low concentration of sodium in the blood which is bad. Carrying gels helped for fuelling and balance of salts. Enjoyed the race throughout, was comfortable. Running with Laltu helped, our paces are more or less similar.The training and race were completed without any injuries. Mission accomplished. Next what, rest of course. 

Its difficult to document what I went through from Jan till the event but tried my best. My Run to Liluah in summer for collaboration run, or run in Salt lake all stitched together were part of this. All of the above would not have been possible if my better half had not supported. She took care of diet, reducing my load at times for my runs, plans for outings so my long runs don't get hampered. 

As someone had wrote :- 

At Mile 20 I thought I was dead.
At Mile 22 I wished I was dead.
At Mile 24 I knew I was dead.
At Mile 26.2 I realised I had become too tough to kill.

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