Dream Runners' Half Marathon...

It’s been a week Dream runners' half marathon event is over and I guess I am already having "Empty Nest syndrome."

Every Saturday with determination of doing little extra , pushing little further and hoping to do better...me, Ambili, Radha & Kumar woke each other up early ... took leaves when were supposed to work...re-adjusted our priorities ...drove to Besant Nagar...Just to be part of dream runners' group run...

Joining the group felt so right when on very first day dream runner team told me and my friend to concentrate on our own runs and they would be looking after every runner in case anyone trailing behind...

It was a treat to meet lot of pro runners and new faces during every run...

Some days ran faster...Some days; was one of the trailing ones... Some runs were with cramps…and sometimes walked whole distance....

Swami,Rekha, Radha telling me I can do much better and can finish 10k within an hour on my very first day...Ali making me run nonstop and trying to improve my every run...Shahul's encouragement for pace...inspirational Vjji...Water points during practice runs and photographs after every run....all are much cherished moments and helped me enjoy my 2nd half marathon with lot of comfort...it felt like a home affair.....

Event started quite on time with  nice whether , greeting lot of familiar faces...Few new introductions and beats of zumba .. Though zumba ended before I could pick up beat and sync my steps...I also enjoyed the music and stretches after...

With lot of cheering from other runners, Hi-s & hello-s we headed for the run... I ran 8-9Km nonstop with steady pace and comfortable rhythm and continued later with run/walk pattern ... Marina stretch was beautiful and was reserved for runners ...came across some supporting cops and spectators around ...few greetings with them and fellow runners during different paces of run..continued my run…

I ran this half marathon with little distraction ...I blame it on smiling young faces at water points...Real fit female cops ... Marina beach beautiful stretch and other awesome runners who crossed me from opposite direction with lightening speed..Amused spectators on the road ...and lot of photographers with their big lenses....

After 15 kms …my feet were burning and legs were stiff...muscles were sour...Switching to walking from running and vice versa was getting more and more difficult... I calculated and then re-calculated my finish timeline every 10 minutes afterwords and managed to complete my half marathon in 3.06 hours ...
May be not a very strong finish...But definitely a memorable one …

Dream runners community made us feel like one of them and encouraged on worst and best of the days; including the event day!

Event was well organized from bib till medal distribution....I feel every success of this event is well deserved …...Cheers to the Organizer Team and Runners!!!!!

Definitely waiting for next year dream runners half marathon...!!!

E

Run for Fun !!!!