Can you believe it?
12th. Final run. 12/23/2017.
What a year it has been. Month after month, picking a run, waking early morning or driving the day before to race places, running the race, medal/hugs with fellow runners after...each got better than the previous.
For final run, stuck to the tried/tested, cook-your-own-race and decided to run close to home. Bernel complex is a beautiful mile trail which I use for coaching teamasha atheletes. May to Oct, that had been our track workout hangout where runners ran loop after loop, bettering their previous mile best. Its familiar territory for sure.
And what best, when a legend wants to give you a head start. Anil Rao, Ultra marathon extraordinaire and a dear friend from early running days, called to say that he will join me at the start.
I had 7am as the start time. Loop is a mile from home so I was taking it easy with morning tea etc. when Anil's call come at 630am.
He was already at the start :-)
Quickly filled in whatever I could find (bars, water bottles, chips) into the cooler and rushed to the start (I think Anil had already run the mile loop a few times by then and was looking ready to go!)
In all the rush, I had forgotten to even check the weather, what if it rains (its winter after all)? Anil, being the perfectionist he is, assured me that weather is good for the day. Phew!
Bharti showed up, and Harry Phajee followed. Then Gokul, and Shishir...and before I could say "wow, guys, I can't believe you are here...." 10 other showed up (including all 4 kids of Shetty's)!
I feel really lucky. Gokul, who was to leave (drive) for LA in a few hours, convinced wife that he will able to run with Arun and be back in time for their drive. Bharti, as her usual motherly nature is, assumed that I would have come unprepared and brought lots of trail goodies to feed runners. Harry Phrajee had a reception to attend at noon but Arun's run takes priority (how could we miss)...
You wonder what good you had done to have backing of a group like this. Pure blessing.
Caught up with Anil on our past adventures (that run in Toulumne canyon where he/char/v separated at 10 mile mark only to go left on the fork, leaving me/Pam with 30 miles of uphill and no food -- that was quite an adventure -- had a good laugh at that though that day somebody was definitely watching over us and carried us back to car later in the evening) and planned a few future adventures (including a 100 miler in near future that he graciously agreed to pace me....if I am daring to do a stunt like that, I won't trust anybody but him to see me through).
Bharti, Harry, Gokul, Shishir are smooth runners and its a joy sharing trails with such noble souls. There is a an inherent goodness in this people, and their volunteer spirit is a model for people to follow. World is a good place with these gems around.
Before the race, we were at 48k, and I had sent a rush memo on facebook requesting folks to help us reach the 50k target.
During the race, I kept getting dings on the phone. Folks were paypal'ing the money. 250 from Rakesh Nair, 300 from Mukesh....and Vipul's blank check and statement, "whatever is left I will fill" (something we didn't get to use:-)....you will be glad to know that we made 52k!!!!
Imagine the possibilities...
I am up for a visit to Lotus Petal and hopefully will be able to update on the work your money is doing.
God bless and thank you for your support.
On behalf of Lotus Petal kids,
Arun
12th. Final run. 12/23/2017.
What a year it has been. Month after month, picking a run, waking early morning or driving the day before to race places, running the race, medal/hugs with fellow runners after...each got better than the previous.For final run, stuck to the tried/tested, cook-your-own-race and decided to run close to home. Bernel complex is a beautiful mile trail which I use for coaching teamasha atheletes. May to Oct, that had been our track workout hangout where runners ran loop after loop, bettering their previous mile best. Its familiar territory for sure.
And what best, when a legend wants to give you a head start. Anil Rao, Ultra marathon extraordinaire and a dear friend from early running days, called to say that he will join me at the start.I had 7am as the start time. Loop is a mile from home so I was taking it easy with morning tea etc. when Anil's call come at 630am. 
He was already at the start :-)
Quickly filled in whatever I could find (bars, water bottles, chips) into the cooler and rushed to the start (I think Anil had already run the mile loop a few times by then and was looking ready to go!)
In all the rush, I had forgotten to even check the weather, what if it rains (its winter after all)? Anil, being the perfectionist he is, assured me that weather is good for the day. Phew!
Bharti showed up, and Harry Phajee followed. Then Gokul, and Shishir...and before I could say "wow, guys, I can't believe you are here...." 10 other showed up (including all 4 kids of Shetty's)!
I feel really lucky. Gokul, who was to leave (drive) for LA in a few hours, convinced wife that he will able to run with Arun and be back in time for their drive. Bharti, as her usual motherly nature is, assumed that I would have come unprepared and brought lots of trail goodies to feed runners. Harry Phrajee had a reception to attend at noon but Arun's run takes priority (how could we miss)...
You wonder what good you had done to have backing of a group like this. Pure blessing.
Caught up with Anil on our past adventures (that run in Toulumne canyon where he/char/v separated at 10 mile mark only to go left on the fork, leaving me/Pam with 30 miles of uphill and no food -- that was quite an adventure -- had a good laugh at that though that day somebody was definitely watching over us and carried us back to car later in the evening) and planned a few future adventures (including a 100 miler in near future that he graciously agreed to pace me....if I am daring to do a stunt like that, I won't trust anybody but him to see me through).
Bharti, Harry, Gokul, Shishir are smooth runners and its a joy sharing trails with such noble souls. There is a an inherent goodness in this people, and their volunteer spirit is a model for people to follow. World is a good place with these gems around.
Before the race, we were at 48k, and I had sent a rush memo on facebook requesting folks to help us reach the 50k target.
During the race, I kept getting dings on the phone. Folks were paypal'ing the money. 250 from Rakesh Nair, 300 from Mukesh....and Vipul's blank check and statement, "whatever is left I will fill" (something we didn't get to use:-)....you will be glad to know that we made 52k!!!!
Imagine the possibilities...
I am up for a visit to Lotus Petal and hopefully will be able to update on the work your money is doing.
God bless and thank you for your support.
On behalf of Lotus Petal kids,
Arun
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