A bit better finishing 3 kms in 28 mins. The calves were both paining all the way through and haven't been able to hit a rhythm in the 1 hr I have run till now, maybe should start running outside soon. The breathing and stamina need to improve a lot , have not been able to hold a speed of 10 for minute and had to go as low as 5. Good news is that the body is getting used to it and so pushing is becoming a bit easier, maybe will be able to do a 5 km run before the end of this month
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
So it begins, again!
At 74+ kgs and 6 years older I start on the journey to fitness again. Started on the same treadmill slowly hitting a maximum speed of 8.2 and going as low as 4.2. The left leg felt flat footed and ankle can give some prolonged pain as I plodded for half an hour. took me 29 mins to do 3 kms by that reckoning will take me about 7 hrs to complete a marathon. My goal this time is to do a sub-5 hr full marathon in Jan 2015. Should be able to do a half marathon in 2 hrs by June.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Point of Inflection
There comes a time in life where you need to define yourself, what you are , what you want to be , what you stand for. It's oft repeated that you should always have a goal in life, short -term or long -term doesn't matter , just something you can focus on and keep working towards. But life as they say is not that simple is it? As the term here comes to and end I am onto these thoughts, not really worried about the placement scenario but about what I would like to achieve with this life of mine.
26 years have passed by with countless memories and experiences on both sides of the fence.
But somehow there is a tingling sensation that I can live a better life, with better people and better experiences and all of this would culminate in me contributing better to the society and to myself.
26 years have passed by with countless memories and experiences on both sides of the fence.
But somehow there is a tingling sensation that I can live a better life, with better people and better experiences and all of this would culminate in me contributing better to the society and to myself.
Insider - Outsider ??
I cannot explain it, but it really hurts when people I believe I know, do deeds that .. lets say I would bury myself for doing them. Felt that way when a friend of mine tried to shamelessly use his religion to garner a few stupid votes a few years ago and then last week a guy I expected to have some common sense nonchalant puts a post bashing a public figure(PB) because his actions apparently hurt his sentiments. Go on buddy share your emotions with a few thousand more people if it helps to alleviate the pain you feel, I am all for it. But then I do not understand how the PB's action should cause such an impact on you, you are not a stakeholder in the entity, I am flabbergasted at the outburst to say the least.
I do not wish to specifically discuss the PB or the entity because what concerns me is that the
emotions shown arise from a sense of ownership of the PB and his entity and I believe it is a very unhealthy connection to have especially when there is apparently nothing connecting you both.
For those not in the loop , the situation is about a giant of a company deciding to set up its new operational center outside of the state where its headquartered. The grouse of the individual is that the action reeks of being a traitor to a state which favored the company.I have generalized it because this is a situation oft repeated and more importantly is the need to address the emotions shown by the individual which I believe is similarly exhibited by millions across the country and probably through out the world.
My argument is this the PB has not been elected by you to care for your welfare or your emotions and has all the rights to run the business as he/she seems fit as far as it doesn't break any laws or endanger in any way human life. I do not understand where this sense of ownership and betrayal comes from. If citizens feel betrayed it should be with its elected leaders as they wield the tools for getting investments to their constituencies and they hold the responsibility to do that in the best way possible. Remember Singur, Posco and there are surely a few more examples to illustrate that its the political leaders who let down its citizens.
But the bigger problem in all this is the sense of considering someone an Outsider. This I believe is like cancer which has the potential to get malignant given the right conditions. This is the point that has oft been used through out our history by Kings, Dictators to get the majority of its citizens support them against the monsters that the minorities always are.
I do not wish to specifically discuss the PB or the entity because what concerns me is that the
emotions shown arise from a sense of ownership of the PB and his entity and I believe it is a very unhealthy connection to have especially when there is apparently nothing connecting you both.
For those not in the loop , the situation is about a giant of a company deciding to set up its new operational center outside of the state where its headquartered. The grouse of the individual is that the action reeks of being a traitor to a state which favored the company.I have generalized it because this is a situation oft repeated and more importantly is the need to address the emotions shown by the individual which I believe is similarly exhibited by millions across the country and probably through out the world.
My argument is this the PB has not been elected by you to care for your welfare or your emotions and has all the rights to run the business as he/she seems fit as far as it doesn't break any laws or endanger in any way human life. I do not understand where this sense of ownership and betrayal comes from. If citizens feel betrayed it should be with its elected leaders as they wield the tools for getting investments to their constituencies and they hold the responsibility to do that in the best way possible. Remember Singur, Posco and there are surely a few more examples to illustrate that its the political leaders who let down its citizens.
