It all started with Dad wanting some company for the 10K run and checking if I would give him company.
The TCS World 10K run on 19th May 2013 was my first run/marathon. The max I have ever run was about 7K on the road while in Chennai (morning jog to the beach). I used to give my dad company at Lalbagh Park on Saturday/Sunday mornings for a jog, but I always ended up doing two rounds less than him. Shame on me for my poor stamina.
Three or four days before the run, I decided to check if I still had any hope of completing the 10K and managed to pull 8Kms in about an hour inside Lalbagh. So there was some hope, as I knew I could walk the remaining 2 kms in 20 minutes 😉
TCS 10K – 19th May 2013
My dad took part in this 10K in 2012 and was eligible to start as part of Group B (those who have a timing of >55 minutes and <1 hour 20 minutes). Unfortunately, he did not get Group B (for unknown reasons), which he was eligible for. Anyway, my dad didn’t mind, as I was there for company, and he wanted to run with me. He gave me enough tips based on his previous running experience. The first tip was that the TCS run never starts on time. This was true! I followed most of the tips religiously and got a net time of 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 19 seconds (Bib #8177). My dad was trailing me by a minute.
Thanks to my favorite app, Sports-Tracker. It kept reminding me I had a long way to go before stopping. At the end of the race, I felt the after-effects of not having practiced enough, stretched enough and followed a proper diet before the run. To top it all, the impact of a bad/poor quality Reebok shoe that had no cushions to absorb the strain on my legs while running on the road. My first lesson in terms of how important the shoes you select to run are.
Bangalore Ultra 12.5K – 10th November 2013
This time, Dad was in my native place, so I did not have his company 🙁 However, he ran the Pondicherry 10K and the Kaveri 10K run post the TCS 10K.
Having never touched 10K after the TCS run and not having practiced at all during the three weeks before the run date, I knew this was difficult. The track was an excellent bamboo trail off Henur Road. The route is here. Soft ground (muddy road) with ups & downs, so no strain on legs – very similar to the farm at my native place. But getting to this place was a nightmare, as I live in South Bangalore. It took me 1.5 hours to reach it, despite having started at 4:15 a.m. My wifey decided to wake up at 4 am and give me company, My Sweet wifey! It was cold on that day, with mist all over the place, as there were no high rises. Just farms!
Bib #1164, completing the 12.5 kms in 1hr 21min 22sec. The weather played a very vital role, and thanks to the great treadmills in my apartment (pun intended) from “Sportrack” for showing the incorrect distance covered. Learning: If you feel the distance you are covering on a treadmill is higher than normal, chances are it is high. Never trust them! It will give you false hope, make you run at the wrong pace, and make you end up with bad timing.
SBI Midnight Marathon – 14th December 2013
I first learned about midnight marathons while in New York waiting to see the useless Times Square ball drop. This event was a little tempting. My colleague Sunil also registered, so I had a company. Bib #6567 clocked 1hr 00min 44sec. What a way to finish the year!
You can read my review of the Midnight run here.
Some say, “Interest in marathons starts with just completing the run. Then it is all about beating your earlier time.” Very true! And this can be very addictive (in a good way). My next target is under an hour. I am still not confident about doing a half-marathon, but I will keep it on my To-Do list!
TCS 10K – 18th May 2014
I got into race category C with bib #3827 and my dad was in category D. A few seconds delayed start for my dad, but he completed well before me with an excellent timing of 1hr 1min 15sec while I clocked my worst ever net finish time of 1hr 4min 48sec. Blame it on the lack of practice and the Sports-Tracker app, which just wouldn’t work.
I am used to seeing the distance, time, and pace and taking breaks to catch my breath. The app worked for a few minutes and got stuck. So I started too fast and ended up losing all my energy way early in the course. Another lesson on pacing right.
SBI Midnight Marathon – 20th December 2014
This one is my second attempt at the midnight marathon. Unlike the previous year, this year AIMS-IAAF certified the course. The organizers also took the feedback comments from runners last year and had sufficient electrolytes and water throughout the course.
