MY FIRST WINTER RUN - SILVESTERLAUF ZÜRICH

Impressions from the 38th Silvesterlauf, Zürich 

The 38th edition of the annual Silvesterlauf (Silvester run) came to an end last Sunday in Zürich. Among the 21,643 runners who registered for the event, I too was one of them. This was my first run in conditions which were below 5 degrees. Unlike my other runs in the past few years, this was different weather wise while in running terms, I did not feel a strain since preparing well in advance helped me getting used to running in such conditions.

Well, in all fairness I have ran at the races without preparation (including a half-marathon) and as a result I have also suffered from those body aches, niggles and other small bodily discomforts. I didn't want any of this and moreover I wanted this run to be like a normal run, a feeling of routine from my daily life. This was my goal and I am happy I was able to achieve this small milestone.

THE CHALLENGE

For a long duration in my life I have spent winters that hovered around 15-20 degrees. Yes, it is a paradise by the looks of it and hence my breathing and tolerance to cold weather and sub-zero climates had to be adaptive. One of the best methods to adapt to colder conditions is to face them, train in them and giving the body an incremental challenge to get used to the surroundings. Last year, I could not manage to take part in the 'Silvesterlauf' and this year, I was determined to take part if I were to be in Zürich.

TRAINING  

Kept it simple - just made it a point to spend time outside with relatively less warm clothes by jogging, and running. This time the weather leading up to the race helped me train better. There were many days late in the evening where temperatures were below 10°C consistently and on few days it hovered around 5°C and less. I spent anywhere between 15 minutes to 40 minutes training depending on the time and I managed to complete the full-distance at least twice a week, if not more. This gave me the confidence early on - that I could finish the distance without grasping for breath and in relatively quick time!

I prefer variety over mundane training and this included the route I chose each day. I measured a lot of distances within my town and the neighbouring two towns and came up with a lot of options. For a given distance, I had close to 5-6 route variations to choose from and this helped me a lot! Maybe, it is me and something to do with personal preference and my curiosity to explore more 'routes' within the distance I wanted to achieve.

THE RACE DAY

The race day was a Sunday and I treated it  just like 'any given Sunday'. Like I mentioned in my earlier posts, to me short-distance running is an extension of my lifestyle and not something I have to spend a lot of time. My race was scheduled at 18:35 and the weather conditions were not too bad or that was how I felt, minutes before the start. The beauty of Zürich Silvesterlauf is - that you get to run around the busiest parts of the city which on any other day or time is impossible. And once on the run, it was auto-pilot in action and I ran at my own pace without bothering what was happening around me, while soaking up the carnival atmosphere and managed to complete the race well within my target.

NOW  WHAT

A day's rest and the usual routine starts. Though there are no runs scheduled till the Spring time, I will use this time to get used to training in sub-zero temperatures and explore more on adapting to colder conditions. 

LEARN TO LIMIT AND REAP THE BENEFITS

Have you ever tried searching for the term 'Limit' on Google? I see there are innumerable quotes which many renowned personalities have stated on one's limits. What do these quotes convey? They all pretty much sing to a single tune - 'never allow anyone to limit yourself'. Taking the advice, I have decided to limit myself (instead of others) on things that are essential to my existence.

There are limits in life for a reason. Staying within limits have done wonders in life and at the same time one must remember, it is not easy to define a certain limit. It is not something one can copy looking at what others have achieved. A limit should be defined in life depending on one's own lifestyle, surroundings we live, interests, profession, motivation, commitments, getting out of comfort zone, the need to create new benchmarks and so on....

I do not believe in the adage - 'there are no limits'. From my experience so far, as long as human life is limited (as death is certain), how can one define 'limitless'. Instead, I would say, we can reach a new limit, create a new benchmark, set a new time - all these are possible and within reach. Limitless cannot be measured and hence wonder, how can I achieve that state!

Let me give you an example from my own life. It took me a long time to admit about me not enjoying running long distances (10k and more). Was I limiting myself? No, I have been running long distances for quite some time and it doesn't quite give me the 'kick' I need at the end of it. Since this realisation, I have started to enjoy my short bursts of running and now confident of completing 5k at ease. Currently, happy with this arrangement, I feel my body and mind are in tune with this new set up. And plus, all that's needed is 30 minutes of my time, three to four days a week. That's 2 hours out of 168 hours and I can gradually see the overall benefits devoting this little fraction of time in a week.

