An Incondite Adventure: December 2016

To say a misty fog dominated the start of the Running & Living Gurgaon Marathon would be a massive understatement. Pollution in Delhi is not great, and the sky can sometimes resemble a morning on a Scottish loch, but it isn't always water particles in the air. It is poisonous gas and smoke. However, luckily for the runners, pollution was "lower" that day, or low enough to allow runners to brave the weather. Cool air led to a fog that blocked out the sky.

The run started with little fanfare as about 100 runners ventured out for a 26.2 mile journey (4 loops of 10.5K) of the remote portion of the city area. Pitch black, it was impossible to see anything since there were no lights on the road and the fog blocked the moon and starts. I was immediately near the front, and considering this was won in about 3:40 last year, figured I had a shot. For the first 10K I, literally, felt my way through the dark. Next time you want an adventure, pump up the treadmill and wrap a towel around your head. Now run.

We tripped on curbs, dipped into unnoticed potholes, and felt branches tickle our foreheads. Stray dogs would launch from the darkness, viciously snarling and barking, until a local would shout and call them off. Perhaps a few men would huddle over a small fire at the roadside. Seeing the color from the flames through the mist gave us some indication of the general direction we were heading. At one point, I saw a black figure ahead of me in the mist start to emerge. Unable to get a gauge on its profile, I squinted and ran closer, just feet from it, the figure's identity became clear. An 800-lb cow was meandering down the road. I jumped to the right just in time.

At then end of the 10.5K out-and-back loop, I was in 4th place, about 3:30 off the leader, and soon overtook 3rd and 2nd. My pace was just under 8:00 min/mile, conservative due to my lack of training and racing, and cautious as I ran for 50 minutes without being able to see anything. But by the end of the first lap, the sun - wherever it was - had come up, and a diffused light made the road visible. A whiteout ensued, blocking the presence of buildings just off the road and ensuring no one could see more than about 100m ahead or behind. It is a good thing the course was so repetitive. Anyone could have missed a turn at any point in these conditions.

Figuring that I was now in 2nd and the leader had gone out too hard, I worked to move up. My original plan was not to do anything anything aggressive till halfway. But somehow I blew this, going way too hard from 10-20K. I dropped about 6 minutes from the pace, and yet I really got nowhere, still about three and a half minutes back from the leader. I had been running alone since about the third kilometer. I decided to go into the third loop a bit more conservative, backing off the attack, and hoping that if he blew, I would motor by. At about 20 miles, I knew this was going to hurt.

The final 10K were rough. My legs just were not with me. I hadn't run over about 13 miles since January. My fitness and talent can carry me about 20 miles but after that it is all about the work that was put in. I didn't have the base. Definitely slowing, I tried to manage my effort as to not blow up myself, hoping no one would pass me and I could still finish. Shoveling cookies into my mouth, I tried to withstand the inevitable bonk. I had no GU, and there were only a few stations for aid.

Completely spent, I inched the final miles, finishing in 3:22, about 12 min back from the winner, but in 2nd place. There is no substitute for training...

It will still go down as one of the most bizarre runs, in terms of environment and scenery, that I think I have ever done.