Auroville Marathon tag line is “Run for the joy of running”. And this is what I did today. And naturally achieved my new personal best today – HM in 1:51 @5:15 pace.
A wave start for HM, and I started with the first wave at 6:15. The Sun was peeking lazily, countdown started and we were off at the exact time. A sea of runners on the cemented path, I slowly and steadily moved to the front. Then the trail showed up. Weather was nice and chilly, with a mist hanging to the trees. Around the 3km mark was a beautiful sight of mist wafting and crossing just in front of me as if lovingly saying “Please go ahead”. A wonderful feeling, it showed in my pace being 5:05 at that time.
An amazing variety of surfaces – uneven trails, muddy, sandy, stony, narrow trails, sharp turns, sun in the front and sometimes in the back, cold draft wind and suddenly warm draft, running over cow-gates, jumping over little walls designed to keep animals out, running on cement slabs, sharp u-turns. Legs constantly adjusting and nimble, eyes constantly scanning the trail not out of anxiety but out of curiosity and fascination, body agile and dancing through the bushes, a lovely feeling of aliveness. “The joy of running”.
Suddenly I find a lot of runners and was wondering where they heck they came from. And it dawned that they are the 10k runners who were routed through a shorter trail that joined with the HM later.
It was nice to see a distance marker every km, it was always a mystery as to where the next one would be , how many turns later.
Went through forest, living quarters area, city centre, pony centre, gardens, so many variations. A nice game of hide and seek with the sun, it came left, right, behind and in front. The wonderful variations of trail, scenery, sun kept me alive and in the moment while the legs rhythmically danced the way through.
Fantastic volunteers, cheering, smiling at every aid station that was every 3km. Was wonderful to see waste cups only in the dustbin, and not messing up the environment.
And the sea of humanity showed up and were cheering and I sprinted into the finish line with the HM clock showing 1:51. Surge of joy. My new PB! Also my fastest 10k in 52:01 and my fastest km at 4:55 today.
Stretched well and then had a tummy breakfast of Pongal/Vada with lovely tea. Two helpings and multiple cups of tea- heavenly.
“Run for the joy of running” – Thank you Auroville.