My First 10k Run

It was absolutely intriguing to hear people talk about Running as if it is some kind of a solemn phenomenon.

"It is exhilarating"
"It is the epicenter of discipline, motivation, health, focus etc."
"Whatever you want to achieve, is very much within your control and Running can make you believe in that."

I wondered how on earth could this be possible?! If the secret of success could be that simple, then why do we not see that many people running?! Hmm, I wondered and got into running last month. I had to discover and experience the high myself.

I just couldn't resist. So, I started running. It is so true that the mind pushes the body and the body pushes the mind. Run...Run...Run. The "HIGH" feeling is very special and running in Oman makes it even more special. While you are about to throw the hat, the scenic Oman eases the pain and inspires anyone to run.

I set myself a target of 10km for 2011. On hearing my target, a marathon enthusiast smirked, "10km is nothing. You will do it in no time." Well, I did not believe it until today. I did my first 10K today. And, the feeling is incredible. Well, now I know that 10K is not much, but it is a significant step forward.

Now that the first target is done within one month, my subconscious mind has set a target of 21km - half marathon. Well, I guess, that's how addictive running can be.

Fearless

111 million people tuned in to watch the Super Bowl XLV and saw the Green Bay Packers lift the Super Bowl. Thanks to the Packer's defense and Andy Rodgers, of course. Most of the teams build their strong foundation with the defense.

"A strong defense and an aggressive offense is the key."

As a child I have seen my dad trying to get this phrase into the soccer players' heads when I used to tag along with him during soccer training sessions.

I have come to really comprehend and appreciate the phrase, as I started facing the world as a man. In essence, the defense is to have your fundamentals clearly understood and have an aggressive attitude in pursuing unexplored areas.

In the movie, 3 Idiots, Amir Khan has artistically and beautifully infiltrated the minds of the young with one of the secrets of SUCCESS: "All iz well." Amazing!! When a person is paranoid, the mind becomes too defensive and it is a disaster waiting to happen. Even worse is that people get used to a reactive lifestyle of "Procrastination".

From Super Bowl to My dad's soccer tips to Amir Khan, the concept is simple: No fear. How to achieve that? That too, in the Corporate world?!! At times, we hang to roles at Organizations hoping for that promotion and, as a result, end up as a frustrated whiner.

One of my close friends encapsulated the concept of "No Fear" in one word: RELEVANCE

Are you relating yourself to your Organization?

Or

Are you relating yourself to the Industry?

In a nutshell, are you a "Frog in a well"? This limits our horizon, perception and, as a result, opportunities. When we relate ourselves to a greater and bigger world, it motivates us to get better and this strengthens our desire to rediscover ourselves, redefine priorities and, most importantly, take control of our lives. In the end, you are not at the mercy of your boss. It is the other way round.

People might get carried away and confuse fearlessness with recklessness. For sure, I have done this mistake once. I think it is not just about telling your mind to be fearless. Rather, you prepare yourself fundamentally and relate yourself with a greater and wider horizon. Rest assured, you will be in the FEARLESS zone.

Having entered the FEARLESS zone, sky is the limit.

The good old lifestyle for better health.

Cough!

You will be served milk with turmeric and pepper!!

Body heat!!

You will be given the option of selecting the least torturous option: oil massage or fenugreek!!

To fight cancer, you will be stuffed with one-tomato-a-day as a precautionary measure!!

We wondered! Where the heavens did this grandma come from?! We dreaded those times of misery and would do anything to get away. We were subdued by sheer physical power to dump that organic medicine into our body. Most of the time, physical force is not required. I am sure we all remember the infamous look by our parents or grandma that would have wilted a starched collar or a stare that would have humbled Clint East Wood.

In retrospect, we all have our fond memories of someone who took care of us in an organic lifestyle. Now, having become parents we long for those days and feel sad that those organic lifestyles are almost extinct.

Invariably, in every household, there is a cupboard dedicated for organizing the pills-of-the-family. Thanks to the fast paced lifestyle of one-pill-solution for everything. What about after effects?! Who cares?! If I can get through today, I am fine.

Having grown up in a village for 18 years, we had Organic food and we were not aware of inorganic food. On the contrary, fancy tinned food was a luxury and we used to look at it with such admiration.

Like many others, I have spent a significant part of my weekend life in buying groceries - during my 10 years in the US and Canada - at supermarkets. Every single time I walk into a supermarket there is one very small - but expensive - aisle that makes me smirk to myself. It is the Organic section. This is the pinnacle of hypocrisy: We humans have evolved and advanced so much especially in Health and Medicine and, yet, there is hardly any food item that is without preservatives and artificial flavors.

India was immune to this human weakness. Not anymore. On my recent visit to India, I was shocked to see the pride of people in demonstrating their Coke and Pepsi, trying so hard to get accepted in a certain social class. Thanks to the power of advertising!!

About a decade back, I too was blinded by the euphoria of fanciful preserved food. But, I have turned the corner and have realized the values of good old healthy habits. Since then I have hardly gone to the doctor or had a pill. But, it took me so many years to cultivate certain habits. Over the years, I have practiced certain good habits which have made me a better person. I thought of sharing some of them...

• Drink 1 litre of water first thing in the morning to cleanse your bowel.
• Milk with oat bran for breakfast. Add some honey for sweetness. Do not add honey when the oats is hot.
• Have a sandwich around 11 am.
• Have salads for lunch or dinner. Salad can have Iceberg Lettuce, Baby Carrots, One Tomato, Sunflower seeds. You can be creative in selecting the vegetable as per your taste. For salad dressings, I like Thousand Island.
• Have a snack around 3pm: Almonds or Digestive biscuits
• For dinner, I love to have healthy Chinese stir-fry preferably using Olive oil. Typically, I have my dinner at 6pm and then a cup of milk at 9pm.
• After every meal, I have a cup of green tea (after one hour from the meal time).

Yes, it might sound crazy, but you will get used to it, especially if you are physically active in terms of running or swimming or walking. Exercise is an important part of the lifestyle and it can prove to be a great motivator to restrict you to healthy food.

Hey, I heard that.

I am not a sick minded nut to follow such a routine. In fact, I surprise most of my friends with my junk-food habits. I do take breaks from this routine. I pat myself on my back by treating myself with a juicy, deep-fried, high cholestrol burger from KFC, occasionally. I have never missed a week without a double toasted Sesame Bagel with two layers of herb & garlic cream cheese. I used to have a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts at a time. I don’t miss a chance to have that roadside pani puri. I try not to notice where the vendor is scratching with his fingers before dipping his hands into the the pani-pot. (Yikes, at times, I am disgusting!) But, the point is that I do enjoy life.

I think we are constantly looking for solutions - in the shelves of the supermarkets – to fix our health problems. A bit of reflection into our own once-upon-a-time forgotten simple and healthy lifestyle will pave the way for a healthy future.

So you want to enjoy life? Stock up your immune system with plenty of greens and anti-oxidants. You can have guilt-free Krispy Kreme donuts and plenty of quarter-pounders at McDonalds.

Good luck. Have A HEALTHY AND A HAPPY 2011.