Fat vs. carbs: What’s worse for you? [infographic]

via holykaw.alltop.com

Eat.

Conversation in a Delhi Metro

This conversation took place about 4 months back.

I was in Delhi for the Half Marathon and after I finished the run, I took the Metro to go from the venue to my friend’s place. Next to me sat a 16 year old boy, clearly belonging to SEC A. This boy saw me in my shorts and decided to ask me a few questions:

Boy: You just ran in the Marathon?

Me: Yes

Boy: What distance?

Me: The Half-Marathon. 21 kms.

Boy: You have run before?

Me: Yes, this is my 4th.

Boy: Ok, can I get the medal you got there for finishing the run?

Me: No. It is a souvenir.

Boy: Where are you from?

Me: Bombay

Boy: You keep going around just to run?

Me: Trying to.

Boy: So where in Bombay are you from?

Me: Thane.

Boy: How is Bombay?

Me: Good. I love it.

Boy: So you keep seeing movie stars?

Me: Errrrr, not really.

Boy: Was there any celebrity here in Delhi for the Marathon?

Me: Shah Rukh Khan and Bipasha Basu flagged off the run. 

Boy: You met them? Clicked pictures?

Me: No, I just saw them with a flag in their hand.

Boy: How many celebrities have you seen in Bombay?

Me: Errrr, this is my stop. Got to go.

Boy: Ok.

Me: You should start running.

Boy: I am giving my boards this year.

Me: All the best!

Boy: Thanks.

I don’t know why this conversation still amuses me. 🙂

What I think about when I am running

He feels lonely. There are too many people around him. None, to give him company. He doesn’t think. Music drives him as strangers egg him on. A sea of people and a cacaphony of noise. He thinks. All he wants is the next step, all he needs is the next breath. He IS lonely. And he loves it.

Draw.

Run.

21.097

Another 21.097 kms ran. Another Half Marathon completed. Loved running in Delhi this Sunday. The weather was nice, the crowd was kicked and it was all Delhi!

Beautiful feeling to run around the India Gate and the wide and pimple free roads of Delhi. 

Have never actually thought of putting up pictures of me running before, but here goes nothing.

Here are some pictures from the Thane Half Marathon held in February this year.

And pictures from the Delhi Half Marathon. Kindly note the tattoo 😀 *blush*

Next up is the Mumbai Marathon in January. Another 21.097 🙂

Race a marathoner – Brilliant marketing idea [video]

via youtube.com

Brilliant idea! Wouldn’t hurt get something like this in the Delhi metro stations. Or the Mumbai metro in a couple of years.

Though in the video, the virtual Ryan is a foot taller, so he will always win 🙂

Watch.

8 months

He labors to wear those clothes again. He has already had a long day. This is not the day to start. Not today. Can he not wait one more day? No, he hears. He has waited enough already.

He tries to remember the path he used to take. It has been eight months after all. He tries to remember the distance that he had measured, the milestones that he had placed in his mind. None of them come back. It is all a blur.

He puts the earphones in his ear and tries to find the correct playlist. He has been walking till now, trying to stretch as much as possible, preparing his muscles for the assault that is coming their way. It has been eight months after all.

As the music starts, he pushes himself to a jog. His feet pound the weathered road; trying to match the rhythm playing in his ears. His breathes gets shorter. He has forgotten how long he can keep running without slowing down to a walk. He keeps running.

As the songs pick up rhythm, he tries his best to match it. His lungs are trying to crack his ribs. He feels like there is only hot air around. It has been eight months after all. He feels a sense of euphoria as he crosses familiar terrain with every step.

After a point walking hurts more than moving faster. So he keeps moving. As he reaches closer to his destination, his body finally remembers what it had gone through eight months back. This is just the beginning, it is reassured. He stops short of feeling agony. Making sure he does not over spend. The last song sends a surge of adrenalin through his blood as he starts sprinting. Soon, the adrenalin turns into endorphins. Happy. It has been eight months after all. 

I Ran

I ran in the dark.

I ran in Bandra.

I ran on The Linker.

I ran with the rising sun.

I ran in Worli.

I ran along Worli Sea Face.

I ran looking at Ducatis, Rolls Royces, Land Rovers and Jaguars.

I ran alongside Mahalaxmi Race Course.

I ran near Haji Ali.

I ran on Peddar Road.

I ran on Marine Drive.

I ran in Churchgate.

I ran in CST.

It was an experience that everyone should go through. Running on the streets of Bombay. Will not happen otherwise. Saw Bombay like I have never seen it before.

The best sight for me however was watching the African contingent running in sync with each other at sprint pace while we were jogging along. It was like watching horses galloping down the road, all in matching yellow shoes. Absolutely beautiful!

