Let's go Sparky - Under 24 Hrs to Go ...

With less than 24 hrs to go before the starter's gun, Ive started to get pretty amped up. I'm not feeling any of the niggles n sniffles I've been carrying, and am now only focusing on keeping my mind clear for the race.

The only last minutes tweaks I'm allowing for are resorting the playlist on my iPhone, and deciding what brand of chocs to carry along the way (leaning towards CDM - pure and effective, but sticky as all hell). Perhaps I'll have Subs old on to them so I don't have to run with them in hand.

At this point I wish the race would start right now, since the waiting's unbearable. Fortunately I have a dear friend's cocktail night to attend (don't worry I won't be drinking), so that should keep my brain from getting fried with this excess anxiety.

Anyway, I do expect that this'll be my last post before the show get's on the road - look forward to seeing some of you during the race, either on or off the track. Will be back soon with all the gory details ...

Childline - The Cause That Took Up My Cause

Now that the die is cast, and there is no backing out, I'd like to give a shout out to Childline, the cause that came through for me, when the regular channels of registration failed, and gave me a shot at running the SC Mumbai Marathon (also Micro Housing Finance Corporation (MHFC) which is supporting Childline). It wouldn't feel right to solicit support on their behalf if I couldn't manage to keep up my end of the bargain, but I'm on and feeling great!!

CHILDLINE 1098 is the largest national, 24x7, emergency, toll-free phone and outreach service for children in distress. Once a call is made on 1098, a rescue team reaches a child within 60 minutes. And because it’s free, children of all ages from the poorest situations can pick up the phone at any corner, any time, and say, ‘Hello Childline?’ knowing that help, if they need it will reach them within an hour.

I realize that many of you are already very generous in terms of making donations to Social Organizations, and I'm not in a position to dictate your social giving strategy. However I would appreciate it if you'd extend further generosity towards a noble cause an to me - one that is dear to my heart on account of it's mission, as well as has given me a second lease of life at the SCMM, please do contribute as mentioned hereunder.

Donations can be made either by cheque drawn in favour or of "Childline India Foundation" and collected by me, or online on http://www.unitedwaymumbai.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=146&popup=1&template_id=280 (less preferred, since the money is shared with United Way). An easier approach, if you are not looking for the tax rebate, is to inform me of your intent to donate via:
a. Blog Post Comments
b. FB Comments on FB post
c. FB Wall Posting
d. Twitter.com/gouravgr 
e. SMS
e. eMail
Request multiples of Rs. 1000 if possible, to keep it simple. I'm happy to make the contribution on your behalf, and then follow up with you to square off offline, which gives us an excuse to reconnect as well. Open your hearts - the more you give, the more you get!!

Sputtering like Thomas the Tank Engine

It's been a few days now since the onset of flu, and I'm not as weak as I was. However short runs in the past few days have only helped to sort out exactly where I'm at. My legs are pretty game, but my chest congestion is another matter altogether.

At the end of the run, I come up gasping for air like I've been underwater too long - basically once  stop running I can't restart. Now this is a bit of hitch since I'm not one to reel of 21k on the trot.

My trusty doc has plied with a pile of pills - steroids and the like to get me clear - and has certified that I should be good to run the course (God bless her )!! Needed that external validation since friends and family have been recommending discretion as the better part of valour, however this one clean chit makes it all good!!

I just need to manage a moderate pace, since whenever I up tempo, the sputtering kicks in, and i feel like Thomas the Tank Engine on a Smoggy Winter day.