Must I master the marathon in Mumbai...

Looking back at my blog today, I realized that I hadn't stuck to what I had decided, which was to write as often as possible and document the things that were happening and express life from my perspective. The last time I wrote was some time in February and it's not that nothing has happened since then, for that is never quite possible, but it is more that I have found myself at a loss of words and unsure of what to write of and hence hold off thinking that I will write when I figure out what I can write about. Today I realized that I can write about pretty much anything. I can even write about not writing, which seems to be what I am doing right now, quite successfully at that.

Well, I have been debating with myself the past few days. Should I run a few half marathons this year or not? Should I take that step and sign up for the full marathon in Mumbai? The question actually leads back to am I committed and do I desire to train and run these marathons? For this year I have decided that if I do run a half or a full marathon, I must be in pretty good shape and fitness and run one.

I want to be able to RUN the marathon and not FINISH the marathon. On the other hand, I also realized that the motivation to train and run really comes from making that commitment and signing up for the marathon itself. From being on the other end of the spectrum and saying that I won't sign up for the marathons because I'm not ready, I'm slowly shifting to thinking I really want to run these marathons, let me sign up for them and I'll figure out some way to train for them and be as ready as I can be for them.

I think all this comes from a part of me that does not want to lose the physically fit and active part of my life. Keeping myself involved and aspiring towards these marathons keeps me in check and makes sure that I don't get lazy or don't start making excuses. Also, it forces me to set aside time for myself, which is really needed looking at the amount of time and mindspace I spend working.

I believe I have pretty much figured it out myself. I think there are going to be a few marathons coming this year. I think it's only going to get better from there. It's going to keep me on track and give me time and space to clear my mind and pump adrenaline through my system, which will keep me going and push efficiency, effectiveness and everything else!

The weekend that never was

It must have been Friday when I received an email from Ashish asking whether I would be interested in a night trek up to the Torna fort. Just two days before that I had decided to go on a bike ride and trek to Rajmachi. I emailed Ashish back telling him that it wouldn't be possible as I wouldn't be back till late in the evening on Saturday and wouldn't be able to join in on the trek.

Friday evening I headed to Life Cycles with Srikanth to rent a bike for the ride the next day. We rented two bikes and cycled back. Left home the next morning at around 4:30 AM to meet Bani at Swargate and then continue on to meet the others and head to Rajmachi. After about two hours of cycling and riding on the National Highway for about half an hour, I decided that I didn't want to compete with the trucks and lorries to get to Lonavla and preferred to head back. On the way back, I remembered Ashish's email and thought of maybe heading to Torna.

I suggested this to Srikanth, who thought it was a brilliant idea! Riding back, we rode past E-square theater on University Road. I hit the brakes, left my bike and ran in to see if there were any movie tickets available. I was looking forward to watching 7 Khoon Maaf but as the show was sold out I had to settle for I Am Number Four. After the movie and after stuffing myself with caramel popcorn and a sandwich, we headed to Life Cycles to return the bikes.

After returning the bikes, we headed back, had lunch and I fell asleep. I woke up at 3:30 and decided that I would head to Torna. Ashish said that we would bike to Torna (this time motorbike!) and then hike up from the base.

At 4:30 PM we met at Swargate and set off for Torna on 3 bikes. I was riding with Chikita, while Ashish and Arti were on one bike and Anoop and Srikanth on another. I was extremely excited about going on this trek. One because Rajmachi hadn't quite worked out the way it was supposed to and two because it was a night trek and I was told that Torna was beautiful! :)

We arrived at the base of Torna at around 7:30. We ate dinner and started walking a little after 8:30. Right at the beginning there was a fork in the trail and we chose the trail that we thought was the right one. Using our flashlights and the light from the moon we continued on the trail. After about 2 hours of walking, we realized that at some point we had taken the wrong path. Torna was slightly confusing as there were several trails leading out but many of them ended in a dead end and only one of them led to the top. We figured that if we continued moving up we would eventually hit the actual trail and could then follow it up to the fort. So, we continued walking in the direction of the fort.

Soon we were forcing our way through bramble and thorny bushes. We climbed over a dry waterfall that only had rocks in it. We continued climbing and walking. As we continued walking, the trail became harder to follow and the climbing and walking became harder. The inclines were steeper, the pathways were slippery and there was nothing to hold on to.

We finally came to a climb that was about 60 degrees and smooth stone. Somehow, with pushing, pulling, crawling and scrambling we came to stable ground. The next climb was almost 90 degrees and it took all our strength and a lot of motivation and even more faith to climb that rock face. There were six of us huddled on a small strip of flat ground and yet we were still not at the top of Torna. It was almost 2 AM at this point and Ashish tried to scout out the trail to the top and returned thinking it was safer and better to try and head back down.

