The Spanking New...

Strides of Hope Austin Website!!!

http://www.ashanet.org/austin/soh/

:)

Quality Workout Mindset

One of the most difficult things for me as part of the marathon training is to keep up with the rest of the group that I train with...a lot of them are training for their first marathon but are extremely good runners....fast runners....I am more of a slow and steady runner...speed is not my thing...but I have the endurance to keep running for a long time. During long runs, I have no problems. I just kind of tune out the rest of the runners and keep my steady pace. During quality workouts however, there is a lot of emphasis put on running drills, speed workouts, varying paces etc, and this is what gets to me. No matter how strong I personally feel doing the workouts, I always feel like I am lagging behind the rest of the group...I should know better though..Ive been through this training twice, and I know what works for me, and what doesn't. So I need to learn how to just focus on the improvements that I am making with the training, and not compare myself to the rest of the group!

Rogue's featured coach this week is Amy and one of the things she says is "meeting goals isn’t just dependent on training your legs to run fast, but it’s also about training your head.” And she's right! I do have a goal to reduce my timing this year pretty significantly, but in order to do that effectively, I am going to need to train not just my legs, but also my head, and focus on listening to how my legs feel, and how my body feels, and not worry about other runners! The great advantage of running with a group is that it motivates you to run better and faster than you usually do, but it does not necessarily mean that you run as fast as all the rest do!

I am going to be approaching my future QWs with this in mind!

P.S. The Quadballer is my new best friend! I just love it! :)

TP Massage QuadBaller

If you would like to inflict some pain on yourself, do get yourself one of these!

It will be "GOOD" PAIN mind you!

Now I know how the poor chappathi dough feels when I bring down the rolling pin on it!

Groan!!

:(

IT Band Blues and 2-mile Time Trail

I’m into my 2nd week of marathon training now….and have been bogged down by IT-band issues…my left IT-band has been bugging me for a while now, since the Sweet and Twisted Tri…At that race, I went to get a massage from one of the Advanced Rehab guys who suggested that I visit one of their sports doctors. My IT-band was apparently super tight.

For those of you who are wondering, "What the heck is an IT-band?"(something I had to educate myself on as well):

Iliotibial Band Syndrome is one of the leading causes of lateral knee pain in runners. The iliotibial band is a superficial thickening of tissue on the outside of the thigh, extending from the outside of the pelvis, over the hip and knee, and inserting just below the knee. The band is crucial to stabilizing the knee during running, moving from behind the femur to the front during the gait cycle. The continual rubbing of the band over the lateral femoral epicondyle, combined with the repeated flexion and extension of the knee during running may cause the area to become inflamed.
- Wikipedia

And INFLAMED is how it feels….it has literally been burning everytime I run, and I finally went to Advanced Rehab a couple of days ago. The doctor there examined the area and agreed that it was indeed pretty taut and slightly inflamed and that I would need to ice it regularly and do some specific exercises and stretches that will help make it feel better. I also finally bought a TP massage roller…which is great…but oh lord…so freaking painful…the physical therapist assured me that it was “good pain”…hmm…

I asked the doc if I could run and he told me yes – doing 2-3 miles will not affect me much…so I went to my Quality Workout yesterday evening…we were gonna do a time trial…A time trial involves running 2 miles around the track, so 8 laps, and the time taken to run that distance can be used to project your paces for various distances, from a 5k to a marathon. I was concerned about running it with my IT-band issues, but coach Peri assured me that it would be okay and told me to take it easy, and even walk it if I felt like it. I ended up running 2 miles and my time was 20:09. (Not a great time...but last yr, I think I ran slower than this with NO issues, so it is some sort of improvement! :p)

Plugging that into the pace calculator, my projected times for various race distances are:
Marathon: 05:19:08 (12:10/mile)
Half Marathon: 02:31:19 (11:33/mile)
10K: 01:08:01 (10:58/mile)
12K: 01:22:35 (11:04/mile)
15K: 01:45:10 (11:17/mile)
5K: 32:46 (10:34/mile)
2 Mile: 20:08 (10:04/mile)
1 Mile: 09:26

I ran my marathon last year at 5:53....and my goal this year was to reduce that by half hour....or at least break 5:30....so I'm pretty excited about my projected marathon pace....hopefully if I stick to the training, I will be able to attain that goal....just really really hope that my IT-band issues do not aggravate....have another session with the doc tomorrow....hopefully we come up with a good plan to get rid of the problem....wish me luck!! Meanwhile....I will be skipping the 8-mile long run this weekend and taking it easy...am also headed to Chi-town to hang out with some gal pals I haven't met in a while! Should be fun! :)

Nike Human Race 10K - Austin

The MINUSES:
- Weather was HOT and HUMID
- Course was HILLY almost 60% of the race!