Thanks to Praveen (my brother) for leaving the office early, dropping me off at the venue, and picking me up. One interesting fact here is that I landed from Kuala Lumpur in the morning, and the same day evening I did this run (Bib #7206). After a three-month tiring engagement with hardly any time to practice, clocking 1hr 2min 49sec does not make me feel bad.
To top it all, somewhere around the 3.5 km mark, I got a sprain on my right knee, and it was slowing me down. I had two options: either give up or keep running and make it my last run. I chose the latter. Btw, a big thanks goes to my manager for approving my high-priced ticket, so I can land in India on time for this event.
I bought myself a fitness band, VivoSmart, and was testing it during this run. It was pretty accurate, given the fact that it did not have a GPS built-in.
Auroville Half Marathon – 8th February 2015
My first run in 2015 and my first half-marathon… I drove to Pondicherry with my dad, mom, brother, and my wife (Meena). Ran inside the beautiful Auroville with trees to give me shade and the soft ground to absorb all the damage my knee would otherwise take during the 21-kilometer run. For a change, I gave my dad some tips for the half-marathon, and with that, he got an excellent time of 2hrs 11min.
My Dad had bib #2424, and I had #2423. My timing was nowhere close to his 2hrs 11min as I clocked 2hrs 19min and there were at least 100 people who crossed the finish line in this 8-minute gap. Now coming to what I did not like in this marathon. First, there was no finisher medal to keep as memorabilia. Second, the course was not certified. Third, the electrolyte was so diluted in most of the stations that it tasted awful. Finally, they took the start time of the race (6:15 am) instead of when you crossed the start line and ignored the seconds part to calculate our finish time. An old lady was sitting near the finish line under a tent, with an iPad recording all finishers crossing the line so they could calculate the timing. None of this is acceptable to me.
This is when I became picky about which runs I took part in. Must be a certified route. A medal to hang and brag is a must.
Kaveri Trail 10K – 19th September 2015
In 2013, my dad ran the 10K alone, and he used to say a lot about this scenic trail. The following year, we both registered but had to give it a pass as my dad was down with a fever.
This year, my dad got a fancy bib #3000, and I got a bib #1303. Trust me! The pictures on the KTM website and the reality were way too far apart. Yes, it is the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, but there were no birds except for a few crows, lots of cows, buffaloes, and men bathing in the small stream flowing around. So that was a bit of a disappointment. On top of that, it was a sunny day, and the 7 a.m. start, adding a bit more sweat, was not a great run experience.
I just got back from London and was running this with absolutely no preparation in the last four months. My time of 1hr 2min 51sec* is acceptable to me. The best part, my dad was not a Finisher. He was the “Winner” in the Men’s Veteran – 10K category! You are my inspiration to run, Dad!!!
Talking about the fiasco! KTM went ahead with a local timing chip provider. The chip quality and/or the technology did not go through a proper vetting process. So several runners did not get their timings recorded, and KTM had to rely on the personal time that was recorded on the runners’ respective fitness devices. Luckily, my dad’s device worked. I started my tracker well before I crossed the start line and stopped it well after crossing the finish line, as I forgot about it. Hence, the actual time should be roughly a minute less than the one shown here. Guess it’s another lesson! To start our (personal) tracker when you step on the start line and end it the moment you step on the finish line.
Anyway! I did pour my heart out to the RFL team on the goof-up, and they gave me a complimentary T-shirt or a registration for 2016 KTM or Bangalore Ultra (any segment). Given the sad trail in Kaveri and my bad experience, I picked the 12.5 km Bangalore Ultra.
Performax Bangalore Ultra 12.5K – 8th November 2015
My second attempt at this calm and tranquil trail with Bib #12118 clocked a time of 1hr 17min 21sec.
This was my dad’s first 12.5K with Bib #12601. He was a little confused about whether to pace for 10 or 12.5K, but he comfortably maintained a steady pace right from the beginning till the end. He crossed me somewhere around the 7 km mark, and I was trailing him for about a kilometer and then gave up. Now the good news! He set the course record in this track under the Men’s Veteran category with 1hr 16min 13sec.