Run Mumbai Run!

I finally got my running number (14330) bib from WTC today. Yes, I am still running the half marathon. Although I did not write anything in terms of updates on my preparation for race day after the first post, I have somewhat done some training in the past week and more (ya, I know it is not enough). Anyway, the bib collection counter was at WTC (Cuffe Parade) at the Get Activ Expo. I had no clue what this was going to be. 

I went there half expecting to see just a few counters handing out the bib and my goodie bag :). However, it was a whole marketing machine at work there. The Expo was an entire hall at the WTC and all the sponsors had their own stall. The bib collection stall was at the absolute corner to make sure you pass each and every stall on your way to collect your bib. The bib collection itself took a couple of minutes and then later I was directed to get my time chip verified and collect my goodie bag. I did not stop at any of the stalls as all of them were a bit crowded. There were quite a few deals on running equipment by Nike, Reebok and the event sponsor Basic.

Coming to the goodie bag. Every year SCMM gives away goodie bags to all the participants when they collect their bibs. This goodie bag contains all sorts of stuff that a health conscious or a self conscious person would require for their daily needs. This year, the goodie bag is bigger than ever with goodies worth Rs. 450! So, effectively, you can pay Rs. 300 as entry fee for the Dream Run and get goodies worth 450! I however have paid Rs. 500 for my half marathon.

This is a very nice way of giving away free samples. You as a marketer are assured that the person getting your sample is someone who can spend a minimum of Rs. 300 on what is basically a pleasure activity. In a country like India, I doubt there is a better way of distributing free samples. Also, you are assured that a minimum of at least 75% of the participants are those who care about their health. The target is acquired. Apparently, Marico and HUL have spent around Rs. 14 and Rs. 27 lakh each with Piramal Healthcare spending a massive Rs. 50 lakhs on free samples. Only time will tell if it is really worth the money spent for the brands. My money spent however is totally worth it 🙂

The following are the items that I found in my goodie bag:

1 Packet of Aliva Crackers (Classic Salted) worth Rs. 12

1 Water Bottle sponsored by Kingfisher

1 Trial-pack of Sugar-Free Gold

1 30 gm trial-pack of Quaker Oats (Strawberry)

1 20 gm pack of Kuber namkeen worth Rs. 5

2 Nasal strips from Breathe Right

1 15 gm pack of Hippo chips (thai chilli) worth Rs. 5

1 20 gm pack of Bingo Mad Angles (Achaari Masti) worth Rs. 5

2 Sample sachets of Volini Gel

1 100 ml bottle of Clear Anti-dandruff shampoo worth Rs. 69

1 400 ml bottle of Minute Maid worth Rs. 20 (with a free Kitkat worth Rs. 5)

5 Mint-o Gol Mint Chew worth Rs. 2.50

1 Sunfeast Marielite worth Rs. 5

1 bar of Nature Valley's Cruncy Granola (Oats and Honey) worth Rs. 15

1 RitBite nutrition bar (Merry Berry) worth Rs. 15

1 Parachute Advansed aftershower gel worth Rs. 35

1 Lacto Calamine Classic worth Rs. 11

1 Lacto Calamine Aloe Moisturiser worth Rs. 32

1 Sample sachet of Nivea for Men Moisturiser

1 Dabur Gulabari gulab jal worth Rs. 12

1 Pack (8 capsules) of Supractive Complete energy supplements from Piramal Healthcare

1 Fridge magnet from Standard Chartered telling me to get my eyes checked

4 Information leaflets. One each from Quaker Oats, Lacto Calamine, RiteBite and Nature Valley

So, on to tomorrow when I attempt to complete my 21 KMs. Yes, that is all that I am trying to do, complete it.

And so the Marathon begins…

I have registered for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2010 and successfully begun training today.

I trained with my Jai Hind friend Mohit Saxena and we jogged close to 1.5 KM today and walked 1.5 KM. So on the first day, we have reached half the dream run 😛

Hopefully I will be able to reach somewhere with this. I have to keep this up and convert this into a more complete and longer run. Also, have to take care of my diet to build up the stamina I will need from now on!

Too much to take care of while doing an MBA! Any suggestions and tips?

I want to….

1. I want to read a library

2. I want to backpack across India

3. I want to drive a Formula 1 car

4. I want to take a lap of the Top Gear track

5. I want to run the half-marathon at the Mumbai Marathon 2010

6. I want to place 300 students this year

7. I want to visit Italy

8. I want to listen to music in the rain

9. I want to watch Real Madrid play
   

10. I want to run the Marathon