- T-shirt was a weird fit :p
- I had my worst 10K timing ever! :(

The PLUSES:

- 300,000 Runners running simultaneously all across the world

-15,000 Runners were running it in ATX - all adorning the same T-shirt!

- Austin was one of only 3 cities in the US besides LA and NYC to host the race

- Lance Armstrong and MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY were running it! :)

- Ran it with a group of friends - some doing their 1st ever 10K - which is always exciting!

- Awesome spectator support!

- It was my most fun 10k race ever in the end! :)

So the pluses definitely outweighed the minuses and I had a complete blast!

Targets for the 08-09 Running Season

So it's that time of the year again - when Team Asha runners come together and start their fall marathon and half-marathon training! I am one of the coordinators for the Strides of Hope program this year and have spent the last few months helping to plan the program, organize info sesisons, recruit runners etc. I am pretty excited that we have a huge bunch of first-time runners this time who all seem pretty enthusiastic and motivated! I have managed to rope in my sister into the program as well and I am trying to see if my mom will be interested in walking the half....;)

To find out more about Team Asha - Austin, check out:
http://www.ashanet.org/austin/marathon

Through all this, I had completely slacked off on deciding what my personal goals would be this season...but over the last couple of days, after doing some research and sorting out schedules, I have finally signed up for my next two major race targets.

I will be doing the San Antonio Rock and Roll Half-Marathon on November 16th this year. I will be doing this race purely for the heck of it! :) It's supposed to be a nice flat course and they are making it a Rock and Roll marathon for the first time this year! I also have a bunch of my gal pals who plan to do this - so it should be good fun! And it will be about half-way into my training for the full-marathon which I plan to do in Feb 09....

...The Mardi Gras Marathon in New Orleans, Louisiana! :) I was debating whether to do the Austin marathon again and finally decided not to because:

1. I have already done it before
2. I'd rather pace or cheer on the other Team Asha runners on that day
3. It's not the most fun course....it's pretty nice for the first half with a good spectator crowd...and then things just dwindle down after that!

Why the Mardi Gras Marathon?
1. It will be 2 weeks before the Austin marathon - so will align with my training
2. It will be a new course - makes things more interesting, also supposed to be relatively flat
3. It's NEW ORLEANS!! IT's MARDI GRAS!! So why not?? :)

So that's that! The target has been set...the training will begin soon! And it should be good fun!

Where have I been??

TRI-ING WITH SOME LOVELY GIRLS!! :)

http://www.tri-oomph.blogspot.com/

Kalki....The Messiah

All of Austin is buzzing with news about Kalki!! :) I'm not going to go on and on about it here, although I am really tempted to, but I would definitely urge you all to check out both our show website and a "trailer" we have released to give you a sneak peak!

Website:

www.AustinTamizhSangam.org

Trailer:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ALXxmBVAlUY

This is one of the the most creative shows that I've been involved in - it's a one of a kind for sure, doing a "movie on stage".....and I am totally thrilled about being a part of it. If you are in Austin, do come on out and support us! I have no doubts that you will find this show throughoutly entertaining! And if you're not in Austin...do spread the word nevertheless. Who knows....we might just become a travelling troupe someday! :) A part of the proceeds of this show will be donated to the Vidyarambam Trust, a partner of Pratham USA, an organization that I've been involved with for the past 7 years. So I am additionally thrilled that we are going to be able to raise some funds for them.

Contact me for tickets if interested - charanya0907@gmail.com.

Hope to see you all there!

Marathon #2 Done!