But the bigger problem in all this is the sense of considering someone an Outsider. This I believe is like cancer which has the potential to get malignant given the right conditions. This is the point that has oft been used through out our history by Kings, Dictators to get the majority of its citizens support them against the monsters that the minorities always are.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Day 0- Qatar Transit
Tired and weary, yet full of enthusiasm to explore the new country I and BIL (Bro-in-law) went out on the pretext of getting some currency exchanged. As we went out the difference between the conditioned air inside and the dry hot air outside made us feel as if we had just stepped into an oven. We later found out it was just 36 degrees. Anyways we made our way to the city center mall which was about three blocks away and as we walked past the buildings few things struck me.
1.) None of the architects in Qatar were ever taught about straight lines. Case in point none of the buildings we saw had any straight lines to it. Finding something that resembled a rectangle would be like, you know the haystack….
2. ) Highly automated traffic systems all around and with the density so sparse in the city both the pedestrians and the drivers have a good time, the traffic rules depend on give-ways as the signals have been minimized to the maximum extent.
3.) Qatar seems to have woken up from a deep slumber having spent millions if not billions in getting the world interested in it. The FIFA world cup 2022 will be held here.
4.) Doha shows the modern face to the world with women allowed to show their faces in public and seek employment outside their homes. Saw them working in the immigration check and then the parking attendants but did not see them anywhere else.
5.) Doha has embraced people from all over the world and I could see people from India, China, Africa, UK, USA, Japan and other parts of Europe all in one day , proof enough I guess. Did I mention the to and fro drivers between the airport and hotel were Indians?
6.) The expatriates run the city …. Almost. That’s what the lines outside a foreign exchange cum remittances’ center indicated.
7.) Hub for all the MNC to market their goods which was evident on the roads with cars of Japanese, European and American make zipping past and the products seen in City Centre mall and Carrefour. 
8.) There is not much in terms of sight-seeing in the city except for the Islamic museum and an arts center. But it has a Promenade to die for, amazingly clean and you can find people jogging, walking at any time of the day. The city is getting ready for a world class Art Museum and that I believe is going to be real mean.
9.)The Doha Airport is meant just for the state airlines Qatar Airways or so it seems didn't see any other
carrier on the tarmac.
10.) It does have an old market or a market in the format of yore where the most sold products are chocolates, spices and pets.
What I enjoyed most was the hotel where we stayed Movenpick, going by its name at first impression it I guessed it would be some kind of a motel with the name “ Move’n’Pick” . But the stay was so good, it was probably the best place I stayed on the trip. Truly global was its cuisine spanning Indian, Italian, American, Mexican, Thai and Cheesssseee J. I must have tried about 40 different dishes that day and I am a vegetarian.:)
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Just liked it:)
Found this on someone arbit's profile and liked it for its apt description. Whoever you are I empathize:)
Have you even been in love? Horrible, isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable.It opens your chest and it opens your heart and it means someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses. You build up this whole armor, for years, so nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life .... You give them a piece of you.
They don't ask for it. They do something dumb one day like kiss you, or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so a simple phrase like maybe we should just be friends or how very perceptive turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination; not just in the mind, it's a soul-hurt, a body-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain.
I hate love
Have you even been in love? Horrible, isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable.It opens your chest and it opens your heart and it means someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses. You build up this whole armor, for years, so nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life .... You give them a piece of you.
They don't ask for it. They do something dumb one day like kiss you, or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so a simple phrase like maybe we should just be friends or how very perceptive turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination; not just in the mind, it's a soul-hurt, a body-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain.
I hate love
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Richard Branson: Losing my Virginty
It was like eons ago that Kuldeep had suggested me to read this book, but somehow I never read it for years and then finally found the time to sit back , put up my legs and enjoy a good ride through Richard's life. The title might put off people, but its just that a title to grab your attention and have high recall and as the author himself says he always whats to be a bit cheeky when it comes to giving names;)
The journey begins rather just a decade ago with a balloon trip, and attempt to fly across the world that I and probably others will also faintly recall. The in-depth detail, imminent dangers and just trying to relive the journey hooked me on to the book. It isn't surprising that the author knows how to get you hooked on is it;). I believe this is what separates what Virgin has always done and still does today. It has its own personality, driven by its founder, of fun, cheekiness a bit rebellious but all in control. No challenge is too hard and there is always an itch to be different and deliver different products/services.
Quite surprising to know that Richard was dyslexic and isn't really a connoisseur of music , but was someone who saw an opportunity and just went ahead with it. I believe the lesson to be driven home is it be committed to one's idea and put it in the best work possible, seems an often heard cliche' but then you have such an inspiring example to substantiate.
One of the few mistakes to learn from, never try to take a short cut to success , however short and however risk less it may seem. No blots any where please.
There are very good reasons why reading the book now actually makes sense to me rather than during graduation.
