TCS Open10K 2022

So although I am not a big fan of racing a10K distance, since it is just such a hard effort from the word go to the finish line; this time I just HAD to sign up for it. One was the excitement of events post covid and with a premier one happening in my own backyard, I thought I would be a fool to not sign up for the event. Secondly, a big part of the Brooks contingent would be coming from across the country and I was just excited to meet them all in person and race as a contingent - cos mujhko ekdum feels aa raha tha.

Anyway, so signed up for the event and as it came closer, the excitement just grew. To be honest, there were many times that I really questioned my sanity, cos I had also signed up for the Vagamon 60K and the emails the organisers were sending across were putting the fear of God in me. Eitherway, there is a saying in hindi - "Okhli Main sar daala hai, toh musal se kya darna" and that seems to be my motto in hindsight. Getting some speed & tempo runs in was of importance and so with that in mind I continued my training.

Before we knew it, the event was around the corner - slated for 15th May 2022. I have always considered this event my birthday gift - since it falls on the second Sunday of May each year. My birthday is on the 10th May so it always falls around then and hence this cosmic connection with the event. Anyway, so the team came down from Mumbai, I wrapped up my Friday sessions and headed on over to the Expo for my bib collection.

It was so amazing to meet the Brooks team from Mumbai and all of the regular faces from the running community. Time just flew there with meet & greets of old runners & new, organisers & crew. What I love about the Brooks team is that everyone on it is extremely passionate about the sport. It speaks volumes when the Country Head is on the floor, at the stall in the expo and spending time with the runners - inspite of a back issue - on his feet spreading smiles for the miles - Hats off to you Kartik - you inspire and bring people together. THIS spirit had a major role in me spending a lot of time at the Brooks Stall at the expo. Later that night was a kickass event organised by Procam - Beyond the Finish Line - which had some very inspiring speakers like CS Santosh, Justin Gaitlin who shared their own experiences of their journey. Come Saturday and the Brooks Athlete Team from across the country plus some dear friends from across the country were coming down - so again I went over to the Expo to meet with them and spend sometime with them. Post this, was the Pasta Cookout event which was another fun-filled meet and greets with some of the most awesome people in the running circuit. Yes, as you can see - it was a hectic weekend - almost an ultra leading upto the event. After wrapping up with these events, I headed back home around 6pm ready to calm down and try and get a good nights rest before the event.

Come 8pm and it started raining - alarm bells started ringing in my head and then I placated myself thinking, we have all night and the rain will only make the weather a bit more pleasant. I tried to go to sleep - but as I have mentioned - the night before an event is generally just sleepless as it is. Eitherway, I may have passed out around 12 or 1 - don't quite remember. Woke up at 3. Mum was already up and had made me my chai. Race Start was at 5:30am so the goal was to reach at least an hour in advance. It was Nihal's ( another incredible Brooks athlete ) first time here and I had promised him that I would meet him at the stadium - close to the Procam Marquee. Anyway, I didnt even have to glance out the window to know that it had been raining all night and the roads would all be wet in the morning. Early morning, after consulting with Anjali, Nihal & Kartik, I decided to change the shoes I am using from the Carbon Plated Hyperion Elite 2, to the Hyperion Tempo - it may not have the carbon plates - but it sure had better grip - and, if you know one thing bout me - it is that I always err on the side of caution - its ok to lose a few minutes - than falling flat on my face.

Mum and Dad came and dropped me to the end of Cubbon Road - we saw another runner walking in the rain, stopped, asked him to jump in and then spoke to the volunteers who allowed us upto the Tonique Junction in the car. From there, we jumped off - mum and dad wished me luck and headed back home. They wanted to stay and cheer on the route - but the weather was misbehaving and how! As we walked to the start point in the rain, Bala and me chatted - it was his first ever event and he was very excited - I enjoyed listening to him. Once we reached the gate, he headed to his start gate and I made my way to the Marquee. I met Nihal and Kartik as soon as I walked in. We were all together and we were home. Kartik just took on the role of manager, coach everything - he took our bags off us and said, just focus on your race - went got water for us to gulp our gels down and was there - Nihal and me made our way to do our warm ups. TBH I was very reluctant -simply cos it was raining so much. Anyway - as we headed out, a lot of other runners also joined us - it was arund 5:10 that we headed back to Kartik, grabbed our gels, gulped them down - redid our laces and got mentally prepped to race.

5:20 and we both headed to the start line - Oh! the excitement - pushing, shoving - everyone standing around like horses at the start line - heaving and frothing - ready to go. It was still drizzling. Before we knew it the countdown began - Nihal and me shot each other a glance - run safe, run hard, run fast it said ( at least thats what I think) and off we went!!! Since we were lucky enough to get a priority start, we had relatively lesser people ahead of us - but be rest assured even this is an aggressive lot - pushing and shoving and going for the kill. Anyway - as soon as we got out the stadium, there was a huge puddle and quite a few people braked there causing almost a traffic Jam - thereon, we got over the hiccup and moved on. The first 2Km is one of gradual incline, followed by a Km of decline and thereafter continuous rolling. Like I have said before - the 10K is a really tight race - and from the word go you dont have time to think - For me the only thought on my mind was - maintain the goddamn pace until the end. With each passing Km, it was just 9 more, 8more, 7more ..... keep the legs pumping, keep the form on point and keep the breathing under control. And that is just how I rolled. On the way I heard some people cheering me on - and that as always only added a spring to my step. Before I knew it - we were on the finishing straight. I heard Kartik scream out my name - and from there I sprinted my heart out. As I crossed the finish line - I saw the entire team waiting for me - Kartik, Anjali, Nihal, Amar, Anil. I checked my watch 44:45min - it was a PB by 9 seconds. Not too bad I thought - Sub 44 would have been better - but as always - I will take what I get and be grateful for it. From what we knew Nihal had come first in his age cat ( 33minutes - can you even imagine) - he also came in 6th Overall, Amar came in 4th in his age cat and Anil, 5th in his age category. As far as I knew I had come first in my age cat. This wrapped up the TCS 10K event - off course, post this we made our way to get the finisher medal, head back to the marquee for a hearty breakfast, caught up with Raina, Anjana and Deepak as well and thereafter we all made our way to the Bira 91 after-party. Basically, 10K ke naam par humne badi party ki. Bade hi drame kiye aur badi saari photo kheechi.

I had not received my finisher timing message from sports timing solutions. So after I finished with the party, I reached out to Mitesh from Sports Timing solutions and he confirmed my official timing and that I was second in my age category. I was surprised but also in awe of the lady who had wrapped up the 10K in 37mins something. Eitherway, I moved on. 2 days later, Dilip Kumar who is the unofficial manager of Bangalore Runners, gave me a call to inform me that the person who had come in first was actually a Male who had run with a Female Bib number, he had raised the issue with procam, they had accepted and advised that post verification the changes will be made. So eventually, I came in first in my age cat and 10th Overall.

It is a real treat to see that people around you care enough to even make an effort such as this. I personally would never have investigated this. For me it doesn't make sense - to cheat - firstly - who are you fooling and why? and Secondly, really! we compete at an amateur category in a country like India where barely 2% of the population even attempts endurance activities - so really look at the bigger scheme of things and see exactly where you fit in the picture - we are nothing on the larger scale of life. It just doesn't add up! Even if you get away with it - you will always know!

Anyway - with this wrapped up the TCS World 10K event - done and dusted. Moving onto the next mammoth event scaring the living daylights out of me - my first Ultra, my first Trail - both in one shot at the Vagamon ULtrail.