Marathon #2 - The ATT Marathon happened this past Sunday. I don't plan to write a full recap similar to what I did after completing Marathon #1 last October. But I do want to mention some things.

This marathon was a very tough one for me. I had all sorts of stitches-cramping issue. The weather became really hot and I kept getting dehydrated easily which resulted in me consuming a lot of liquids which resulted in more than planned potty breaks - and each time I stopped, it was a pain getting back started!! I was shooting to better my DC time by 20 mins and finishing in 5.5 hours, but I actually ended up taking 10 mins more than DC to finish!

BUT despite all of this, I had a GREAT race - and this was mainly due to the wonderful folks from Team Asha and my own friends!! I've been more involved with Asha this year than I was last year, and have gotten to know the core members a little better. And I have to say that I have never met a group of people more dedicated, enthusiastic and committed to a cause as much as these folks! They were there for us through the training months - and there for us throughout the race - all the way to the finish line - and there for us after the race as well! It was very exciting to see the Asha cheer squads along the race course - and served as an instant energy boost! Asha also provided pacers for all the marathoners - and I had 2 very wonderful pacers who accompanied me at different points during the 2nd half of the race! One of the pacers was from Dallas and I really have to give him a big big gold star for not only pacing me, but also entertaining me all the way to the finish line! :)

Besides the Asha runners, Areille, who will always be my favourite running buddy, accompanied me on the last 5K of the race, and when she is around, even the toughest run feels like a piece of cake! Areille also made the whole day tension-free for me by waking up early in the morning to give me a ride to the race and then driving me back home!! I cannot thank her enough for all her support through these last few months!!! She's just awesome!! I also have to thank Prax and Aparna who showed at the finish line to cheer me on!! That was a really pleasant surprise!!

Thanks to all of you who wrote to me with your words of encouragement as well!! It really did mean a lot to me!!

So overall, I really did have a fabulous Marathon #2! I plan to hang up my laces for a while to focus on some other stuff, but do have some Tri plans for this fall - so I'm sure they won't stay hung up for too long! :)

Tribute to Thalaiva.....

OK - Here's a non-running vetti post!! 2 years ago, a bunch of us did a cheesy "item dance" to the song Aasai Nooru Vagai - a Rajini classic! My friend managed to upload the video recently. By far, this is one of the most fun dances I have EVER done on stage! Hope you enjoy it as well!

Happy Monday! :)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1596157383406530390

10 more days!!!

So in the last couple of days, I have started receiving "Good Luck", "You can do it" emails from folks - and each time I receive one, I am like "huh? good luck!! what for??".....I keep forgetting that I have a marathon coming up - in fact in just 10 days!! I have been so busy with everything else in my life, that I've totally lost track of time....I attend my workouts and long runs routinely but have not really been counting down to the big day like I did the last time round!

I need to re-focus....re-align myself....and quick! The worst thing that can happen on a marathon morning is not being mentally prepared for what's ahead!!

So this weekend - I am gonna go for a pre-race massage - just to "flush things out and loosen things up" like Coach Stephanie has recommended, run my easy 7 miles taper workout....focus on my nutrition and hydration plan for next week, and try not to do anything crazy the whole of next week - especially at the gym or all the dance practices I have for an upcoming show! I will also be attending the pre-race Asha dinner this evening - and Coach Amy, my DC marathon training coach will be talking about mental preparation. She is AMAZING at motivating and encouraging runners of all levels - so if not anything, that should definitely get me back on track!!

Meanwhile, my fundraising site for Team Asha is still up and running (I'm sorry - but I just HAD to add in my last final shameless appeal! :) ) - so please take a moment to look at it if you haven't so already (see the link on the right-hand side) and think about contributing something - anything and everything counts! If you any questions about Asha and its projects, feel free to let me know about them as well!!

The Day after the Marathon!

Andre, my running friend at work - sent me the following video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-hCuYjvw2I

Pretty hilarious! I can totally identify with a lot of these!! I loved the slogan at the end!

"Here's to one part of your body that doesn't hate you right now.....YOUR HEART" :)

4 more weeks to go for Marathon #2!!

Back in the Groove...