It probably helps in understanding the difficulty in deciding to sell off something you have created and grown for decades in this case Virgin Music and after all that have the guts and gumption to start of and make head way in an altogether diverse industry- The Virgin Airlines.
What probably is not talked about much in the book but clearly stands out is the power of the Virgin brand. Reading this book would at-least make budding entrepreneurs think twice before naming their ventures cause after the brand is built and you wish to diverse utilizing its brand power, it might just be too late:)
Looking at the personality of the protagonist , he is someone who keeps challenging himself , a first rate jugadu inssan who always believes that nothing is beyond his reach and instead of the arrogance that most people display with that belief, he actually accepts plurality and has a clear openness to all sorts of people and solutions.
Things to take away from the book:
1.) Start off on your idea, start small and stay put no matter what.
2.) No shortcuts however tempting it might be.
3.) Enjoy and Explore life.
4.) Keep challenging yourself.
5.) If there is a system it can always be bettered.
6.) Blue Ocean baby!!
The journey begins rather just a decade ago with a balloon trip, and attempt to fly across the world that I and probably others will also faintly recall. The in-depth detail, imminent dangers and just trying to relive the journey hooked me on to the book. It isn't surprising that the author knows how to get you hooked on is it;). I believe this is what separates what Virgin has always done and still does today. It has its own personality, driven by its founder, of fun, cheekiness a bit rebellious but all in control. No challenge is too hard and there is always an itch to be different and deliver different products/services.
Quite surprising to know that Richard was dyslexic and isn't really a connoisseur of music , but was someone who saw an opportunity and just went ahead with it. I believe the lesson to be driven home is it be committed to one's idea and put it in the best work possible, seems an often heard cliche' but then you have such an inspiring example to substantiate.
One of the few mistakes to learn from, never try to take a short cut to success , however short and however risk less it may seem. No blots any where please.
There are very good reasons why reading the book now actually makes sense to me rather than during graduation.
It probably helps in understanding the difficulty in deciding to sell off something you have created and grown for decades in this case Virgin Music and after all that have the guts and gumption to start of and make head way in an altogether diverse industry- The Virgin Airlines.
What probably is not talked about much in the book but clearly stands out is the power of the Virgin brand. Reading this book would at-least make budding entrepreneurs think twice before naming their ventures cause after the brand is built and you wish to diverse utilizing its brand power, it might just be too late:)
Looking at the personality of the protagonist , he is someone who keeps challenging himself , a first rate jugadu inssan who always believes that nothing is beyond his reach and instead of the arrogance that most people display with that belief, he actually accepts plurality and has a clear openness to all sorts of people and solutions.
Things to take away from the book:
1.) Start off on your idea, start small and stay put no matter what.
2.) No shortcuts however tempting it might be.
3.) Enjoy and Explore life.
4.) Keep challenging yourself.
5.) If there is a system it can always be bettered.
6.) Blue Ocean baby!!
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Immortals of Meluha
I had read a lot about this book, great publicity and when I saw it on the bestsellers list had to check it out . Glad I did because I had a jolly good time reading it.
The book aims to be human version of the Shiva story, pegging the lord himself to be just another human with a twist that his karma makes him into a Lord worth worshiping. Whether this attempt had to made is a question I leave to the serious theists, I for one welcome the attempt for the purely creative exercise it requires. The most challenging tasks would have been to connect the personalities and events as stated by the scriptures and fit it into the current setting. What I enjoyed most was trying to figure out the inspirations the author used make the book come alive.
So then, at the start we have the tribal leader Shiva fighting off enemies from encroaching onto the Manasarovar Lake and from there the journey to uncovering the truth about his destiny is a fascinating story. There is the Harry Potter-esque self-fulfilling prophecy which is the crux of the book, the humanization of Shiva has been handled very carefully with the friendly jibes, the pain of inaction, the meandering self-doubts as well as the rash decisions made when the emotions run high. The caste system has been debated and book proposes the ideal system our generation would agree to, in theory. Then there is the age old saga of good versus evil with the twist of recognizing who is evil and who is good cause its always the winner who writes history.
The writing overall is amateurish , given the fact that its the author's first book it still delivers.Just maybe the oft repeated good vs. evil could have been toned down.
What impressed me was the finer details of the journey , the security and the battle plans that were provided ,this not only shows the effort but also gathers the readers involvement.
