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Halfway Mark + 1

A quick update…last night I passed the halfway mark with my training: 14 miles! After going nearly halfway around Manhattan, my legs were searing and would not stop shaking – I could not have been happier…

The past two months of training has been intense. Looking back, I do not think I realized the commitment that running the marathon would entail. The experience has been an emotional rollercoaster, some weeks I have felt extremely motivated and other weeks not so much. However, I can definitively say two things: (1) I am always happier after taking a nice long run, there is something peaceful about it, and (2) Maintaining the focus to run the marathon is very empowering — I can look back on each week and say I have moved forward: I am able to do something this week, that I was unable to do the prior week.

The training has also been filled with its fair share of sacrifice: an extra half-hour of sleep seems like an eternity, late nights on Friday or Saturday will kill my long-runs on Saturday or Sunday, I am continually physically tired, and none of my clothes fit me properly (I have lost around 10 – 15 pounds). I have also had my fair share of injuries over the past two months that have required me to take three weeks off from running. First, I got a stiff neck on two separate weeks because my shoulder muscles would tighten up and put too much strain on neck. Second, I tied my shoe laces too tightly and thus had a bruises across the top of my foot.

My schedule has entailed running 3 to 5 times per week, and yoga 2 to 3 times per week. I usually run weekday mornings at around 6:30AM, and I do yoga on the non-running days. On Saturday morning I prefer to go for my long-runs and on Sunday’s I will go for a shorter-run and try to squeeze in yoga if I have the time.

I realized the main thing that is keeping me going is imagining myself running the race with several thousand other people. This gets me pretty pumped up: http://www.nycmarathon.com/about/video_inspiration.php . I cannot wait to run it!

I have eight weeks left before the big day on November 2nd. After a summer that was far busier than I could have ever imagined, I hope the fall may be more amenable to more timely updates.

Thanks you so much to everyone who has donated! I really appreciate it. I still have a long-way to go with the fundraising so if anyone else could offer a donation, it would be greatly appreciated.  https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=259771&supid=225873705

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Making it happen…NYC Marathon

As a college friend said regarding my spur of the moment trip to India, “you’re indecisive until you’re impulsive.” And after my trip to India, I picked up the following quote from my family-friend in India:

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back– Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now. – Goethe

I have been dreaming/thinking of running a marathon for the past couple years; however, I wanted to find six-months when life would be relaxing and easy-going. On Sunday evening, I decided, and this morning, I registered. Sometimes you have to stop thinking…worrying…and follow your gut – everything else is noise.

I will be running the ING New York City Marathon with the Lance Armstrong – Live Strong Team on November 2. I spent a fair amount of time trying to decide the charity that I would support, and eventually knew I wanted to run for the Live Strong Foundation for a couple of reasons: Setting aside his choice of friends in Texas, the story of Armstrong is miraculous, not only did he survive ridiculous odds – 3% chance of living and tumors throughout his body the size of golf balls to grapefruits – but he went on to win the Tour de France seven times. And, most importantly, the Lance Armstrong Foundation (livestrong.org) supports important initiatives, including cancer research and awareness and Livestrong.com which promotes health, fitness, and lifestyle goals.

Over the next couple months, I need to raise nearly $3,500. Every dollar you donate will give me another reason to finish the marathon. I would really appreciate any support you can give: small or large. Please visit my personal page at http://www.livestrong.org/grassroots2008/krishanpatel to make a donation.

I will be tracking my progress, schedule, etc through this blog. I might even morph this into a general blog about my travels, pictures, books, etc.

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Day 10: Delhi – Leave Indira Gandhi Airport/Arrive in JFK — Parting Thoughts

Sunday, my last day in Delhi was low-key. I had lunch with my family-friends who arranged for me to be treated like a king in Agra.

During lunch we chatted about Red Fort Syndrome/Phenomenon (as my family-friends have begun to refer to the concept amongst friends). Despite how Indian television shows may portray the connected nature of Indian families (i.e. Everyone knows everyones business), seemingly all the changes is forcing individuals to attempt to maintain the pace by working longer hours, traveling more, and being more connected via Blackberrys and laptops.  The result is that families are becoming far more focused on their nuclear families, rather than on the community of families, friends and neighbors.

Indians are known for having chai and snacks with family-friends all the time, but now these events are diminishing. Despite all the leaps in modern conveniences — expressways, Blackberrys, EVDO cards, etc. – that should make connecting with people easier, people are too busy to actually enjoy the increased conveniences.

I have been really lucky to do a fair bit of traveling the past couple years. And, I realize that I am most jealous of the community aspect that so many countries still have. Despite what my family-friends have said about the Red Fort Phenomenon, India still seems very community-based and driven – where people actually know their neighbors.

I recall when our new neighbors were moving in NJ, and my Mom went to welcome them – they quickly went into her house and closed the door. We have tried multiple times and despite the fact that we live 20 feet away, we have no idea what their names are or anything about them.

Three years later, I think we have to simply presume they are afraid of us…

Looking back on the past couple years of the many neighbors I have had, I can barely recall any of their names or anything about them.

I really liked a quote that my neighbor from NJ that is living in Delhi had on her wall:

The Paradox of Our Age — His Holiness the 14th Dalia Lama

We have bigger houses but smaller families;

More conveniences, but less time;

We have more degrees, but less sense;

More knowledge, but less judgment;

More experts but more problems;

More medicines, but less healthiness

We’ve been all the way to the moon and back

But have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.

We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever,

But have less communication;

We have become long on quantity,

But short on quality.

These are times of fast foods,

But slow digestion;

Tall man but short character;

Steep profits but shallow relationships.

It’s a time when there is much in the window

But nothing in the room.

I left Delhi around 10PM last Sunday. I was really sad to go: I had an amazing time, in such a short amount of time. I got to meet a friend right before I left on Sunday, she said there has to be a reason you came here all of a sudden. Looking back at how perfectly everything worked out, perhaps there is. I am hoping I will be back very soon.

Right before I got in the car to head for the airport, my Aunt gave me a glass of water to take a quick sip of. Whenever I have gone on long journeys my Mom or Aunts in the states have done the same thing. I believe it’s a way of giving good luck for a safe journey. The small cultural innuendo was comforting, it made me feel at home.

I arrived in the US by 7:30AM on Monday morning, got to my apartment by 8AM, and got to work by 9:30AM — it’s been a busy week. Thanks for listening.