After 4 weeks of lazing around, eating, partying, and merrying in India and not managing to get any quality running in, I went for my 1st long run of the year on Saturday morning - bright and early at 7am in Georgetown, 30mins outside of Austin. It was a beautiful morning, not too cold, but with a slight breeze. We were going to do a 20-miler that morning. It started off pretty well - I did good for the first 5 miles or so. The only thing that was bugging me was my sniffles...I think after 6 years in Austin, I have finally become a victim of the dreaded allergies that this city is so infamously known for! :(

I struggled from Miles 6-10, especially during the killer climb upto the top of the Georgetown Dam between Miles 8-9....but wow....that climb was totally worth it, as I was treated to a gorgeous view from the top! It's amazing how something as simple as that can really lift up your spirits or re-energize you! I had a nice run back down and was generally feeling strong....I got a massive sniffle attack again at Mile 16, and really struggled to get those last 4 miles in, added to which the weather had gotten warmer and the sun was actually blazing for a little bit!! I also felt a lot more tired that I would usually!

Not training properly for the last 4 weeks really did show its effect on Saturday. When you train for a long-distance endurance event, you slowly teach your body, over a period of time, what it's capable of and how to adapt to new challenges. If you completely give it a rest, you definitely need to take the time to ease it back into the previous rigorous routine you used to have! I probably should have run a shorter distance yesterday, but oh well! I'm glad at least that I took it slow and managed to cover the distance injury-free!

I had to drop out of the RunTex Distance Challenge!! :( My cousin has decided to get married on the day of the 3M Half-Marathon in California.....and well, I can hardly tell him to postpone his wedding so I can go run 13 miles and not lose out on the totally rad finisher's jacket!! Or wait...can I?? ;)

Special kudos to Amit Bhai for conquering those nasty hills at the ARA Run Hard Live Easy 30K yesterday and also for completing his first ever 20-miler!! Woohoo!!

2 amazing movies that made me cry bucketloads this past weekend: City of Joy and Taare Zameen Par! 2 MUST-WATCHES for those who haven't already!!!

A Very Happy 2008 to all of you!! :D

Distance Challenge - RACE 3 - ARA Decker 20K

1. With Shama - another one of Coach Amy's Ducklings! :)

2. With Santosh - who accompanied me on a nasty hill!

3. With Amit Bhai - we love YELLOW!!! :)

4. The Fab Team Asha runners

5. The Fab Coach Amy!!

It was a HOT HUMID HILLY race - but it was made so very pleasant by the great Team Asha Cheer Squad and Coach Amy!!

3 Down...3 More to go!!

http://www.runtexdistancechallenge.com/

Holiday Running in Chennai!

So I am off to Chennai in just 9 days! I can't wait...it's been close to 3 years since I last visited and I have ALOT to catch up on...friends and family I haven't met in a while...new people to see (specifically a new niece and new nephew!!)...new places to see...new restaurants to try out....weddings to attend etc etc....and of course who can forget all the AMAZING SHOPPING!! The 3 weeks are just going to zip by so darn quickly!! I wish I could have more time there!!!

3 weeks in India however means a 3 week absence from Rogue Training....this is especially crucial because I have a 20-miler Distance Challenge race to do the weekend after I get back!!..This means that I have to get some running in during the 3-week vacation including at least one solid long run. Coach Stephanie suggested checking out gyms and running groups in Chennai....and the first one that popped up when I googled Chennai running was the following site: www.chennairunners.com

Chennairunners is an informal running group consisting of a bunch of people who just enjoy running - be it long distance or short distance!

Quoting what appears on their website!
"Essentially a friendly lot, this group comprises, in varying fitness levels, the young, the young at heart and people whose youthfulness belies their age. Long distance running with the goal of finishing a marathon drives most of the members in this group. So we draw up schedules, train together, travel to races, exchange stories and experiences. Running in a group helps us push each other beyond our limits and alleviates the loneliness of running."

Both G32 and I contacted them - and will hopefully get a chance to run with them when we are in India in Dec and Jan respectively.

I was in general very impressed with all the results I got when I googled "running" "gyms" and "fitness" in Chennai....Just comparing to 3 years ago when I last visited, there are a lot more avenues available for one to get fit and stay fit in Chennai....Running especially is really picking up momentum not just in Chennai, but all over in India. I would defn. love to go run a marathon in Chennai sometime in the next few years!! Overall, this increasing awareness and embracement of fitness and staying healthy in India - is definitely a great trend, one I hope to see keep continuing.