On the authenticity part, I gave up judging it when I was still half way through, especially when modern day hindi is used liberally given the fact that the story is set in 1900 B.C and even the jokes used are from 21st century A.D:). The book bases itself on the fact that everybody is god and delivers that message to a certain extent.The ending though in suspended animation which would be fit for a TV episode, but has been applied to a book just leaves me cursing the author:)
All in all an awesome book to chill out with this summer. (if you do not take the mash-up of mythology seriously:))
Ratings:4/5
Genre: Indian Fiction
The book aims to be human version of the Shiva story, pegging the lord himself to be just another human with a twist that his karma makes him into a Lord worth worshiping. Whether this attempt had to made is a question I leave to the serious theists, I for one welcome the attempt for the purely creative exercise it requires. The most challenging tasks would have been to connect the personalities and events as stated by the scriptures and fit it into the current setting. What I enjoyed most was trying to figure out the inspirations the author used make the book come alive.
So then, at the start we have the tribal leader Shiva fighting off enemies from encroaching onto the Manasarovar Lake and from there the journey to uncovering the truth about his destiny is a fascinating story. There is the Harry Potter-esque self-fulfilling prophecy which is the crux of the book, the humanization of Shiva has been handled very carefully with the friendly jibes, the pain of inaction, the meandering self-doubts as well as the rash decisions made when the emotions run high. The caste system has been debated and book proposes the ideal system our generation would agree to, in theory. Then there is the age old saga of good versus evil with the twist of recognizing who is evil and who is good cause its always the winner who writes history.
The writing overall is amateurish , given the fact that its the author's first book it still delivers.Just maybe the oft repeated good vs. evil could have been toned down.
What impressed me was the finer details of the journey , the security and the battle plans that were provided ,this not only shows the effort but also gathers the readers involvement.
On the authenticity part, I gave up judging it when I was still half way through, especially when modern day hindi is used liberally given the fact that the story is set in 1900 B.C and even the jokes used are from 21st century A.D:). The book bases itself on the fact that everybody is god and delivers that message to a certain extent.The ending though in suspended animation which would be fit for a TV episode, but has been applied to a book just leaves me cursing the author:)
All in all an awesome book to chill out with this summer. (if you do not take the mash-up of mythology seriously:))
Ratings:4/5
Genre: Indian Fiction
Monday, December 28, 2009
Memory lanes, Monkey Thieves & Back to Bangy
Been sometime since I was last here, lot of stuff happened in the past 3 months, but at the end of the semester I could hardly recall if I was actually involved in any of the stuff I did, actually seems like I have been watching a silent movie for the last 3- months. What's the story ? , have to borrow a nice device from my friend(forgive me , if its violation of IPR) to keep it short.
Another start- normal days - summer prep - Mock GD's - Mock Interviews - me dumb as a Dodo -Resume - Suits and Photographs - FootPrints has some "Breaking News"( Chronolgy doesn't makesense in this world any more) - The Indore Marathon (85th over 12km)- the prep room -long waits -anxious looks -TimePass (FIFA-CS and some books too)- why marketing? - vampires -angels - J&J - more timepass (HSBC, Sony, Cummins & Essar) - a smile, a wave - It's the Tom and Jerry Show again.
(MIS mein CP - Group mein Quality checks(26 font size!) - the classes start again - Utsaha mein pumps- Aamir ki shakti - Mid-sems Raam ke naam )
MIS 's CP - Group 's Quality checks(26 font size!) - the classes start again - Utsaha pumps- Aamir 's Shakti - Mid-sems, Raam ke naam - Was 'that' my blunder - as always 'God Only Knows'+2 - dark and despair - did Ahvan do some repair?- fun and games with the quizzes that ended with some nips- Football mundial with Kratos -curse the guy who blasted my shin - in between there were some online quizzes with Bothra , who now owns Bothra and Sons:) - FIFA fever takes over - there was our Mime at SBM - Over-acting , over -dramatizing, talented section aren't we now:) - cant forget the hordes of quizzes and assignments, but I did want to forget them - Open Books ('The Reason' why I might flunk some... , if others allow me to;)) - term ends -seems so soon - never said goodbye , here's some from Miley Cyrus
"....The one thing you wish I'd forget
Is saying goodbye, saying goodbye
Ooh, goodbye"
Now that was the last term , had a stop over in Mumbai on the way back and had to go past the campus , had lunch with batchmates good ole' Laxmi (though renovated) , brought back memories in a flood ,seems like if you hang around HN for some time and you sure will bump into a batchmate:).
Was watching a NatGeo episode on Monkey Thieves today - It was about the Maccaw groups in Jaipur and their group behaviour (yeah, I can find OB in anything!! ) - Let out a laugh when the narrator said- " ... and the solitary male sometimes hangs around the edges of the territory trying to find a friend from the group who could help him get in and find approval of the alpha-male ..... " my Mom actually was alarmed enough with the sudden burst to ask me "what happened?:)"
Am back in bangy , after what seems an eternity , have been to the usual suspects places already , and back in my room , it feels so comfy that it makes me want to be damn lazy once again:), surely as I was talking with the ToFN guy, a life with masti and to do just as you wish would be one as an IT manager in Bangy. Will hop around the city teh next few days and keeping my fingers crossed for another Nandi Hills Ride, will probably make a couple of posts before the year ends, ciao.
