2
HOURS.
That’s all there is. 2 Hours to change something in you, something about
your outlook towards life in general. 2 Hours to glory, to a sense of achievement
or despair.
Over
the years, as I have chased the elusive (sub) 2 hour mark for the half
marathon, I have been reminded of the preparations for rigorous CAT that I had
taken a little over a decade back. Some crack it, many despair*.
Though
a marathon may not change your life the way clearing the CAT does (perceptibly
at least), but I have found that in a small but significant way, it does change
something in you. That aside, there are some stark similarities between the two
that I have enlisted below:
It’s all about Practice, stupid: I have
heard of outliers who wake up one morning and decide to take the CAT at crack
it with flying colors with just a month’s preparation. Those aside, for lesser
mortals like us, it is a tenacious effort. Months after months of resolute
training coupled with personal sacrifices define the Marathon preparation like it
does for CAT. Parties missed for the long runs next day, skipping beers at brunch
for fear of dehydration in the weeks before the Marathon, waking up early on Sunday
mornings to clock those miles while the whole wide world is sleeping – it’s a
different world that runners live and thrive in. Practice. Practice. Practice
Master of all trades: You take mock
CATs with varying degrees of difficulty in order to hone your skills. There is
quant, data interpretation and verbal efficiency – you need to be able to do well
across all the sections. You run hills, you fartlek, you do tempo runs, you strengthen
your core – all ensuring that your right muscles are getting the right
attention. Running requires all your muscles to have homogeneity of purpose towards
that single goal
Strategy and Pace: No matter what your
preparation, come race day, you ought to be ready to improvise a bit. A slow
start, an unexpected incline, rain, humidity, blisters – any of these factors
could thwart your preparations asunder. Both are races against time. Believe in
the process and make the adjustments. The results will follow.
Support Staff: As all runners would
vouch for, around every runner exists an efficient ecosystem of support staff that accommodates the
whims and sometimes, tantrums of the runners. A sleep-deprived spouse who is there at the finishing
line, a cheering child egging you on, a parent getting up at the dead of the
night to wake you, the coaches, the friends who mock but secretly admire, the
fellow runners, competitors that are constant source of inspiration – you can’t
do it unless you have them around you. Truth be told – we draw our strength from
them. Their love and affection get manifested in their various acts of kindness
and personal sacrifices. So let’s do it for their smiles and cheers and
unconditional support to our personal goals. Crack the CAT or record you new PB
– make them PROUD!
It’s all in the mind: Whether you think
you can, or you think you can't – you're right (Henry Ford). I couldn’t have
put it better. A positive attitude goes a long way in determining your success.
That and a little bit of luck may be:-)
It’s a test for hours two
Every race is a sense of déjà vu
Practice, practice and practice more
Run some hills, strengthen the core
Come race day conquer all your fears
Run for glory, smiles and the cheers (and
beers!)
If in another direction the wind blowed
(sic)
Despair not, for this ain’t the end of the
road
Keep toiling and step up the drill
Another day another race, you finally will
Happy Running!
*Note: For the record, I didn’t crack CAT. And my PB for the Half Marathon is 2:00:03 – Yeah, That close!