I for once will definitely need to run in Chennai when I am there in December, JUST to compensate for all the binge-eating I plan to do!! ;)

Happy Holiday Running!

Distance Challenge - RACE 2 - EAS 10-miler

Beautiful Route....
Gorgeous Weather....
Great Company....
2 Down...4 To Go....
http://www.runtexdistancechallenge.com/

Why do a 26.2?

Found this quote and article on one of the Rogue Forums and just had to post it:

"Humans weren't meant to run 26.2 miles at a crack in the same way humans weren't meant to explore the heavens. We know mankind should get out of the space-exploration business because astronauts have died in the line of duty. Humans weren't supposed to navigate oceans, either, because if they were, we wouldn't still be pulling up wooden ships from the sea. And humans obviously shouldn't be attempting to climb Mt. Everest because people die trying every year. Maybe we shouldn't strive or dream or set goals at all. But we do. We do because that's how we're wired. Something inside us tells us to go for more. To strain and struggle and bleed for something great. To build ever taller buildings. To push the envelope. To take it to the limit and beyond."

-Rick Morrissey in a Chicago Tribune article on why we should keep running marathons even if occasionally people tragically die like Ryan Shay


http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-071106morrissey,1,2928793.column?coll=cs-home-utility

My First Marathon Experience!!

It's been more than 10 whole days since I completed my 1st marathon, and I am finally getting some time to sit down and write about it!! I still quite don't know how, where to start though.....overall, it was an amazing 1st Marathon experience, one that I will never forget as long as I live, and one that I will definitely look back on for inspiration!! I am not going to get into too much details - it would be quite difficult to do that - but just give some of the key highlights!

For the run-geeks out there, here are the all the final numbers from my race....

Distance Splits:

5 miles: 1:04:00 Pace: 12:48
10 miles: 2:10:08 Pace: 13:13
13.1 miles: 2:40:18 Pace: 12:57
15 miles: 3:18:24 Pace: 14:47
18 miles: 3:58:54 Pace: 13:30
22 miles: 4:55:24 Pace: 14:07
26.2 miles: 5:53:10 Pace: 13:45

These numbers are quite telling!! As you can see - I started off pretty ok, slightly faster than I wanted to....but I couldn't help it!! I was overwhelmed by the crowd, the electrifying atmosphere, the fantastic spectator support, the perfect weather, the CUTE Marines etc etc!! :) I slowed down a little in the 2nd 5 miles, partially due to a much-needed potty break, and then picked it up again during the next 5K....Miles 14-20 were the toughest portion of the race for me...The course itself was through Downtown DC, pretty flat, and of course full of great sights - all the monuments - and large spectator crowds - but I didn't quite get to enjoy all of this due to these horrible cramps that developed in my lower abdomen area...and I had to reduce my pace to a very slow jog, and had to keep taking deep breaths...doing anything other than that made me feel the pain considerably....

My cousin Ash joined me around Mile 14 and ran with me through Mile 22....something that I am extremely grateful for!!!...After mile 16, the spectator crowd thinned considerably, alot of people started walking, it became slightly hot, my cramps were bugging me, but Ash kept chatting with me throughout those miles, distracting me, amusing me, pointing out sights to me, and that kept me going on.....I am quite sure otherwise that I might have started walking with all the other folks around me!!....At mile 19, I saw my mom and ran to her with joy....I guessed she had what I really needed - TYLENOL!!!!! :).....And as I predicted - she did....I took 2 pills and within the next couple of miles, my cramps slowly decreased!! I slowed down a little though, as we crossed over back to Virginia, around miles 19-21....this time primarily due to weariness...my legs I guess really started TALKING to me and asking me all sortsa questions - the key one being - why I was torturing them the way I was! :) At this juncture, one of the DC Asha Chapter coaches who was standing in the sidelines ran up to me and enquired which Chapter I was from - he told me that he and his wife, also a coach, had been running up and down the course, and running with any Asha runners they met who feel like they need the assistance or company....he ran with me and Ash for about a 1/2 mile or so, and said that the few miles I have left were going to go a long way towards the goal I had for supporting Asha! My cousin also went "Doesn't she look great?"....and at that point, I couldn't help smiling...and well, I guess my legs also got the answers they needed - at the end of that 8 mins or so, I became a lot more relaxed and my spirits went up!