Another start- normal days - summer prep - Mock GD's - Mock Interviews - me dumb as a Dodo -Resume - Suits and Photographs - FootPrints has some "Breaking News"( Chronolgy doesn't makesense in this world any more) - The Indore Marathon (85th over 12km)- the prep room -long waits -anxious looks -TimePass (FIFA-CS and some books too)- why marketing? - vampires -angels - J&J - more timepass (HSBC, Sony, Cummins & Essar) - a smile, a wave - It's the Tom and Jerry Show again.
(MIS mein CP - Group mein Quality checks(26 font size!) - the classes start again - Utsaha mein pumps- Aamir ki shakti - Mid-sems Raam ke naam )
MIS 's CP - Group 's Quality checks(26 font size!) - the classes start again - Utsaha pumps- Aamir 's Shakti - Mid-sems, Raam ke naam - Was 'that' my blunder - as always 'God Only Knows'+2 - dark and despair - did Ahvan do some repair?- fun and games with the quizzes that ended with some nips- Football mundial with Kratos -curse the guy who blasted my shin - in between there were some online quizzes with Bothra , who now owns Bothra and Sons:) - FIFA fever takes over - there was our Mime at SBM - Over-acting , over -dramatizing, talented section aren't we now:) - cant forget the hordes of quizzes and assignments, but I did want to forget them - Open Books ('The Reason' why I might flunk some... , if others allow me to;)) - term ends -seems so soon - never said goodbye , here's some from Miley Cyrus
"....The one thing you wish I'd forget
Is saying goodbye, saying goodbye
Ooh, goodbye"
Now that was the last term , had a stop over in Mumbai on the way back and had to go past the campus , had lunch with batchmates good ole' Laxmi (though renovated) , brought back memories in a flood ,seems like if you hang around HN for some time and you sure will bump into a batchmate:).
Was watching a NatGeo episode on Monkey Thieves today - It was about the Maccaw groups in Jaipur and their group behaviour (yeah, I can find OB in anything!! ) - Let out a laugh when the narrator said- " ... and the solitary male sometimes hangs around the edges of the territory trying to find a friend from the group who could help him get in and find approval of the alpha-male ..... " my Mom actually was alarmed enough with the sudden burst to ask me "what happened?:)"
Am back in bangy , after what seems an eternity , have been to the usual suspects places already , and back in my room , it feels so comfy that it makes me want to be damn lazy once again:), surely as I was talking with the ToFN guy, a life with masti and to do just as you wish would be one as an IT manager in Bangy. Will hop around the city teh next few days and keeping my fingers crossed for another Nandi Hills Ride, will probably make a couple of posts before the year ends, ciao.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
It's true!! ,It's true!!
Seems the idea of illogical boosters actually works for others as well, hmm... I actually hit upon a research finding on my own ;)
Mind over matter (an excerpt)
We’ve all heard the old adage about running being 90% mental. Turns out it might be true, and scientifically proven to boot. Tim Noakes, M.D., author of Lore of Running, has long argued that it is the brain that allows or limits endurance performance rather than the body.
Noakes says that the brain holds us back from pushing past a certain point. “There’s a control mechanism to make sure that you reach the finish line not in a completely, utterly wilted state,” he claims. “You always have a little reserve.” Or as some would interpret this, you can always push a little harder.
Confusing Mental Fatigue and Physical Fatigue
Consider the following scenario. You’ve had a long, hard day. Your kids are nagging you, your boss is riding you, and there’s a sink full of dirty dishes and a mile-high pile of bills waiting for you at home. Managing to get in a run, much less a track workout or tempo session, seems like a monumental task.
Researchers at Bangor University in the UK set out to examine why it is that mental fatigue can lead to the perception of physical fatigue during exercise. Dr. Samuele M. Marcora and colleagues compared two groups. While both groups were to complete a high-intensity cycling exercise, one group was given a challenging, but sedentary, 90-minute computer test beforehand. The other watched “emotionally neutral documentaries” for 90 minutes.
While physiological responses to the exercise did not differ between the two groups, the perception of physical effort was much higher in the mentally fatigued group (the ones who did the computer test). The perception of physical fatigue translated into those participants reaching their maximal level of perceived exertion, and thus giving up, much sooner.
Tricking the Mind to Allow More from the Body
This sort of research tells us that the brain is the boss. It orders the body what to do and what not to do. A study out of the University of Birmingham, England, demonstrated that it is possible to, in a sense, fool the mind into allowing the body to work harder.
