Running through Chennai

Running was something i discovered during my stint at SP Jain; we had formed an SP runners group and one of the bigger achievements was when we were featured in TOI for our charity run at SCMM-2009. Though lately have gone totally off-track(pun intended) and as resolved to get back to the lifestyle for this year.

After running for 15 Kms last week; I was looking for a running group to ensure i stick around the goal of 600-1000 km for this year. Luckily DailyMile site offered a chance to hook up with folks with common interests and even an invitation to join them. The plan was to catch up at 5.00 AM at Elliot's beach opp. Planet Yumm with the Dream Runners gang (Don't ask me why they named themselves so - my guess is whenever they don't wake up so early they simply run in their dreams).

The alarm went buzzing at pre-dawn 4.30 Am - the next 5 mins were spent in pure terror - as my brain simply froze; first at the shock that i actually managed to get up so early (instead of simply throwing the mobile below the pillow) and later had to do a CPR to figure what next. Luckily i had planned the previous night - reached out to my running shorts & tees; and after freshening up went to the kitchen to make something that i do best : Boil water, drank 2 glassful with Honey and then made a dash for the beach.

I suppose i missed them by a whisker (3-5 mins) but then luckily i had managed to remember their running Map - Thanks to Shahul's post; but didn't want to risk going all the 10 Km and modified the route for a shorter 8 Km run(Gmap). The wind was really blowing from the Elliot's beach and as i made inroads into the residential area, enthusiastic kids were drumming over mini-fires (My initial assessment was a funeral ceremony till it stuck me that today was Bhogi*). The roads were almost serene with a few exceptions of milk-men and paper-boys.

Today was going to be a slow jog focusing on distance rather speed. Post the first km; i started getting the usual pain on the front side of the legs (Anterior shin splits) this usually lasts for 5 mins after which i get back into my rhythm. The Gandhinagar area was waking up when i was cruising through and really one of the better running routes in the city. It was pure exhilaration when i reach the beginning of the Canal bank road passing through Vidya Mandir - I had covered 4 Kms without a burn-out.

The rest of the journey was covered in a mix of run & walks; especially when i encountered street dogs - I still have reminiscence of my childhood incidents with them. But one of the best views of the day was undoubtedly the Siddhi Vinayag Temple which was literally glistening with beauty and for some moments I simply forgot all about my run and stood admiring the pongal decoration glory which was heightened due to the significance of Marghazi ending and the birth of the Thai month. My throat had gone totally dry; and even my usual coconut vendor was celebrating his pongal holidays. Increased my pace a bit towards the end to ensure fully stretching my legs (the heel should touch the rear) and finished the entire 8.48 kms within 1 hr.

Managed to clock a decent 24 Km run for this week with the longest run for this year, so far. Do share your feedback and encouragements at my DailyMile profile

*Bogi festival or Bhogi is the first day of Pongal(South Indian festival for dawn of a new year) and is celebrated in honor of Lord Indra, "the God of Clouds and Rains" by burning all old items.

An Update : It seems that the Dream Runners had started at 5.15 and i was just being a little over-enthusiastic to have started much early all alone.

Time for a Hair-Cut / Time for a Change

I must say that Ogden Nash got it all wrong; there is no more a vicious circle than a saloon appointment. One can easily freeze in pure terror as the barber snicks the lips of his scissors uprooting all the near & dear ones with disdain.

Specifically in my case; since i come from a genetically challenged family of high-foreheads - Both my grand-dads were mirror images of Agassi by the age of 35; get-together would have my darling aunties warning "Get married before you lose your asset"; the week-end pastime of nephews is to count the remaining strands on their dad receding plates and Dr.Batras is actually our family doctor.

Even if you continue hoping without hope; you still cannot avoid the inevitable journey that happens every periodic interval to perform last rites at the Spa nearby.

But the real irony is the fact that though everyone of us spend so many $$ and effort taking good care of our Hair we actually do not do the same for our own self !!!

Just like Hair; many of us have Habits or practices which have grown well beyond their limits and in fact cover us entirely to the effect that our identities have become defined by these Habits or have made us slaves to the daily routine.

It's time to wake up and start planning for that Hair -Cut or metaphorically speaking for that Change of Habit. More about the same in the next blog...

Track your Resolution - Is there an APP for it ?

