Last Day

When your graduation nears the first thing in everyone's mind and your mind is how the job search going to be? That was at the peak of the financial crisis and I didn't expect to get the job any time sooner. Luckily for me that was not the issue as I got my first job even before completing my final exams. When I first stepped in the office for the interview I seen some scribbling on the board. That was someone discussing baud rate, voltage and all the electronic stuff. As an electronic graduate I was fascinated by that  sight and realized that I am at the correct place. 3 Years and 7 months down the line I quit the same job and going back from where I came - to the university.

It was really a great 3 years at the company if not the best. I went in with almost minimal knowledge of coding in embedded systems. Now if I look back the three years seems like a light year experience. The initial days were tough but with some of the colleagues really made it easy. I would be thankful and grateful to them. Over the years I made some wonderful friends. Someone asked will I be missing JVC and colleagues? Well I can say I cannot forget some of the people over there. 

The last day went of in a jiffy. Couldn't say last minute byes to some people but nevertheless they made my last day special. Cheers to the new beginnings. Some really cool gifts. 

Sundown Marathon 2012

There were two first’s in this race. Firstly, it was my first night marathon. Secondly, never before it rained during my official race. And since it was a night marathon I was expecting an easy finish now that I am better trained than my first marathon. But it turned out to be tougher than what I anticipated.

I had finished a half marathon less than a month ago and did couple of 20’s after that, which gave me pretty good confidence. I tried to increase the distance to 30’s but it was difficult because of the absence of good hydration. Nevertheless I expected half marathon to be a reasonable gauge for my full marathon. When I trained for my first full marathon the maximum I did was around 25 KM. So 21 should be good enough I thought. It proved OK physically but mentally was very tough to say the least.

I clocked 10k in 58 min. 20k in 1 hour 59 minutes. It seemed like a breeze. At 23 mark though I was not physically tired, mentally it proved challenging to run at that time. My mind was in the dormant mode ready to enter sleep mode as soon as possible. With much difficulty I pushed myself till 27^th KM mark when it started pouring not drizzling or raining. In Singapore it is unspoken norm not to walk in the open spaces when it rains. So following the norm I took shelter under a roof. To my surprise everyone seemed unperturbed by the rain. I then continued and as the wet drops splashed my face the endorphins suddenly multiplied out of nowhere. But the rain soaked my shoes so much that it became difficult to lift my leg. Gingerly I continued running, avoiding the puddles. At the 33^rd Km my right calf muscle gave up as usual and my mileage further dropped. I wanted to beat my previous best of 4 hour 48 min. But things went from bad to worse and in the end I just kissed the 5hour mark.

Marathon is like a 5 set Tennis match and 10 or half marathon, a 3 setter. You might do well till 21K but beyond that is the real test. If you can overcome the 21 to 35 mark then the marathon is a breeze. Probably my last marathon in Singapore. But one day I would finish the marathon under 4.5 hour mark if not 4 hour. 

HappY Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to me! This birthday is significant. I may not be having the same people around for some time. Getting older and hopefully wiser. It’s the beginning of the end of somethings and cheers for all the new beginnings. This year promises to be exciting and looking forward for the August.

RUN 350

Surprised Myself! That’s how I can sum up my half marathon on the Earth Day apparently running for the Earth. I have been running my weekly runs but nothing suggested that my half marathon would be a breeze. Things didn’t help when I woke up at 4am on the race day. Still groggy from my sleep I pushed myself with much effort to the venue but at the same time equally excited to know how I would finish the race. After what felt like eons the race finally started.

The start was good. No laziness; tick, no spasms; tick, endorphins; tick. Everyone seemed to be rushing. I was covering good distance in good time. I should say I was running at a constant speed. Not strictly constant but clocking 5.5 min for every kilometer. That should do to finish my race in 2 Hours, my target time. As usual I am weary of my calf muscle and after so many races I learnt how to handle it. I reached 10K in 55 min sharp. So far so good. No sign of muscle contraction. Yet I didn’t want to wait until my calf muscle starts giving trouble in which case I can not finish in 2 hours. So I started stretching my calf muscle much in advance, every Km after 12Km. Energy levels are still high and by the 16^th Km mark I have been maintaining my speed. The target is still within the reach. When I reached the 20Km I knew target is just within few minutes.

With a wide grin on my face I crossed the finished line in 01.57.40 knowing how easy it was compared to my previous half marathons. It may the climate, may be route or may be I have just become good. I don’t know but it was a breeze running this half marathon. Off to another challenge. Midnight full marathon. Double excited. Target 4 and half hours. Let’s see how it turns out.

The Wedding

A trip to India will always be short no matter how long I stay there. And when there is a wedding in the family, consider it to be the shortest trip. Well but no regrets with regard to this short trip. This trip can easily top my exciting India trips list. Everything was near perfect. Near because so much to do in so less time. I needed to delete some of my to-do-lists.

Wedding shopping is by far the easiest and also the most difficult thing to do. Easiest when you see the number of clothes you need to purchase. One Suit and One Sherwani. That’s it. No Big deal. But the number of options available will bowl you over. Is this color good? Will I look special? Will it suit me? You keep asking countless questions for yourself for which there are answers right in front of you. Yet the amount of time spent on the perfect clothing is really well worth it. So after a day of checking all the best stores in Hyderabad Vinod, Vivek and I finally got our wedding dresses.

Things were running smooth and normal until the penultimate day. Suddenly it appeared as if all the things conspired to bombard us together. One work after the other kept on coming leaving us little space. Checkboxes got ticked until the last minute. In spite of that some tasks missed our radar resulting in deadlock situations.

Reception was by far the most wonderful event of the entire trip. It was delightful to see all my relatives dance on the stage. I didn’t expect all of them to get involved so much. Loved every moment in that company. Full credit to my little cousins. In fact no one anticipated that the event would shape into this. One thing led to the other and before everyone realized all of them were shaking their feet. Only regret is that I should have involved with more people on the stage and should have taken more pictures with them, especially with my vasavians. Thanks to them who graced the event.

After so much fun and happiness it was difficult to call it a night. It was impossible to catch some sleep and before I realized I need to sleep, it was time to wake up and get ready for the wedding. I can swear that I didn’t sleep that night. And there it was. The moment arrived. The months of planning and efforts finally culminated into this moment. And it happened.

I realized that being with relatives is more fun than what I thought. Some of them may not matter at all but as a group it is irresistible to be in their company. I can trade anything in exchange of those moments. Teasing the cousins, showing extra affection for one sister before the other cousins, buying chocolates for the little kids are few of the joyous moments.

It was a wonderful well deserved two-week break. It might take little more time for all of us to get together. But as it is cannot wait for the next wedding in the family. Hope I can make it to the next wedding event. Happy married life Vinu and Rika. Have amazing life together.