These researchers showed that cyclists who swished a carbohydrate drink containing either glucose or maltodextrin disguised with an artificial sweetener during a workout were able to ride harder and longer than those who swished water disguised with an artificial sweetener. This was despite the fact that none of the participants actually swallowed either of the liquids, nor did they know if they were swishing the carbohydrate solution or plain water. In addition, the two groups rated the level of difficulty to be the same, even though the carbohydrate drink group worked harder.
A functional MRI demonstrated that certain areas of the brain lit up when the carbohydrate drink was swished, those areas being connected to emotion, motivation, and reward. It was as if the carbohydrate-sensitive receptors in the mouth communicated with the brain, which then sent a signal to the body to tell it that it would be getting more calories and thus could work harder, regardless of the fact that no calories were actually consumed. This demonstrated that it is possible to trick the brain to allow the body to go further and faster.
Brain Training
We often assume that a decrease in performance is the result of physical fatigue—that less oxygen reaches the muscles, lactic acid builds up, and our legs tire. This doesn’t, however, explain instances when you feel you have nothing left, but then manage a surge on the backstretch or rally in the last mile of a marathon. If your muscles were truly shot, that last push would be impossible.
What it comes down to is training, or tricking, the brain to allow the body to go harder. The brain can be taught to give the body more leeway by incrementally pushing past that perceived maximal level of exertion in training. The same way you train your body, you must also train your mind. Noakes suggests, “If you want to be competitive, you have to learn how to deal with the discomfort. A lot of the heavy, good physical training is about training the brain to cope with discomfort.”
Running Priorities
Since we don’t all have the luxury to be able to devote our entire lives to our training the way many of the pros do, we must find ways around the stresses of everyday life. This means making running a priority. Noakes asks, “What are you going to give up? You can’t just keep adding. The brain doesn’t have infinite reserves.”
Bob Kempainen, who ran the 1992 and 1996 Olympic marathons, has a reputation for being one of the most mentally tough runners of our time. By decompressing his rigorous medical school program to six years instead of four, Kempainen was able to simultaneously train for both Olympics and complete medical school.
He explains, however, that other aspects of his life were put on the back burner: “You have to put up with going out to train when you’re tired or when you’ve got things pulling you in different directions, whether it’s social opportunities or passing on a promotion because it would be more work hours. There’s always something that you have to give up. You have to be pretty committed to the sport.”
Getting into the Routine
Once you’ve moved your training up to the top of the priority list, making it a part of your daily routine can help combat unmotivating messages the brain throws at you. Chris Raabe, winner of the 2009 Grandma’s Marathon and a religious 150-mile-a-week runner, knows this well. On top of that heavy mileage, he is also a full-time patent examiner for the Patent Office in Washington D.C.
He explains, “If training is a focus that you have, it’s important to eliminate the distractions as much as possible and make sure that your training is a part of your routine. If you ask me what I’m going to be doing at 5 a.m. on a Wednesday two months from now, I can tell you I’m going to be going out for a run. It’s something that I’ve decided I am doing at this time.”
It is this unquestioning devotion that runners such as Raabe display that seems to be the key to living the double life as a competitive runner and a mere mortal.
Sheri Piers echoes these sentiments. Piers, 38. is a full-time superwoman, juggling a career as a nurse practitioner, coaching a high school boys cross country team, and tending to her five children, not to mention running upwards of 120 miles a week. The 11th place finisher (2:37.04) in April’s Boston Marathon shows that it is possible to talk the brain into letting the body go further and faster even when the brain waves the white flag.
Practice Makes Perfect
Indeed, no one effortlessly falls into this type of schedule without a little practice, but it does seem to get easier with time. Raabe suggests, “The more you are exposed to a stress, the lower your response is to that stress.”
Noakes adds that when you willfully subject yourself to stress, such as training and working every day, “you become better able to cope with all the stresses in your life.” He adds, “Training increases your self-belief and your confidence in what you can do.”
With practice, you become more convinced of your ability to handle mental stress. Piers explains matter-of-factly, “if you believe you can do it, you just do it.”
Mind over matter (an excerpt)
We’ve all heard the old adage about running being 90% mental. Turns out it might be true, and scientifically proven to boot. Tim Noakes, M.D., author of Lore of Running, has long argued that it is the brain that allows or limits endurance performance rather than the body.
Noakes says that the brain holds us back from pushing past a certain point. “There’s a control mechanism to make sure that you reach the finish line not in a completely, utterly wilted state,” he claims. “You always have a little reserve.” Or as some would interpret this, you can always push a little harder.
Confusing Mental Fatigue and Physical Fatigue
Consider the following scenario. You’ve had a long, hard day. Your kids are nagging you, your boss is riding you, and there’s a sink full of dirty dishes and a mile-high pile of bills waiting for you at home. Managing to get in a run, much less a track workout or tempo session, seems like a monumental task.