Though he says this talks about the quality of other runners, it’s the regular practice that kept him going and ended the course strong. Practice is the only thing that can help you get the required stamina. Oh, by the way, he got his money back as a T-shirt and a nice memento. You should have seen the excitement when we got home.
I am sure he will break his record next year, but I need to try harder and find some time to practice regularly. Getting under the 1-hour mark is my target. Let me see if it happens in the midnight marathon.
SBI Midnight Marathon – 5th December 2015
My third attempt came with a lot of expectations that I would get under the 1-hour mark, but unfortunately, it happens to be the worst ever in terms of timing. I barely hit 1hr 5min 41sec.
I had the wrong food (at KFC) before the marathon and ended up thirsty throughout the course. On top of that, I missed their water station twice, as it was in a poorly lit area and there were too many runners around me to spot it. I also had to rush at the last minute to the venue because of unplanned stops to pick up dinner, and thanks to KFC for taking over 15 minutes to get the order. Finally, thanks to the great Bangalore traffic for making things even worse. The only good thing was that Meena accompanied me, and she was in the stands cheering for me despite the cold weather.
This event had about 11k runners, and seeing so many crazy folks, including old men and women, run at night startled Meena. Ending the year with four marathons. I hope to do the same in 2016, and if all goes well, hit the sub-1-hour mark.
TCS 10K – 15th May 2016
This was a very special run, as my dad and brother took part. Initially, it was only myself (Bib #4136) and my dad (Bib #4139) who registered for the event. A few days before the registration closed, my brother (Bib #17465) joined us. Just before the special day, my father was down with a cold, a cough, and a bit of fever. I, too, had a bit of a cold and cough, but I was determined to run. On race day, all three wanted to go, as this was the first time we were doing a run together.
As it was my brother’s first run, he was in Group F but clocked an amazing time of 54min 50sec. The following year, he would get Group B, where he could run more peacefully and get better timing.
Given my dad’s age, the cold, and the cough, his timing of 1hr 2min 24sec is superb. After nine runs, I got under the 1-hour mark and clocked my best timing of 59min 36sec. I was on Cloud 9! Thanks to my wifey for cautiously feeding me protein and carb-filled food at the right time, leading up to the race.
Bangalore Ultra 12.5K – 13th November 2016
This is our second family run – Praveen’s first Ultra, Dad defending his Veteran-Winner record of 2015, and me just enjoying my favorite track. We arrived on time, had no issues parking, did a bit of warm-up, and started our run. Dad (Bib #1401) got a timing of 1hr 18min 26sec (not as good as the previous year), but he still holds the record, and that matters!
Praveen (Bib #1091) did a stunning 1hr 8min, and I did 1hr 20min 2sec with Bib #1176. Lesson learned! The amount of practice and hard work you put in is directly proportional to the output you get. With less than 50 minutes of practice a week, this is what one can expect. I need to get off the laptop and focus on myself too!
Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Half Marathon – 10th June 2018
After a gap of one year, I took part in a half-marathon. It just so happened that I did a Google search for marathons in the Seattle area and saw this event coming up the following week. I was so excited and searched for a 10K run on their website. To my surprise, there was a 5K, a half-marathon, and a full marathon only. I was like, 5K will not give me the satisfaction of having run, so let’s give the half-marathon a shot. I remember, clearly, my decision to not do another half-marathon after the Auroville run in Feb ’15. But given that I was practicing 3 to 4 times a week for a good two months, I went for it, despite the high registration cost. Post-booking, I checked if my cousin Monisha was interested in running, and she was all in just because the medal looked awesome! Can you believe that???!!! Yes, the Rock n Roll series has some of the best-looking medals. Karthik was into cycling, so he gave this event a pass. Otherwise, it would have been triple the fun!
With no practice or experience doing a half-marathon before, Monisha (Bib #11447) clocked an awesome time of 3hrs 18min 42 sec. And the best part is, she stopped on the way to click some nice snaps of the Seattle skyline and sunrise! While the only thing running through my mind was pacing, and when would the next mile marker come? I had Bib #11067 and clocked my personal best timing of 2hrs 3min 17sec. That’s an average pace of ~8min 45sec for the first 10 miles and ~54min for the first 10K. Now that feels good! Thanks to the awesome weather! I started to sweat only after the 5 kms mark. So you can imagine what the temperature would have been like. Without it, I am sure dehydration and other things would have kicked in early, spoiling the PR.
