Sunday 5 January 2014

42.290 km Marathon Across Kolkata


Wake up at exactly 4:30 AM by Deep da, which was very nice of him. I took less than 20 minutes to freshen up and take a hot water bath. A lot of things were going on in my mind while I packed my daypack with the necessary things post-marathon. A bit nervous as I did not know what to expect here. Anyway, I went down the stairs with my daypack and found Suhana bhabhi at their door. While I was having a little chat with her, Deep da came out and we were off to the rendez-vous point for the Bullet riders who were to be the race marshals for Kolkata Marathon. Another 10 minutes to reach there and to my surprise, Bharat Ladsaria AKA Mad Teddy was there. Though he was shell shocked to see me there; I know I have that affect on many people.

After exchanging pleasantries, the entry and passage stickers were stuck to the Bullets and we rode to Red Road, from where the run was to begin. It was almost 5:50 AM now, whereas my reporting time was 5:30 AM. Deep da dropped me right before the start/finish line and I warmed up, stretched before I got out of my track-suit. Then I called him to ask where he was so I may give him my daypack. He was right after the stage where Usha Utthup, the brand ambassador of Kolkata Marathon was signing. The announcements for the gathering of the 42.290 Km marathon participants was going on and I was getting a bit nervous again. But I found Deep da, gave him my daypack and equipped only with my phone I ran to the gathering point. 

First Impression

After 20 minutes we were all hurdled towards the starting line and again a wait of another 10 minutes gave us all ample time to warm up. Hence, the marathon actually started at 6:30 AM rather than sharp 6 AM, which was the schedule time. To my surprise, there were only 80 runners present there when 150 registered for it. Either this run was the hardest or the most idiotic, for any athlete to run. I was about to find out soon.

Flag Off at 6:30

Flag off at 6:30 AM, I took off sprinting for the first 100 meters to avoid the crowd. Deep da and other riders of Eastern Bulls were on the right side of the road. They cheered me, while that was the last time I was to see them for the day because I knew, only Deep da would be there to 'collect' me in whatever condition I'll reach to the finish line. My energy level was gone a bit down with that initial sprinting, but I did leave at least 30 runners behind me, now I was among the top 50 runners out of which the elites were far ahead of me. By the time I crossed first 2.5 Km stretch, my breathing had become adjusted to my pace and I was overtaking other runners smoothly. Crossing the 5 Km mark was a piece of cake when I saw Deep da riding beside me, offering me to take a life. Right behind him was Bharat Ladsaria AKA Mad Teddy, he also offered me the same. But that was a joke, however, Deep da took my mobile and it was a good things because I was to grab bottles of water and run free.

My first flyover came after a mark of 6 Km and when I reached the 10 Km mark, the volunteers told me that an athlete was hit by a moving vehicle so I need to be careful while running. Dangerous Kolkata, I say...

After another flyover,  I crossed 15 Km mark without any hassle. At 17 Km mark I saw a man in black tights over taking me. He did overtake me, but I slowed down because my legs were hurting. That was a big mistake, my heart was telling me to run, but I denied that voice my attention and it costed me 30 minutes in the overall run. After 20 Km mark I was very happy, because half the distance was almost covered. Though I saw two athletes catching a cab and running away.

30 Km Check-Point

30 Km mark was exhilarating and very painful because now we were in the traffic zone, but the people were cheering us nonetheless. One more runner was shadowing me by now, his excuse; you inspire me because I don't want to run as my legs hurt. Bloody hell, it was certainly very irritating since wherever and whenever I would stop, he too would do the same. And whenever or wherever I start again, he would do the same. I wanted to bash him black and blue, but being a gentleman I couldn't do anything. However, he did catch a bus at 35 Km mark, which made me happy because I got rid of an unpleasant shadow with a negative aura, but I was sad since another athlete gave up.

Now I was running parallel to the river Ganges and I could see the water flowing coolly. Though I was the only runner now, who was running non-stop and no one to follow, so i had to ask the cops on the way for directions. I made it to the 37.5 Km mark water station. The volunteers over there asked me if I can run or else they would arrange the pick-up vehicle for me. My body was telling me not to run anymore, but the heart wanted to finish it no matter what. I smiled and continued my run, close to the red road, I again asked a cop for the direction and he stopped the entire traffic to give me a pass. That's being done almost everywhere on the route by the generous cops.

Esplanade

I reached Esplanade and the cops again helped me cross the junction. No there was the last flyover I was to cross, which was an awesome 3 km long endless and the longest flyover so far, but it was the last one. Towards its end, I saw two faint figures in green; two more tiered athletes. I wasn't alone anymore, but where was Deep da? Anyway, I got down the flyover running and again asked the cops next to the bridge for the finish line. They directed me towards the Victoria, now I was sure that the path is correct. 

Deep da waiting for me

Right outside the Police Park on Park Street road I found Deep da waiting for me, it was the most pleasant sight of the entire marathon since I started. Now I wanted to have the Sattu drink made by Suhana bhabhi, then some coconut-water, may be a chicken puff in Barrista and a lot more things to eat. He told me to finish the remaining stretch and he would meet me at the finish point. I was happy to oblige, last 2 Km to cover, but it was the longest crazy stretch to cover as both my legs were paining as hell. If I would walk, I wasn't able to pick-up my pace again, but since Deep da was to be there for me at the finishing point, I had to make it before he did. That last 2 Km was to be done at my best for him.

It took me another 5 minutes to get hold of those two runners who were hallucinating more worse than me and walking slow. I tapped on their shoulders and they were surprised to see me, I asked them to run with me, and run they did. We made our way through tarmac and confusion; asking cops and people for the finishing line. Another 10 minutes and we saw the stage at the red road. I picked up speed while these guys were hesitant to run, so it was I alone running towards the finishing line and Deep da wasn't anywhere to be see. I reached the finishing line and saw the man in black, Amit Mitra from New Delhi who is a regular runner. He told me that I finished in 4 hours and 30 minutes, just 5 minutes later than him.

Deep da arrives

Amit Mitra left and on the other side of the road, Deep da arrives. I somehow manage to cross the road and hug him. I have never been so happy to see him in the past two days. To sit on a chair was the most difficult task now, squatting would have been a punishment. I stretched my legs as much as I could and then got into my track-suit. We immediately left for home then, only made a brief stoppage to have some sugarcane-juice. That's all.

Blister-Blister/All Swollen

We reach to his store, I wasn't in a condition to climb up the stairs so I had to sit there for a while. Met Suhana bhabhi over there and after a brief talk I somehow managed to climb the stairs up to the second floor. Something was wrong with my sole so I opened my shoes and removed the socks, the left foot sole had a massive blister that was filled with blood. The blood was moving whenever I flex my sole. The right ankle was swollen to such proportion that my ankle couldn't be seen. I called Deep da and he took me to the doctor and I ended up getting a titnus shot in my arm. The doctor told us not to do anything to the blister and only apply Betadine cream to it.

That was it for the day.

~ Raghu Raj Murmu

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