Marathon!!!

As I grew up, I always had this dream of running a marathon and thought how would it feel like running with thousands of people and afcourse found it kind of cool!!!

Owing to strong believer in making dreams into reality made us register for portland marathon training (Marathons are 26.2 miles ) wonder why it is 26.2 ( it is distance from greek city of marathon to athens and i.e how it started).

Every saturday that too on a weekend getting up at 7:00 am and partying hard on friday was a pain. All the forces pulling myself back to bed so grumping me gets into the car, but once I am in the car and after the run the feeling of elation/ achievement on every saturday is priceless.

So here comes the time of half marathon with 13.1 miles, with me cutting on my expenses for a soon to a new venture and another dream any extra dollar hurts again time for a tradeoff...
so one day before... why am I running, I have chosen something which requires no skill sets and why do I want to hurt my body and get really sore ( No need right!!!)
Alright here comes the day ...I get really excited when I am among so many people and with 4000 ppl all gathered at the same time and place it is so thrilling and ahh!! stretching, ok few pictures before the start... and then a gun shot!!! start.

Now, talking with myself begins and all the thoughts pouring in pouring out!!!
1st mile why am I running this ...no no not to get lean ... I can always get leaner with better diet or gym
1.5 miles It is more fun when you are shouting and cheering on the side walks isn't it, all girls look so hot and cool ...End of first mile, I normally stop and walk for a bit shall I do it... today
2nd mile
Here comes the live music and then people serving water, heed in the end second mile wow!!! this is fun...
3rd mile... are you kidding this is only 3rd mile...I am already getting worn out.. a friend told me there is two big uphills I guess they are already getting over ... as I did that already.

5th Nah!!! he was wrong there are more..( I don't like him ... but if he can finish so can I).
6th if I can run 6 miles I can run 13 too ooops look at this asian man he is limping and still ahead of me...he has a knee problem and still he is smiling and going on... ( afcourse ahead of me...)

7th my god this lady should be 65 right still ahead... no I cann't overtake...Gosh another uphill!!! I won't stop no matter what it is... no I am not stopping...

Then I realised what skill is needed to RUN any MARATHON, it was PERSEVERANCE....courage to continue even if your body says no you cann't do it... your heart says no I think I cann't handle more than this... but honestly it is what you ultimately desire and how desperately you want it even in that pain you start enjoying and even if your face seems all worn out, your hair seems dissheveled... you can smile and then there would always be people with exactly in same worn out shape smiling back at you and saying"Good Job"....

I am sure, this is ahead of any skill sets... and I am sure we need it almost in every sphere or turn of our lives...It needn't be a race,No matter what you do once you have that courage to keep going on, it is about how badly you need it and you can do it with a smile and there will be always someone or the other in same boat as you are :)...

Ran 13.1 miles in 2 hr.08 min planning to get better for 26.2 miles in october.

Here are the pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/aartichoudhary/Halfmarathon?authkey=Gv1sRgCNettufy6_K9vwE&feat=directlink