Researchers at Bangor University in the UK set out to examine why it is that mental fatigue can lead to the perception of physical fatigue during exercise. Dr. Samuele M. Marcora and colleagues compared two groups. While both groups were to complete a high-intensity cycling exercise, one group was given a challenging, but sedentary, 90-minute computer test beforehand. The other watched “emotionally neutral documentaries” for 90 minutes.
While physiological responses to the exercise did not differ between the two groups, the perception of physical effort was much higher in the mentally fatigued group (the ones who did the computer test). The perception of physical fatigue translated into those participants reaching their maximal level of perceived exertion, and thus giving up, much sooner.
Tricking the Mind to Allow More from the Body
This sort of research tells us that the brain is the boss. It orders the body what to do and what not to do. A study out of the University of Birmingham, England, demonstrated that it is possible to, in a sense, fool the mind into allowing the body to work harder.
These researchers showed that cyclists who swished a carbohydrate drink containing either glucose or maltodextrin disguised with an artificial sweetener during a workout were able to ride harder and longer than those who swished water disguised with an artificial sweetener. This was despite the fact that none of the participants actually swallowed either of the liquids, nor did they know if they were swishing the carbohydrate solution or plain water. In addition, the two groups rated the level of difficulty to be the same, even though the carbohydrate drink group worked harder.
A functional MRI demonstrated that certain areas of the brain lit up when the carbohydrate drink was swished, those areas being connected to emotion, motivation, and reward. It was as if the carbohydrate-sensitive receptors in the mouth communicated with the brain, which then sent a signal to the body to tell it that it would be getting more calories and thus could work harder, regardless of the fact that no calories were actually consumed. This demonstrated that it is possible to trick the brain to allow the body to go further and faster.
Brain Training
We often assume that a decrease in performance is the result of physical fatigue—that less oxygen reaches the muscles, lactic acid builds up, and our legs tire. This doesn’t, however, explain instances when you feel you have nothing left, but then manage a surge on the backstretch or rally in the last mile of a marathon. If your muscles were truly shot, that last push would be impossible.
What it comes down to is training, or tricking, the brain to allow the body to go harder. The brain can be taught to give the body more leeway by incrementally pushing past that perceived maximal level of exertion in training. The same way you train your body, you must also train your mind. Noakes suggests, “If you want to be competitive, you have to learn how to deal with the discomfort. A lot of the heavy, good physical training is about training the brain to cope with discomfort.”
Running Priorities
Since we don’t all have the luxury to be able to devote our entire lives to our training the way many of the pros do, we must find ways around the stresses of everyday life. This means making running a priority. Noakes asks, “What are you going to give up? You can’t just keep adding. The brain doesn’t have infinite reserves.”
Bob Kempainen, who ran the 1992 and 1996 Olympic marathons, has a reputation for being one of the most mentally tough runners of our time. By decompressing his rigorous medical school program to six years instead of four, Kempainen was able to simultaneously train for both Olympics and complete medical school.
He explains, however, that other aspects of his life were put on the back burner: “You have to put up with going out to train when you’re tired or when you’ve got things pulling you in different directions, whether it’s social opportunities or passing on a promotion because it would be more work hours. There’s always something that you have to give up. You have to be pretty committed to the sport.”
Getting into the Routine
Once you’ve moved your training up to the top of the priority list, making it a part of your daily routine can help combat unmotivating messages the brain throws at you. Chris Raabe, winner of the 2009 Grandma’s Marathon and a religious 150-mile-a-week runner, knows this well. On top of that heavy mileage, he is also a full-time patent examiner for the Patent Office in Washington D.C.
He explains, “If training is a focus that you have, it’s important to eliminate the distractions as much as possible and make sure that your training is a part of your routine. If you ask me what I’m going to be doing at 5 a.m. on a Wednesday two months from now, I can tell you I’m going to be going out for a run. It’s something that I’ve decided I am doing at this time.”
It is this unquestioning devotion that runners such as Raabe display that seems to be the key to living the double life as a competitive runner and a mere mortal.
Sheri Piers echoes these sentiments. Piers, 38. is a full-time superwoman, juggling a career as a nurse practitioner, coaching a high school boys cross country team, and tending to her five children, not to mention running upwards of 120 miles a week. The 11th place finisher (2:37.04) in April’s Boston Marathon shows that it is possible to talk the brain into letting the body go further and faster even when the brain waves the white flag.
Practice Makes Perfect
Indeed, no one effortlessly falls into this type of schedule without a little practice, but it does seem to get easier with time. Raabe suggests, “The more you are exposed to a stress, the lower your response is to that stress.”