Oh! By the way, I should say thanks to my client who let me work remotely. As they were on the East Coast, I did have the evenings for myself to do these practice runs! Without it, it would not have been possible.
Beat the Blerch Seattle 10K – 15th September 2018
My first 10K on a rainy day – start to finish. No company… but the trail (King County’s Tolt MacDonald Park, Carnation, WA) was simply amazing. With Bib# 3820, running on a near-flat trail using my fingers as a wiper to remove the drops of rain from my specs every other minute, I clocked 57min 09sec.
If you are familiar with the cartoon characters, everyone was there. You will love the atmosphere. People from different countries were here, participating as they were in the area! Oh, by the way, the medal was heavy, unique, and awesome! I loved all the items in the goodie bag, too.
Hot Chocolate 15K Seattle – 3rd March 2019
My first 15K distance and my first run at near zero (32F) temperature with wind chill… To top it off, the elevation was a killer as I did not practice enough.
Bib# 50243 with a timing of 1hr 32min 6sec is my worst. However, the one thing I enjoyed in this run was the warm, hot chocolate drink at the end of the run. Perfect! I will run again for this. The other good thing is that I got the best-ever marathon picture taken while running. Thanks to the photographer!
Learning! I know how important the shoes you select to run are. But I didn’t know enough. Hoka One One – Clifton 5 is not my shoe, for sure. Moving from a 11mm drop to a 5mm drop does impact the running style and post-run recovery. I need to go back to my favorite Brooks.
Shamrock 15K Portland – 17th March 2019
This run will always have a special mention. It took 6 years of persuasion to make my beautiful wife, Meena, say yes to a 5K event. She has come to cheer me on a few of my runs (including the midnight run), but she has never said yes to jogging or walking that’s over a couple of kilometers. One might wonder, What’s the big deal? Let me tell you, she is neither a fitness freak nor someone who has an active interest in sports. However, she enjoys a long, lazy walk with good company. So everyone who knows her well found it difficult to believe she really took part in and completed a 5K run.
The whole process of convincing Meena to participate started sometime in late November. It was more like, try the 4-mile walk; it is a very scenic route, etc., etc. Then slowly, I highlighted the fact that 4 miles (6.4 km) is longer than 5K, and she can do the 5K easily. My consultant hat is at work 😉 Then one fine day in February, I made her say or create an expression that sort of looked like a yes (maybe an absent-minded yes) to register for the run. From this time on, there is no turning back. Booked everything before she could change her mind.
The thought of 17th March gave her jitters and some realizations in terms of what she got herself into. But at the same time, her curiosity to understand why there are so many crazy souls running and experiencing the whole thing once for herself took the best of her. The last couple of weeks before the run, she pushed herself to come to the gym with me and do some practice walks on the treadmill. She gave all she had while on the treadmill, elliptical, and cycle. Earlier, she used to do something for a few minutes and then find a nice spot to sit and relax. This time, I had to pull her out of the gym.
We went to Portland a day before the run to collect our bibs at the Expo. Meena got the orange bib# 13870, and I got the blue bib# 21180. She was all excited and, at the same time, very tense. Three reasons: One, other runners looked fit and/or well-trained; two, the distance; and finally, the weather. After the collection of bibs, we walked around downtown, picked up a running jacket, and got back to the hotel. All along, giving her small tips on what to do and what not to do, as I could feel her tension.
The next day, we woke up at 6 am to a bright, sunny day (35F with a wind chill that felt like 30F). We munched some of the yummy brownies Meena had baked for my birthday, then walked toward the start line, which was roughly 5 blocks from the hotel. All the butterflies running through her mind and stomach made her forget the -1 degree Celsius weather for a while. I gave her a few more tips, like my dad did when I took part in the TCS 10K for the first time in 2013. I got her into a corral I felt was right for her speed, and she crossed the start line around 8 am. Thanks to the location-sharing apps, I could see where she was throughout until the start of my 15K at 8:55 am. She got an awesome time of 56min 46sec.
