53@53

When comrades Marathon was called off heart break was ju st a formality . It was broken piece by piece since corona virus started spreading  its vicious empire .  We three Me , Dr Milind Dhale and Bindesh Singh really sweated hard to qualify and then training .

  We all  had   decided to run  a really long distance on scheduled date 14th June to compensate for our missed comrades .   Sometime in May we got a mail from   CMA ( Comrades Marathon Associations ) that they have orgnised a virtual run on 14th June . We three  happily said ok that we will register . But when i tried to  register they were asking  charges from all Overseas runners . Though charges were not huge, It was like rubbing salt on a wound as we already lost huge money of around 1,50,000 and more on travel, stay and registration.

   Later we decided to hell with virtual  comrades certificate and planned to run our own managed Comrade run. Run which was planned on 14 th shifted to 12th June my birthday  to make it a celebration of different kind . My  partners in crime  immediately agreed to make it happen.
     
  I  was already running short distances  but not any long run. We three did one 15 k and had accidental  Tadi( booze of palms like tree ) party on beautiful Kalyan river side. We never knew such place exists in Kalyan .while coming back we found one injury is troubling our rising star Bindesh..  Me and Dr Milind did one Titwala run in scorching heat . We were both exhausted  and started to have second thoughts about planned run . Heat was so high that i weighed three kg less post run due to hydration loss . It was frightening to see blood in urine , Consulted Dr Milind , He too experienced in last winter  . Searched in running websites and found it is not that uncommon .   

     Luckily  weather turned in our favour after Cyclone Nisarga  and we were hopeful again .
 Sachin  Sir  agreed to run some distance and  Dr Shyam  wanted to volunteer. I wanted him to run some distance as 12th june is his birthday as well.  Durgesh bhai was ready with big smile  .Pankaj was happy to give us support . Bindesh spoke with Dheeraj and he too was happy to give us water support in car .
      But weather was again warm a week before run. I was looking for weather forecast everyday . every  weather website said  rains will start from 11th June.  We had few droplets on 11th but heat and humidity was increasing . and there was no sign of rains .
 But when you speak aloud about doing  something then it becomes your commitment.  I spoke with three of my inspirations Ashish Kasodekar , Satish Gujran sir and Becky Pde . They encouraged me such a way that there was no doubt in my mind about completing 53 km to mark my 53rd Birthday . So stage was set . I woke up at two .Actually hardly slept.   Even You run your hundredth  event you can't sleep previous night . Checked out of window road was dry, My heart sunk but there was no turning back .
Reached Vasant valley our starting point  at 2.50 AM . Did some  light warm  up . Got a call from  Dr Shyam . he was coming for mobile water points along with Sachin .
 We started around 3.10 . it was good start with really nice pace  . Route was fixed  and informed to our support team  and there was no impromptu  change as support team may get confused .   Sachin and Dr Shyam helped us throughout first loop . They were joined by Dr  Hiraman.  After 10  km Bindesh's injury started giving trouble . We slowed down but there was so much pain so he decided to take a small break . Despite of injury he tried to there with me  for small runs . it was really invaluable support . In the night hours Dr Shyam Sir's BMW was blaring inspirational songs in full volume to keep our moral high.
   Dheeraj  was  with another  mobile support after 6.00 AM
   Dr Milind decided to  stop  after first loop as he has to travel  to  Navi Mumbai . Then Seema ran with me for few kms then Arwind Katkar sir supported  with 5 more km .  Meanwhile Pankaj joined Dheeraj in his car . A thing about Pankaj is he always has some surprise element , He brought a bottle of home made energy drink. It was so refreshing to see my friends having different ideas to support my run .
      As Katkar sir left I was running alone.  Dheeraj  noted this , handed over his car keys to Pankaj and  started running with me . He ran entire second loop intermittently as he was totally out of practice and running just to support me.  . If he was not there it was very difficult run as sun was already up and humidity was too high and roads were full of traffic .
    My   non runner friend Kedar was third mobile support for water and food . He has different ideas to encourage He started facebook live with wonderful  commentary.   Pankaj and Kedar helped me a lot as they had to wait long as I was running slow in return of 2nd loop. .As water I poured on my head   to beat heat soaked my socks . Socks got wrinkled and it was giving lot of pain while I was running.  I  had no stomach to remove shores and wear again .
 Durgesh bhai took some good snaps . Pankaj too did  Facebook Live .  A small personal  run turned into a micro event.    Last 5 km was torture . I was walking a lot . thanks to Dheeraj once again for that support .
    it was hero like welcome on last 1 km . group of dozen friends clapping  while I was running slowly . Prabhakar  Chande sir paced me by  his scooter  in last 1 km . My friends Arun Sapkale , Prof Namdeo , Shekhar  Nitavane ,  Kedar , Pankaj, Bindesh , Dhiraj , Durgesh  were all cheering up.
      I was exhausted and socks were acting like thorns . I threw off my shoes , and walked few steps . Chandekar sir tried to give me some necessary stretching , But I was too tired .
We cut a nice birthday cake brought by Prabhakar sir . I missed my friend supported me in early part has to leave for office as it was working day .
 I believe running 53  km was bit challenging. but supporting such run is more challenging , because you have to wait long for a single  slow runner  .And keep waiting for 6.45 hours is not easy thing .
 I dedicate this run to all my friends , Trainers and Mentors


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