Post my earlier Blog; I am currently in search of Apps/Tools that would help me keep track of my resolutions on a day to day basis(& thus increase my daily stress)

The requirements are pretty simple :-

• I should be able to enter the details of my resolution; my contact details (email/mobile/facebook profile) so that it can send me reminders in case of indolence
• I should be able to store details of my close friends who would be notified of my achievements and also be able to encourage me whenever possible
• It should allow me to numerically track my progress on a daily/weekly basis vis-a-vis a measurable target

The last point actually the tricky part; but we should be able to work-around with using Effort Hrs (or) Null values whenever applicable. Ex: If you are learning a new art/sport then you can use the time spent on the activity as a measurement since the outcome may otherwise not be quantifiable; and for addicts they can celebrate every "ZERO" day.

In terms of revenue potential of these Apps; I can definitely bear some non-intrusive advertisements but even more is the interesting is the ability for delivering contextual products right at my doorstep. A runner can get specific promotions by Nike depending on the number of Kms he has tagged and if your resolution is to read "N" number of books - Amazon can readily support your demand.

But more than any of these features the key ingredient lies in the graphical display of the Tracking; the more intuitive it depicts the progress across every resolution more would the end-user be tempted to continue. Taking this a step-further having virtual points for the achievements seems to be a great idea (of course; this might involve some sort of monitoring)

In fact i can definitely visualize the app as a true social-gaming phenomenon - tagline "Track your real-life activities in the Virtual life"; Everyday as you login to your facebook account (which I must say happens multiple times/day) it would ask on your activities pertaining to the resolutions and immediately once you achieve the threshold notifications would be sent to your friends to tell them "How cool you are" and your friends shall respond with a "Like" or "Check my achievements" sort of comments. Overall; you are building an entire community based upon what you have set to achieve for this year.

Do you think that such as game would become popular ?

Let me know what are the relevant features you would want on such an APP (or) Social Gaming phenomenon ?

Or better; let me know if something like already exists :)

Welcome 2012 - Quick Guide to make your resolutions WORK

It is that time of the year - when Santa takes his much required break(after a mammoth logistical operation); the Indian teams get thrashed by the Australians(OK! that happens everyday) and the doomsayers would be slinking within their bunkers.

Yes – It is the eve of New year; and as a traditional practice many of us as true optimists (or due to memory loss) believe that regardless of the previous year's bunglings there is always a scope to achieve beyond the ordinary for the coming year despite what FATE truly decides. Over the clinking of glasses and loud cheers as we realize that a new era is going to dawn come up with a set of resolutions

With that note; allow me to present 5 pointers to ensure that all your New-year resolutions do not get washed along with your party hangover (esp. if it was to remain sober for the YR 2012)

1) Wants or Needs : The first need is to rationalize your resolutions and filter only the Absolutes Vs Wish-lists. A chain-smoker's need is to quit smoke; A Sales-person's need is to meet his targets(pragmatic targets); An athlete's need to keep winning medals and an IT professional's need to meet deadlines.
But then the next question that pops into your mind is "How do i identify which are my needs"; after all my DIL mange More...
You can always perform a sanity check on your resolutions by ensuring that they play on your unique strengths and validate with your close ones if they would actually support you on this initiative.
Of course; if your goal does not meets this rule; you have a ready-made tweet #kimKmarriage lasted longer than

2) Are they A & M : Is your resolution both Actionable and Measurable. I am sure you can come up with better resolutions than "I shall become kick-ass on 2012"; spare some thoughts to unravel what is the awesomeness that you really want to achieve for the year 2012 - Is it to learn kick-boxing; travel across a country for 14 days or buy your own Harley Davidson ?
Actionable means to make your resolution very specific; and Measurable would enable you to track your progress on a daily/weekly/monthly basis
When I wanted to buy my own house; i first made sure I was decided on the budget and the location details; then scoured the entire market for almost 6-8 months with friends/relatives to zero in on the property and waited another 5 months to get a go-ahead from my wife & family to purchase it.
Remember when you miss to plan you are simply planning for missing your resolution.

3) Are they Square : As a pun for having everything well-rounded; my suggestion is to have goals pertaining to each of these 4 corners :
a. Physical : Travelling to an exotic location; learning a new sport; finish the marathon
b. Mental : Learn new skills to exercise your grey cells
c. Professional : Yearly Goals need to be set with your managers
d. Social : Plan on giving something back to the society which gave your everything else.