Coming to how I did! I made the mistake of standing in the wrong corral and running with a higher pace (4.35/km) than usual for the first mile, on a stretch that had some elevation to give me a timing of 1hr 34min 44sec (Pace: 10.09/mile). The irony here is that I gave all this as a tip to Meena and I ended up not following any of them. By the way, this is my second run on Clifton 5, and in both runs, I clocked a pace of 10.x/mile. Brooks with a heel-to-toe drop of 11mm gave me 9.x/mile on both the 10K and a half-marathon last year. I’m not going to use this shoe again.
Guess what my current task/target is… Convincing Meena to take part in another 5K and beat her current time of 56min. 😀
Iron Horse Half Marathon, Seattle – 25th August 2019
My second USATF-certified half-marathon with Bib# 1088. It is supposed to be a downhill marathon with an elevation loss of 880′. A beautiful, scenic course where several runners set their PRs. The weather was fine at the start of the run at 8 am (wave 4). For some reason, the terrain looked pretty flat, and I clocked a time of 2hrs 14min 29sec (Pace: 10:16/mile). I was literally dragging myself and walking every couple of hundred meters.
One learning is that practicing on a treadmill is not the same as running on gravel or a road – I could feel the difference in foot strike. At the 10-mile mark, my legs gave up. Compared to my previous marathon (Rock n’ Roll), my VO2 max had taken a hit too. Blame it on the lack of proper practice before the run (a slight fever to make things worse). If I ever run another (half) marathon, I will make sure I do a fair amount of practice on the road, as treadmills give a false hope for long-distance runs.
BMW Dallas Marathon Festival – 10K, Dallas, TX – 10th December 2022
After a gap of 3 years, doing my first official run. Thanks to Covid followed by my relocation to Texas, a new addition to the family, and a change of company. I know this does not justify a 3-year gap. I started the year with a 10K on the treadmill, hoping I would get back to form and do a run this year. With God’s grace, it happened before the year ended.
I heard about this BMW-sponsored Dallas marathon on the radio and decided to register the same day. With Bib #43502, I clocked an official time of 1hr 7min 7 sec. Good crowd, and nice weather; I loved every moment of the run. Happy New Year ’23 in advance!
Hot Chocolate Run – 10K, Dallas, TX – 11th February 2023
After seeing my timing in the BMW Dallas 10K run, I wanted to do some practice and get the timing under the 1-hour mark. A fair amount of 5K runs in January paid off. I couldn’t do much in February because of the cold front that hit for almost three weeks straight. With Bib #30514, I clocked 56min 52sec (i.e., 9:10min/mile). The temperature was 2°C, with the wind chill reducing that to -2°C. I was one of the handful of folks wearing shorts, no windbreaker, and no gloves. I regretted not having a windbreaker at this temperature.
The temperature plays a major role in the performance during the run. I could run without sweating till I crossed the 5K mark. I didn’t need to stop for water at the first station. Saving a few seconds!
During the practice runs I was doing in January, I realized one major thing. I.e., I was feeling the ground during my runs. Then I found I had already clocked 700 kms on my Mizuno, which was resulting in a lack of responsiveness during runs. Given that I was too close to the run, I had to find a shoe that did not require a break-in period. After some quick research, I narrowed down on the Asics Novablast 3.
I did a quick 5K before the run to check if it was the right shoe for my running style, and it was. Not too squishy, the right amount of drop (8mm), very responsive and the foam does not harden much when the temperature drops to 0C (32F). During the practice run, it shaved off 21 sec/min. So I knew I had picked up the right shoe.
Irving Marathon – 10K, Dallas, TX – 1st April 2023
Another run, awesome weather (around 12C), superb crowd, and a beautiful place to run (Las Colinas, Irving, TX). With Bib #3208, I clocked 57min 02sec. Yes, 10 seconds more than my previous run as I miscalculated the walk to the water station and lost a few seconds there. But no regrets as I got under the 1hr mark. Also, because of the bad weather, I could not practice much (at least) ten days before the run. So that also had its impact on the run quality.
