Running Rules – Literally and Figuratively!

This was we what Dean had to say when he started his umpteenth 100 miler.

Mind you, the man reflecting here is no less than 2 decade old in some serious kick ass endurance running across the toughest terrains of the World. But have no misgivings, that starting line can give jitters to the very best that’s out there.

But then that’s the beauty of running distances, it’s not repeatable or predictable even if you have done it a dozen or more times earlier. Deep inside you know that if you have done it once you will be able to do it again, but that element of tummy rumbling, that moment of self doubt every time you start off that line like a Greenhorn makes it exciting. The idea is to keep going, come what may.

Most runners have their rules, unwritten tenets to keep propelling them in. There are no wrongs or rights, they are just beliefs.

I am no great athlete, just a runner. But I have my tenets as well and I am pretty religious about those. I have 2 sets – The core ones and the peripheral ones.

Core ones are just 3, pretty simple.

1. A run planned cannot be cancelled at any cost.

2. A run started cannot be terminated, come what may!

3. When running, whatever is visible is achievable.

I am an every day runner, weekdays are moderate, weekends are little more. Having these rules by my side has helped me tremendously in getting imprisoned into the virtuous-addicitive-vortex that running is!

I have my bad days, the feet don’t get into rhythm, arm doesn’t swing right, Sun’s beating down hard (ya .. I am from Delhi).

But these rules, they are mighty rigid, help me take good days, bad days all in stride.

There has not been a single day where I have regretted post a run, it’s always been euphoric. However, feelings haven’t always been upbeat in pre-run phases which is where my rules have partnered and pushed me through thick and thin, through rains and arid Sun, through moist laden, sweat soaked Tees to sub zero temperature dashes.

I bow down to my ‘Holy Trinity’.

Will these rules help you get started, d drop in a note.