Arti, Chikita and I were in disbelief. We had no clue how we had just reached the top and climbing down the way we came was almost unimaginable. After 5 minutes of an uncomfortable silence and all of us making up our minds that we had no other choice, we started climbing down. We decided we would follow a particular order until we came to flat ground and were more comfortable.

I swear, for the next hour or so, we were all holding our breath and hoping that we would get to the bottom without any major glitches. Srikanth lead the way, followed by me, then Anoop and Arti and lastly, Chikita and Ashish. As the inclines were so steep and the ground so slippery, we had no choice but to slide and crawl down the slope. After every section we stopped to make sure everyone made it and then continued further. It was amazing that everyone was so calm and collected on the outside, while I'm sure on the inside their heart was racing and while their mouth is saying, "Everything is going to be OK," their mind was still wondering if everything would go off smoothly.

After about 1.5 hours, we reached relatively flat ground and started walking through. In the meantime, we saw some other trekkers a little further off who had also gotten lost. We warned them to not come further and decided to head towards them. We finally got to them and they told us of their trek. We decided to rest there for some time and settled down to sleep.

We woke up to a biting cold, where our toes were freezing inside our shoes and we were shivering even with sweatshirts on. We started walking at 5:30 AM and headed back to the base village. Thankfully, we were able to find our way and a little more than an hour later, we were back at the base and happy to get there! :)

We had tea and headed back on our bikes. We ate breakfast on the way and headed back to Swargate. From there, I went home took a long shower and crashed.

After the trek, we laughed about the night and how eventful it had been. But at that moment, hanging off the tips of my fingers and hoping that my legs will find some solid ground, things were not so funny.

It was an amazing experience and I have newfound respect and appreciation for the five others that were on the trek with me. I think we now share something very different and special and I look forward to going on many MANY more treks.

I think the one thing that will make me want to go back with this very same group for any trek at any time would be the trust and faith. That night, I trusted every single person there and I think this was the only thing that let us all stay in such good spirits and it was the same thing that got us all safely to the bottom. I think it was so clear that we would all make sure that every single one of us would be safe and would get home safe. This was very very comforting and encouraging and made us push through any fears or inhibitions we might have had.

I think I owe everyone on the trek a big THANK YOU! :)

The Millenium's first decade in retrospect

Quick snapshot of this past decade! :)

2000 (New Years in Chicago)

- Appa joins the Foreign Service

- Moved to Germany

- Went on my first trip without family - Amrum (many firsts on that trip!)

- Played on a school team for the first time

2001 (New Years in Chennai)

- Was in my first play

- Travelled across Europe with family on a Eurail pass

2002 ( New Years in Chicago)

- Started learning tae kwon do

- Learnt rowing and rowed my first national competition

- Moved to Bangladesh

2003 (New Years in Chennai)

- My aunt got married

- Decided to become vegan

- Baked my very first birthday cake

- Went to Australia in the summer

- First time on the bungee trampoline

- Swam my first butterfly race

2004 (New Years in Chicago)

- My baby sister was born

- Moved to Calcutta

- Won my first national medals in rowing

2005 (New Years in Chennai)

- Finished my O-levels

- Won the single scull in both the junior and senior category at the West Bengal State Rowing Championships

2006 (New Years in Calcutta)

- Spent the summer in Germany and the US - again a summer of many firsts

- Visited the hospital I was born in Dubai - New Dubai Hospital

2007 (New Years in Calcutta)

- Finished my A-levels

- Turned 18!

- Started my BA in Sociology at MOP Vaishnav College For Women in Chennai

- Stayed in a hostel for 3 months

- Moved in with my grandparents for the year

- Won my first All-India University rowing medal in Chandigarh

2008 (New Years in Mumbai)

- Moved back with my parents

- Became an executive member of the Student Council in college

2009 (New Years in Chennai)

- Spent the summer interning in Melbourne

- Went to my first Aussie football match

- Became President of the People's Club in college

- Won gold in the single scull at the All-India university rowing championships

These are just some of the things that happened this past decade. We'll have to wait and see what the next decade has in store! :)

Goodbye 2010!

It is the last day of the year and the decade and looking back it has been an incredible year and quite an unforgettable decade! :)

What was Meena upto in 2010?

- Won the coxed fours at ARAE in Chennai

- Finished my BA in Sociology from MOP Vaishnav College For Women, Chennai

- Passed in First Class

- Visited my great grandmother in Tuticorin

- Traipsed around Singapore for a few days to relax, recuperate and shop

- Proud owner of a MacBook Pro thanks to my grandparents

- Joined Teach For India

- Started teaching 3rd grade at Rashmi English Medium School. Have a wonderful class of 24! :)

- Learnt how to cook

- Turned 21! :)

- Spent my birthday at Hard Rock Cafe in Bombay with some of my favorite people! :)

- Own my first car

- Prerna came to visit in Pune

- Nikki came to visit, watched a Hindi movie together and had an unexpected start to a milestone weekend

- Moved to Pune and moved into my very first apartment

- Trek to Koraigad with an awesome group of friends

- Went on an overnight trek to Rajmachi

- Cycled to Khadakwasla

- Visited Hyderabad after many years and had a wonderful visit

- Ran my first 10 K at the Pune Marathon

- Ran my first half marathon at the Goa River Marathon

- Attended home boi's wedding in Vizag! :)

- Family got a new Swift and I was the first to drive it!