Planning for the Irving Frost marathon in December. This route with a run along the riverside reminded me of the San Antonio trip with my sister-in-law. Will do another run on this route anytime.
Spirit of Wipro Run – 5K, Dallas, TX – 9th October 2023
This was a poorly planned event for the Dallas location. The objective of this run was to do some branding. For some reason, this run ended up at a park that is far away from the city, and at 10 am when the sun was shining bright. Even the dog walkers were not present at that time. It was more of a Wipro family event and the route was just about 3 Kms instead of 5 Kms. A total waste of half a day, traveling to this godforsaken place. So net-net, I am not even calling this a run.
Hot Chocolate Run – 5K, Dallas, TX – 10th February 2024
This is my first 5K run and the 3rd hot chocolate run – need to listen to your body when you age. Also, I had the company of a friend (Geetha) for this run. This was her first 5K, and I had the pleasure of passing all the tips I had got and learned over a period. A usual boring trip to the venue and back, all alone, had an awesome company. I hope I can coerce Natraj also to join the next 5K run, so I will get a bigger company next time.
With Bib #157, I clocked 28min 57sec. The three seconds short of 29 minutes look good. Though my target was 27 minutes, I had no regrets as it was a rainy day with puddles to jump over and the use of fingers as wipers to remove mist from the specs (and then wondering how to remove the fingerprints as I cannot see clearly). Just before the run, I reduced my expectation to under 35 minutes, given the weather. Also, I realized what I was wearing was not a rain jacket mid-way through the run. Yes, I got soaked.
Geetha with Bib #3710 had good timing (50min 49sec) for a first-timer in rainy weather.
BMW Dallas Marathon – 8K, Dallas, TX – 14th December 2024
Well… One thing I hate and love about this event is, you need to go to Kay Bailey Hutchinson to get the Bib. No other option. The good part is, you get to collect a lot of goodies from the sponsors. This time we got a lovely glass water bottle. Worth every penny going all the way there. Also, this was my first 8K event. Now, I have done 5K, 8K, 10K, 12.5K, 15K and 21K (half marathon).
The event was fully sold out and we had over 1350 timed runners for the 8K event and over 2500 for the 5K event on Saturday. During the run, while running along Commerce street, we could see the long line of runners. It was a beautiful look. Weather did not play a spoil sport. Right from the time I left home, there was fog/mist all over. Beautiful drive to the venue parking. On reaching the venue, I could see the mist cover the Dallas Downtown buildings and it was a nice view. It was actually warmer than expected at around mid 60s (~18C) half way into the run. I was unfortunately planning for colder weather and had some thick clothes on. This made my body uncomfortably hot at around the 7kms mark degrading my performance.
I had Bib #81039 and clocked 50min 8 sec. Definitely not my best as my target was 45min. Of all the days, I cleared my stomach twice before leaving home, skipped the cheesecake I normally stuff myself with for carbs, and had very little rice, too. I felt very nice while leaving home, and that should have been the signal to eat a little more, but I missed it. At about 4Kms into the run, I could feel the empty stomach. Absolutely no energy to run any further. I had a single small sachet of gel for quick energy release, and that was consumed at the 4kms mark. I just dragged myself with a walk-run strategy and completed the race. But this was a good training run for my next run the following week.
Even at the finish line, there was a lot of stuff to collect as we had a lot of sponsors. Loved the quality of the t-shirt they gave too (compared to 2023).
Irving Frost Marathon – 10K, Dallas, TX – 21st December 2024
Let me start with the weather. I arrived at 7 a.m. for the 7:45 a.m. start (for the 10K runners), and the temperature was 32°F with winds making the “Feels like” temperature 29°F. While walking from the parking lot to the event, I noticed folks wearing gloves, beanies, and full track pants/joggers. I could feel myself shivering, and realizing that my thin dri-fit t-shirt, a hoodie (from the hot chocolate run), and my regular shorts were the wrong attire to wear. A few minutes into my warm-up, I noticed men and women wearing thinner tees and shorts like it was summer – I was half-blown away. Did these folks grab a shot of tequila or something?