Noakes adds that when you willfully subject yourself to stress, such as training and working every day, “you become better able to cope with all the stresses in your life.” He adds, “Training increases your self-belief and your confidence in what you can do.”
With practice, you become more convinced of your ability to handle mental stress. Piers explains matter-of-factly, “if you believe you can do it, you just do it.”
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Flu , toes and adrenaline
A shocker of a news http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/ahmedabad/IIM-A-student-dies-health-officials-suspect-swine-flu/articleshow/5067805.cms,
one of the lucky few who was moving forward towards a bright future on full ballast, as always fate remains cruel.
Indore itself is said to enveloped with the common flu and its effect is evident in the class as well, I can only pray not to get it.
My toes are stamped and have a skin tear on my left foot, guess that's the prize of spontaneous participation in a football practice, went in barefooted against studs.
Oh! the adrenaline , an awesome hormone which pushes you into unbelievable zones of activity.Have seen its power for the last month or so , but being constantly driven by it, isn't good news.Probably , with the possiblity of me falling sick , my body shut down its production or probably ran out of raw materials;), anyways I am running on normal carbon-diet and hopefully will not depend on the awesome-a for some time to come. Trying to tighten up my routine , but years of inertia are difficult to overcome, anyways I am King Bruce for now and I believe my random thoughts are geting expressed freely now:)
one of the lucky few who was moving forward towards a bright future on full ballast, as always fate remains cruel.
Indore itself is said to enveloped with the common flu and its effect is evident in the class as well, I can only pray not to get it.
My toes are stamped and have a skin tear on my left foot, guess that's the prize of spontaneous participation in a football practice, went in barefooted against studs.
Oh! the adrenaline , an awesome hormone which pushes you into unbelievable zones of activity.Have seen its power for the last month or so , but being constantly driven by it, isn't good news.Probably , with the possiblity of me falling sick , my body shut down its production or probably ran out of raw materials;), anyways I am running on normal carbon-diet and hopefully will not depend on the awesome-a for some time to come. Trying to tighten up my routine , but years of inertia are difficult to overcome, anyways I am King Bruce for now and I believe my random thoughts are geting expressed freely now:)
Friday, September 25, 2009
Nice Run after Sunset
Today was a day without any work to do. So , went on a longer run , probably about 5 kms. The cool breeze all along the way made it a comfortable exercise and I was happy to double up on the previous distance in two days , so 12 kms next week seems pretty easily doable , maybe I should set a time limit now. Went ahead to pound some pedals and this time smartly choose an easier mode to finish 5 kms in 16 mins. I am gonna make it a habit to pound some everyday , after all it takes just about 15-16 mins.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
And here we go again....
Been ages since I stepped out to pound the road, a few enthu runs at the start of August and a total stop till yesterday. Finally went on a down-up round of the hill , legs felt perfectly alright and no sign of any pain (ITBS) around my left knee region, guess I am good to go :), came back and then went to the gym for workout on the stationary cycle ( can't rem the right term now). I pressed the start button without realising the program it was set to, as per Murphy it was set at the hardest and I had to push my legs hard as if I riding up a hill when I had just about finished running up one. Felt good to be cycling after about 3-4 months , the thighs were still in good shape to push through 5 kms in the next 18 mins, thinking of doing this atleast 2-3 times per week.
Well on the personal front, things have been changing a lot in the last few months, seems like I am on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Enjoyed most of the last two months on the hill and expect to do a lot more in the coming time:).
Well on the personal front, things have been changing a lot in the last few months, seems like I am on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Enjoyed most of the last two months on the hill and expect to do a lot more in the coming time:).
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Go Dwivedi GO!!!
Amazing acomplishment by one of batchmates, ought to get a first hand account from him.
Hers's The Feat .
Hers's The Feat .
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Stand up for what is right!
Hi,
Did you know that more than 130 million children in the world have
never got a chance to get any kind of formal education in their life ?
The "Right To Education" for a child is universally accepted as a
clause, but is hardly applied in practice.
CRY has been an organization that has been working for decades now to
ensure that the basic rights of every child get fulfilled. Its an
organization run on a voluntary basis, an organization whom we ought
to support for all the noble deeds that it performs.
I am running the World 10k marathon this Sunday to raise money for CRY
and spread awareness towards this noble cause. But why do I run ? Not
for the Olympic Gold or for a chiselled body, I run to loose weight
and stay fit. I enjoy this activity and at the same time am really
pleased to see that I can help make a change through it.
Please support my run and contribute. Visit
http://www.bangalorecares.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=articl....
The last date set by the organizers is 30th May, so please contribute
by then.
Please do pass on this message to your friends.
Thanks !
Sreevathsava Reddy
For more information on CRY:http://www.cry.org/index.html
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