 

Now that I have worked out (till the time I realise something new) a schedule, not following this routine is my definition to limit myself. Having many interests in life, committing myself to remain fit is just one of them - a important one indeed. When I know I am good at other things (can improve and learn more) or if I need to give attention to other aspects of life, why do things which is devoid of enjoyment and waste my time on just one aspect? Fitness is important and there is nothing extraordinary here - I have just repacked my fitness schedule (lifestyle) to suit my personality. Let that be running or on a clear day cycling or just walking or just doing some floor exercises, swim, play a sport with friends, partner or kids etc. An idle mind is a devil's workshop, what about an idle body?

Next time when you are encountering a situation where you do not find any time - all you have to do is - get out of everyone's attention and honestly ask yourself, if you want to do this. If the answer is yes, start small, learn to enjoy, and climb up. Ensure you are not giving up other commitments that are necessary and instead you are welcoming a value addition in your life. That's how I look at it. If it is no, well........... I leave that with you! 

THERE IS NO PERFECT.......................................................

I know everyone has been in a dilemma of whether to do or not to do; to have or have not and how!  This feeling is universal and the path is frequently travelled, most times crowded yet it seems like we are all by ourselves. However, what we choose to do with the feeling is something worth talking about. How many times a day, a minute we would have procrastinated 'a certain thing' for later, or even convinced ourselves to do at a time which is perfect? Let me tell you.. there is no perfect time!

There are many tasks which needs an appropriate time; anything before and after is of no use. We all get that sort of commitments and we ably do it. However, there are many jobs which is independent of 'time' is what irks us the most, tests the individuals and a group in general. What are we going to do with the time if we have procrastinated a certain task? Is there something better to do or is it a feeling that comes in between performing that particular task - which easily gets postponed. Or are we just too lazy and oblivious about it?

I have learnt this and yes, I too have procrastinated and will do in the future. Isn't it natural? The question is - when do I procrastinate?

These days, I have started to question the very process of procrastination. I am in the middle of creating a habit of questioning as to why I feel like delaying a certain task with a hope the process will evolve and gradually becomes instinctive.

LOOKING BACK

When I look back, I see a pattern emerge as to what kind of factors motivated me to procrastinate things in my life. I would categorise things or tasks into priority. If I felt it was not important, they would be done at a later stage or I would do certain tasks only when required. Whereas many tasks in our daily lives are instinctive and you know it needs to be done. 

Why so? Because you just know it and you will find a way to get things done...Period! And you do not care much about how others view you and that's the beauty of such a task. It is natural, it's instinctive, it's common sense, it is one's reaction to a certain action and is to a large extent a degree of freedom where you just do without an iota of thought. Such behaviour emerge with practice and being more aware of what ticks you! Just like a feeling of being an artist who has mastered an art. Everyone loves to be in this kind of a zone, I know I do.. but - there are more road blocks one needs to overcome to get to this zone. This is one's behaviour - and whether it is good or bad totally depends on how you define 'good or bad' and how others perceive it.

50:50 CONUNDRUM

I remember a famous quote which was printed on a T-shirt I used to wear during my college days - "A person who thinks he can and a person who thinks he cannot are both right". A beautiful quote which wakes your brain cells and makes you wonder which side of the pasture you wanna graze.

I often go through scenarios in life which I term it as 50:50 conundrums. The more I encounter such situations - more I am experimenting or being adventurous. Or am I taking too much time to learn or adapt? 

I believe this is more of a personality issue. This dilemma which I talked earlier is what tests or perhaps decide a lot of things in one's life.

More often I encounter these thoughts - "How would it be? What will happen? How will they view it? Is it worth doing it? Will someone judge me because of my actions?.... plenty of questions and these questions bog me down at times and has the potential to mask the clarity of what is required; what needs to be done and how it needs to done." Sometimes it makes me wonder - why a certain result is not coming my way, do I need to find other ways?

Personally, this 'feeling of uncertainty and making sense of it' is what makes me learn. I am a person who likes to reach the same destination in different possible ways - well it's just me and I don't think about it. Actually, I do think about it!