Coming to the race, I had Bib #10011 (Coral B). I had a very strong start thanks to Meena. She made my favorite tomato gravy to have with rice that morning. The crowd was smaller than expected at less than 400 runners for the 10K. Maybe it was due to the weather. Two minutes into the race, I saw a runner who was running barefoot. I was blown away completely. This runner finished the race just a few minutes after I did.
I skipped the first water station as it was around the 2.7km mark and the weather was “good”. Along the course, I saw a very small Asian kid who had a much better pace than me. I was a little jealous but, hey, hats off to the kid! I finished the race in 58min 12sec. I’m very happy with my time because I was under the 1hr mark. Unlike the BMW marathon the previous week, there weren’t many sponsors, so a little disappointed. Got out of the place early. The one thing that got me attracted to this event was the medal. Beautiful looking one!
Ending 2024 on a great note with 3 runs. Hope to do 3+ in 2025.
Time Travel 10K, Dallas, TX – 18th January 2025
I wanted to start the year with something interesting, so I picked this run as it had a 3D-printed medal with cowboy-style boots. The swag was worth it. The interesting part of this race was the weather – an arctic blast. On the race day, the temperature was 32°F and it was windy. I hate the wind! I had to stand in line to pick up my bib, and the few minutes of waiting were a nightmare. I went back to the car to warm up, wearing a beanie (from the Irving Frost marathon) and gloves for the first time during a run.
The run started while I was using the restroom as there was a long line for the port-a-loos – only six for all participants. However, no complaints, as this is a small event. I started the run with several jaywalkers blocking the narrow walking trail at Anderson Bonner Park. I managed to quickly pass most of them and had a clear trail for the rest of the run. This is not one of those expensive races, so the first water station was at the 2.5K turnaround, and the second station at the 5K turnaround with Gatorade. Given the weather, one did not need the water except for a sip or two.
With Bib #5827, I clocked 57 minutes 36 seconds. A good time to start the year! Additionally, I got second place in my age category (40-44). This reminded me of the Kaveri Trail Run where my dad used to achieve podium finishes. Unfortunately, as it was cold, I didn’t even check my official time and headed back home. So, I have no idea what the award for winners in the specific age category is. Will do this run again next year.
Too cold to hold – 10K, Dallas, TX – 1st February 2025
Had to change this to a virtual run at the last minute due to work travels. But did my 10K on the treadmill and clocked 55min 4sec. Definitely cannot brag about this timing as it’s on the treadmill. Loved the swag! Will shoot for the, “Too hot to handle” event in May this year to make up for missing this event.
The Cowtown – 10K, Fortworth, TX – 22nd February 2025
The Cowtown Marathon happens to be the largest multi-event road race in North Texas, has a $10.4 million annual economic impact in Fort Worth, Texas. They host one of the largest youth races in the nation. This was their 47th year. Proceeds from The Cowtown go directly to the C.A.L.F. Program.
The Cowtown C.A.L.F. Program was created in 2009 to help tens of thousands of area children lace up and cross countless finish lines. They visit ~400 schools across North Texas annually, training students in proper running technique and educating them about resting heart rates, the importance of hydration, proper nutrition, and living an active lifestyle. They have made running a 5K race a reality for 60,000+ children in the last 15 years.
To be honest, I initially regretted booking this race as the race starts at 7am for 10K and the venue Will Rogers Memorial Center is 60 miles from my place. To make it worse, the artic winds made the temperature drop to 30F. Believe it or not, I have a PR on this race. With Bib # 16859, I clocked 56min 21sec. This is proof that when you practice before the race, you get a good timing. Loved the course and the swag! The first medal with a moving part in it. Will run next year too.
Spirit of Wipro Run – 5K, Dallas, TX – 21st September 2025
This wasn’t a competitive race so, no medals! The main goal was to introduce Ashvik to running. The planned distance was 1K, but my Garmin showed we actually covered 1.5K.
Since it was his very first race, I ran alongside him (a little off to the side) but close enough to offer support, but far enough to let him do it on his own. The run started pretty late at 9 a.m. CT, and with September still feeling like summer, Ashvik needed a few sips of water on his way back to the finish line.