The last 4 miles were around Crystal City, and then around the Pentagon....I picked up my pace slightly after the 22mile point....the remaining course consisted of a few rolling hills, which weren't too much fun, and then a crazy, but short, steep uphill at the end.....As I was struggling on that hill, I heard Anusha, the friend who got me into this marathoning business in the 1st place, yelling, "Go Chandy!!!".....I could see and hear her clearly and was thrilled, although from the weary expression on my face - she would have never realized that :) , BUT I could also at that point see the finish line just ahead and I don't really know what came over me, but my legs suddenly had renewed energy, and I sprinted the last 200m towards the finish line, remembering to lift my hands up and smile at the camera as I crossed the finish line!!

The Finish Line is truly a sight to behold!! There are tons and tons of people there all cheering their guts out for every single person who crosses the line, most of them they don't know personally, but acknowledge as Marathon Finishers!! It was a great feeling to keep walking on after that to receive the Finisher's Medal from the Marines. I saw my mom and cousin and couldn't help grinning as I went up to them! They were my fabulous support team for the day, and helped make my 1st marathon experience a worry-free one, and provided moral support all throughout the race!!

Some crazy MCM race sightings/experiences:

- I PEE'D behind the bushes along the course with some other women while a Marine stood guard outside to prevent men from entering the same bushes! :)
- There was a guy who ran the whole Marathon BACKWARDS!!
- There was a guy who was juggling 4 Tennis Balls throughout the course!!
- Since it was Halloween weekend, a lot of folks were wearing costumes!
- There was a group of ~60-yr old women who wore "I want a kiss from a Marine at every water-stop" T-shirts!! Some got their wishes granted! :)

Overall, I had a very memorable 1st marathon - I wouldn't have traded it for anything else. More than anything, I enjoyed myself thoroughly - I guess for the 1st time, I truly experienced the Runner's High that everyone talks about!! I had an excellent coach, and excellent cause, and excellent family and friends to support and cheer me on throughout the 6 months it took me to get to that Finish Line! The running doesn't stop here....I still have 5 races left for the Austin Distance Challenge, starting this weekend with the EAS 10-miler. It will be my first long run since the marathon, and I am planning to run it super easy , but none the less, I can't wait to get back on the road!!

On a side note, the Asha Austin Fantastic 4 - Santosh, Gaurav, Ganesh and Vinod, completed their first ever 100-miler race this past weekend!! Imagine doing 4 marathons back to back!! It's an amazing feat - and I commend them on this fantastic achievement!! They are truly an inspiration to all the Asha Runners!! Kudos to the 4 of you!!

Off to the Nation's Capitol for my first 26.2!!

The big weekend is finally here....I am gonna be running my first ever 26.2 this coming Sunday...and I am extremely extremely excited!!

Amit Bhai sent me the following inspirational quotes and I just love 'em all!!

"Divide the race into thirds. Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart"
-Mike Fanelli, club coach

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed."
- Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ

"Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired. When you were younger the mind could make you dance all night, and the body was never tired...You've always got to make the mind take over and keep going."
- George S. Patton, U.S. Army General and 1912 Olympian

And lastly....both his and my favorite!!

"You can quit and no one will ever know about it but YOU will ALWAYS know"
- The Blazeman aka Warrior Poet

Coach Amy also advised that I have index cards with some of my own personal key phrases written - and I have those ready as well!

"Start Easy....Finish Strong"

"I am WELL TRAINED and READY for this"

and of course....

"I can SO do this on my hands!!!" :)


Thanks to all of you for your emails, gifts and well-wishes!!
A special special thanks to Coach Amy for being such an inspiration and an awesome cheerleader!! :)

Distance Challenge - RACE 1 - IBM Uptown Classic 10K

Team Asha at the IBM 10K

1 DOWN....5 TO GO..........

http://www.runtexdistancechallenge.com/