We'll have to see what next year has in store for me! :) :)

Looking forward to 2011...

Running rush

I sat there wondering why I had come to McDonalds. Probably to show that I was fine and normal and that my classroom was fine and dandy. Or probably because my brain was fried and I was hoping that Ronald McDonald had some answers. Either way, I spent most of the time staring at the TV screen watching EPL highlights on ESPN. Only towards the end did I start talking and joking and thank god for that.

It is unusual for me to be quiet and straight faced. For those of you who know me, you know exactly what I mean. I am either smiling or laughing and constantly yapping. Most people would give anything for me to be quiet for a few minutes but it also serves as a source of worry as this is an obvious indicator that everything is not OK.

I didn't quite know what was wrong or why I was in a blah mood. I drove home listening to the radio as usual. As I parked my car and entered my apartment building I thought why not go for a run? I hadn't run in the morning and thought it better not to wait for the run the next morning. I decided to run after about an hour and settled down to finish a few small things.

I finally got up and headed downstairs for a run. The next 20 minutes took me to a place I needed to be and cleared my mind. My heart and feet were thumping to the beats of the music but as I ran, a calm washed over me. Things inside settled and my thinking became clearer and things seemed a lot easier and definitely more manageable.

I guess once in a while it is hard to keep things in perspective and be objective. Here, where there is a race against time, I think it is a constant struggle but the only thing I have learnt is that it may not necessarily be a bad thing. It pushes me to work harder and question myself. It also pushes me to be more efficient and really prioritize!

Running may not be my first suit but it is slowly becoming my vice...

Mumbai Marathon 2011

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Investing stakeholders

Wednesday was an extremely eventful day to say the least.

The day started off with me going to school, just like any other day. We were told we would have to attend some Zilla Parishad training for two whole days, all in Marathi. Of course, we were ecstatic about the training! ;)

There was this hope that I would only have to go for half the day after school, but our Principal had a change of heart and wanted me to attend for the full day. So around 10 AM I headed to a nearby school and sat down among about 150 English and Hindi medium teachers for a 7 hour long Marathi "bashan" on the new ZP format for assessing our students!

Following the training, I walked out with the hope of heading to a Western classical performance. I put my key in to open my car door, took it out, sat in the car and looked at my key. The key was slightly bent. I touched the tip of it and it snapped into two and I was just left staring at the key that was now in two pieces.

One of the teachers from my school was with me and I was supposed to drop her back home. I was like um... there's a slight problem. My car key just broke and is now in two pieces. Then I showed her the key. We decided to find a chhabi wala close by to get a duplicate key made. We started walking and about 5 minutes later learnt that if we went into the Yerwada market, we could possibly find one. After a good 15 minute walk, we found a chhabi wala who was willing to make a duplicate key.

When asked how much it would cost, with no hesitation he said Rs. 150. I, for one, had only Rs. 40 in my wallet at that time. Yes, I know, just wonderful luck! We successfully bargained him down to Rs. 40 to make the key. YAY for bargaining skills! :) With a key in hand that would hopefully work, we headed back to the car. Once back, I tried opening the car door and couldn't.

We tried all kinds of things, including shaking the car to get the door open, but it just didn't work. By this time, the other teacher's uncle had come to pick her up. They were nice enough to go back to the chhabi wala, pick him up and bring him to the car. The key by now was bent and out of shape. He fixed the key and 2 minutes later had the car door open. Amazed I started the car and headed to drop the other teacher off at home.

Once at her home, she insisted that I come in and spend a few minutes, so I went into their house. A nice, quaint house and such a warm, welcoming family! It was amazing how the whole family called me in with smiling faces and such affection. They insisted that I have dinner with them but I told them that I would have to head out as it was getting late.

After about an hour, I walked out of the house and headed to my car. As I was driving back home, I was just thinking how wonderful it was to visit their house and how welcoming and affectionate they all were. We talk about investing stakeholders all the time but how many of us take it to heart. I'm pretty sure no one would have told this teacher anything about investing stakeholders but she just did it. I think that at the end of it, I felt that we should not look at ourselves as being different from the other teachers in our school, or feel different but rather just look at the wonderful things that they offer and the things that we can learn from them. If you look hard enough, there is something we can learn from every single person we meet! :)