4) Prepare for Failures : One of the recurring themes with addicts; is that though they successfully abstain for a few days the moment they succumb they find themselves flushed down the spiral into harming themselves even more.
Learn to celebrate & share with others each steps you take towards achieving your resolution; and set a threshold which would help you ensure that you feel satiated by the accomplishments that you have made even if you do miss to reach your over-arching goal.
After all; even Tiger Woods couldn't manage to remain #1 throughout year 2011

5) Write them Down : Though the last, this is the most definite part of ensuring the success of your resolution. Research has proved beyond doubt that writing things down provides a positive enforcement to help people achieve their goals. Also remember that though it might be your individual resolutions only through support from others around can you truly achieve them.

So; going with the flow my resolutions for the year 2011 :-

• Clock 600-1000 Km in Running (remember the threshold)
• Take up Chess (1-3 hrs/wk) & Blogs (4-6 hrs/wk) seriously
• My professional goals would be discussed with my managers and also with my peers
• Provide scholarship to 1 student (10-12 std) and ensure 20-40 hrs of Social service

To all those who managed to read till the end; wishing you a great New Year and considering this blog as my new-year gift do let me know what your New year Resolutions are ?

And in eventuality of an Armageddon; my due apologies to all those believers - may you truly inherit what is roasted behind.

The Accident Circa 16th June'11

It is perhaps the Boon of the software engineering profession; that everyday stretches beyond the proverbial mid-night. Post discussions with those who live on the other sweep of the Dial(U.S/U.K). But with the end of everyday as you wipe your sweaty brow with the feeling of somehow surpassing another day at work the feeling slowly masquerades when you approach your bike for the journey back home into your alter-ego a.k.a the Knight Rider - adequately armed with ears throbbing with music from the Ipod, Face masked with a la-zorro type bandana and the feet kicking the first gear as the wheels spin in resonance with the growl.

Or maybe perhaps it was my Bane as I discovered on 16th June 2011; when my tyre spilled the gravel on the OMR road at 11.30 pm. Statistically speaking almost 90% of Chennai would have hit the bunk - including (as i discovered later)my own Guardian Angel.

I have been doing this routine for more than a year; and as they say with practice your enhanced senses can negotiate every pot-hole even with eyes closed(a pre-requisite due to the in-adequate lighting in most of the route). But there are certain in-built safety rules programmed into my bike - never speed more than 60 kmph; and i stick to the right-side of the road (since the left is mostly abut with pedestrians walking and also it is effective in avoiding Traffic constables ;0)

On the day as i had eased into auto-drive; and my thoughts were zig-zagging on the activities for the next day.... BAAMMMM !!!

A sudden adrenalin rush pumped and everything around me went across in a slow-mo matrix format(I recount this feeling repeated twice in my life; the first on my Tallest Bungee Dive in NewZealand and next when I had proposed to my wife)- the wheels skidded, the bike careened uncontrollably on the left, I hit my left-shoulder on the ground and the impact caused the handle-bar to slam on my right shoulder, almost for the next 10-20 mts I was given a 180 degree perspective with the bike dragging me and sparks eminating from the friction with my helmet - This was indeed one of the longest minute in my life.

Somehow i managed to crawl out of the mangled mess which was earlier my bike and stood up. I kid-not; my first feelign was of relief - WHOW!! I can still stand and then slowly i turned luckily the road was bereft of any vehicular traffice. But just as i took a deep breath pain enough to paralyze me hit both my shoulders. Luckily a few road-side workers gathered and accosted me to the pavement provided water, a seat and the anecdote behind the accident.

Apparently some drunkard; had just jumped over the median on the right-side of the road and slam-dunked directly on my bike - He escaped with minor fractures; while i was left back with the mangled remains of my bike, a skin-less left leg, left-collar bone fractured and my right shoulder screaming with injury.

Today marks 3-weeks since the incident; and it has been quite a roller-coaster ride. First it was performing the cermonies for my sister's marriage in a sling and later undergo a painful Surgery for my collar-bone fracture where a 10-cm rod was inserted to join the bones along with the splinters.There is still 6 more months of healing left and loads of pain to endure.

A heart-felt thanks to all my close friends and relatives without whose assistance I would never have been able to pass-this terrible phase in life.

Love you all.