Without this conundrum, I would have learnt less I must admit. This uncertainty does not drive me crazy instead it buoys me to 'choose' and go through a series of 'action-reaction' thoughts within myself and try them out in reality. It is a feeling where any feedback is like a progress and this is how I wish to take it. Back in my days as a chemical researcher, I learnt an important lesson. "Even a negative outcome is a result and to get to the objective of an experiment, one cannot fudge the results or tamper with the observations". It is simply against nature - a lesson for life indeed. 

A SECOND LAYER

Beneath the polished mindset lies the second-layer where the 50:50 conundrum is most active. This is where one's character is shaped and one important step away from revealing to the world. This aspect  is what determines how to proceed further and in what direction and most importantly when or just give up. This zone is what I call 'a critical one' - where one is exposed to a lot of things or new scenarios and one doesn't know how to react to it and not confident of taking some actions.

If things go our way as a result of making a choice, we do not think much - a sense of relief surrounds us and we began to wonder - what the fuss was this all about. What if things do not go as per expectations? This is what happens to most of us during experimentation, right? This is when decisions have to be made, one needs to bounce back or come back with another set of ideas or just leave it at that. People get segregated and get defined by choices based on our awareness. It is not the result... it is the innumerable trails which tests whether you have it in you to drag yourself forward.

This is when there are chances to get lost for a while or at least I do... go into a mood of introspection - visualise the sequence of events and come back at it. This is a personality issue and I believe to tackle this - there is no perfect way or to get back there is no perfect time.. I do understand, when in doubt... make a choice towards what you want and accumulate as many responses (it is amazing how humans instinctively select or reject depending on their interests) as possible. Very soon you will be out of this 50:50 conundrum and your actions become instinctive. What's important is - it is ok to be awkward as long as it is part of the learning process.

THE CORE

One needs fuel to execute things in a manner we do. This is what I call as 'the intellectual fuel' - which is present within and replenished as a result of our behaviour and its outcomes in everyday life. It is one's core and the primary source of 'the way we do things in a certain way and be unique'.

This core of mine is a very personal thing. It takes ages to realise why we choose one over the other. This understanding of one's core needs pattern and for that one has to constantly keep doing things. It remains in the comfort zone and seldom takes risks It is a haven and it convinces you to believe your view is the way to go. When surroundings favour such thoughts, the result is 'a blast' and there is little one can do to stop! unless you press the self-destruct button by yourself.

What would you do if you are not being judged? Think about it - dwell on it from time to time because with time this is what it stands out. The most difficult task is to be in touch with this core. And annoying part is... it shows only a part of it and not completely at once. If you are aware of this part - trust me you will have never have to worry about the conundrums. What you think or believe deep inside is what you do?

In most scenarios, one never encounters an ideal match that resonates your core. Either you condition the core to suit the surroundings or be in the constant look out for 'the one'. In both the cases, you invest time, energy to make it comfortable. The 50:50 conundrums continue.....

I know for a fact I have not reached there yet. But all I have understood is that - our life will be determined by the choices we make when we are in doubt. And how we react when things do not go our way is when we get to know more about ourselves.

So here is a food for thought - how motivated are you to reach a state where you do just the way you like without any inhibitions? This to me explains why some people choose to become recluse; stay away from civilizations and yet be available to people at their discretion. And no, I have not met such a person till date in my life... because I believe that's the perfect state one can achieve. As long as you live.. you learn.. and as long as you learn... you are not perfect! 

TREADING ON THE MILL

I believe a personal level of acceptance (Read Previous Post - Why I don't love Running) has helped me understand and look at the concept of 'running' in a completely different way. It is nothing complex, just that I feel a lot freer whenever I run, jog or sometimes 'waun' (walk+run).

All along I wondered - why conform to the norms of training? Though I never took any active measures to really ponder as to what or how I wanted to run. Now.. i want to know more.

I realise the importance of training to suit my body type and to get better with time. I had some ideas and also reading perspectives, life stories of runners helped me to get few ideas on various elements associating with running. However, it is important to start testing those perspectives one by one. I ran, ran from time to time before realising, I was not enjoying it. Instead of holding on to it tightly, I thought about rediscovering the touch by starting from the scratch.