I was pleasantly surprised he completed the full distance in around 15 minutes! He used a walk–run–walk–run rhythm, keeping the walking to a very minimum so he could finish strong. The only disappointment for him? No medal at the finish line! Even I was very disappointed as Wipro made us design medals and stuff.
After his run, he got to enjoy his favorite bounce house, while I did my “5K” (which was closer to 3.xK in and finished in 20min 22sec. The best part? We all got to wear the same event T-shirt (mom-dad and Ashvik), which made it feel like a real family day out.
Hay Day Hustle – Fun Run, Dallas, TX – 11th October 2025
The Hay Day Hustle 5K is a festive, fall-themed race and 1-mile fun run held at the UNT Dallas campus, along the scenic and flat Runyon Creek Trail in Dallas, Texas. The main reason I chose this event was to get Ashvik the medal he missed in his previous race, the Wipro Run.
The weather was perfect, the crowd was wonderful, and there were plenty of kids around Ashvik’s age. Best of all, the run took place entirely within the UNT campus, with officers and volunteers stationed along the route to ensure everyone’s safety. That gave me the confidence to let Ashvik run on his own this time; after cheering him through the first 100 meters, I watched from the sidelines.
He completed the mile in under 15 minutes — an incredible achievement for a 5-year-old with no formal training!
I couldn’t run the 5K myself since there wasn’t anyone to watch Ashvik, so instead we spent some time at the kids’ bounce house near the start line. He jumped and played happily, showing no signs of fatigue from his run.
The highlight of the day? Seeing his excitement when he received his medal. I just cannot express how excited he was to get his medal and proudly hang it beside mine on our medal hangar at home.
Spartan Sprint 5K – Granbury, TX – 18th October 2025
My first Obstacle Course Race (OCR) was a wild ride! The event was held about 100 miles from home at the beautiful Twin Canyons Ranch Resort in Granbury, TX. The location was absolutely perfect for this kind of grueling race.
My start time was a blistering 12:15 PM slot, right under the blazing sun. To be completely honest, this was one of the most unprepared races I’ve ever done. My “prep” consisted of a few practice burpees and watching some videos to mentally brace myself, that’s it!
I arrived an hour and a half early, checked in to get my headband (14555) and timing chip (Bib #9010410), and headed to the start line. The first shocker hit immediately: to even get to the starting corral, we had to jump a six-foot wall! The initial four obstacles of the twenty on the course felt like a piece of cake. I was feeling strong, cruising through them, and even thought, “I should have signed up for the 10K!” That’s when the race decided to get serious. 
The next set of obstacles truly tested me. The bucket carry and the sandbag carry were both on a serious incline, and having to slow down to navigate around struggling fellow Spartans definitely took a toll. When I got to the Atlas carry, I knew I couldn’t lift the stone and was ready for the penalty burpees. But a fellow Spartan stepped in with a brilliant tip: instead of picking the stone, ask a fellow spartan to hand it to me when they are done. This worked! On my way back, there was another spartan who required the same help, so instead of dropping the stone after my turn, I passed it to the next person in line to take it directly from me. That simple act made it easier on my back and let me pay the favor forward by happily handing the stone off to the next racer. That camaraderie was the best part!
The spear throw was a flop, which meant a penalty of 30 burpees right there! I also had to take a penalty loop for the Hercules Hoist; that heavy bag felt like it weighed more than I do.
One of my biggest fears going into the race was having to plunge into dirty, cold water, but thankfully, the 5K course didn’t have a water-dip obstacle! The course itself was a bit slushy from the rain the day before, but I have zero complaints about the conditions.
I crossed the finish line with an official time of 1 hour 38 minutes 36 seconds. I know I could have done a lot better, but for an utterly unprepared first attempt, I’m proud!
Next year, you can bet I’ll be going in with a much better plan of attack and better prepared for every single obstacle.
Categories: Adventure zone
Tags: 10K, 15K, bangalore, hot chocolate 15k, kaveri, marathon, midnight, rock n roll, run, tcs, trail, ultra
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