Most would know instinctively, what's möglich and what isn't? It is a matter of effort and it might involve some time (proportional to effort) to trust those instincts and enjoy the process of training. Be it anything, just work out a pattern. Here's what I did:

When I realised I could make use of treadmill to train myself (I hated it before), I was clear as to why I never fancied myself training on a treadmill before. It's simple - I never gave time to the nuances of treadmill training and instead preferred running outside, where I could control speeds and choose roads at will.

Now, I still love running outside but what's changed is that - I do not mind using treadmills. Acclimatising to ever changing seasonal weather also helped me to decide to give treadmill a go.

Ok, coming back to the pattern. This technique is a work in progress. More work has been done and so I can comment on the progress I have had so far. Have a target time and commit to engage yourself on the treadmill - it helped me to define a direction because it was a personal project.

I would suggest 'music' helps - but it masks the feelings you undergo during this process of training. I prefer to hear my feelings out during training and focus on achieving a zone where I just run, oblivious to what's happening around me. Again, choose the method that aids you to train better! To me, I get a lot of ideas if I listen to my thoughts on how to make this process of training better.

Start by selecting a basic walking speed, a factor which indicates the km/h or miles/h. When you start to feel comfortable walking, shake up the order - plan to move outside your comfort zone gradually.

I devised a test on myself to simulate the outdoor running conditions at will. No, it isn't the 3D views of my surroundings! I constantly increase the speed by 0.1 km/h every 30 seconds. I start my training with - say 7 km/h (again this is my comfort zone). A gentle walk for about a minute or two and then I start jogging. The moment I start to jog, I increase the speed by a factor of 0.1 and continue this trend every 30 seconds. Now, my concentration is focussed for those 30s and multiply into as many intervals as you can. My target is not to run more than 5km at any point in time. Start at some speed, run, walk, jog for some time and track your progress.

We all love change for the better. The tougher part is the path. I believe humans are creatures of evolution and not revolution in the long run. So keeping this in mind, my training involves a gradual increase of speed. It does not harm you and will only improve your fitness levels and more importantly the confidence levels. Who doesn't want to feel better? This method of training is one such way of creating 'those feel good factors' within you.

And why am I doing this? I believe in testing my abilities and move towards excellence if not perfection during my lifetime. So I pick up hobbies (trial and error), habits that trigger my brain, fuels my creativity and test my limits. I love experimenting in something I fancy or have an inclination for shaking up the norms from time to time. 

I don't love Running!

I must admit, I took to treadmill very late in my life as a basis of training. There is something about these treadmills that create a feeling of 'suffocation' while I am on it. And this feeling stayed on with me until very recently.

Eureka! It took some beating to accept that I do not prefer treadmills and more importantly I am not a huge lover of running. I prefer running - but I am not a big fan of it. I run when it is needed, I sprint when I least expect it and I speed walk as a matter of habit.

The bottom line is - I don't love running. Oh, this sounds very different from saying - 'I hate running', which I clearly don't. Isn't it?

Now that 'particular ego' has been conquered, let me move on. It has been so far a smooth sailing in the past few weeks when it comes to running. Mind, body and my inner soul connects beautifully whenever I wish to run. The only question I had to answer was - How much is too much?

From the time in college, I began expecting too much out of myself and ended up running 21 km and several 10 km runs. I had injuries to my ankle (not while running) which made me feel not to run for close to two years until the time I started to run again in Doha, Qatar. After having completed few 10 km runs in the past year and a half (five), I realised one important thing - 'I do not enjoy running for more than 30 minutes'.

Yes, it's me! It took me time to come to this level of understanding after having ran in excess of an hour all these years. What a revelation, phew!

Now, I revel in my 5 km runs and not sure how long will this last. However, I must admit I never relished so much during these 20 to 30 minutes of run than I ever had in my 10 years of running life. I believe that's where I learnt a key message - "It doesn't matter where and how you do it as long as you like the process of doing it in the overall scheme of things". And another important message - 'Run your own race'.

This belief of 'enjoyment in the process of running' is the my secret of sorts for constant motivation to turn up any given day and run. And while I am at it, one never knows if this expand my boundaries! and who knows few years down the line, I will be enjoying running the entire duration of 60 minutes or more. For now, I let myself savour this new 'discovery' within me.

Like I said - 'I don't love running' but I am more comfortable with the idea and benefits of it whenever I run these days. And in fact, this discovery has only made me run more regularly and consistently than I ever did in my entire life. To top it, it doesn't matter where and what I run on!