Humans have always wanted to trade, risk their life. On the Nepal–Tibet tragedy, the ancient roads we still travel, and my experience from last year! what is Kailash? Perhaps long before someone looked towards Kailash seeking Shiva, someone else looked across those same impossible mountains and thought: There is salt on that side. We have… Continue reading We Made the Road to Kailash Easier. Did We Make the Yatra Easier Too?
Week 6/20: When the Knee Gets a Vote
This was supposed to be another build week towards Ahmedabad. Instead, it became a useful reminder that marathon plans are written in Excel, Garmin and Runalyze — but the body retains veto power. The week finished at 49.1 km of running , plus one strength/other session. On paper, considerably lighter than planned. In reality, there was… Continue reading Week 6/20: When the Knee Gets a Vote
Week 5/20: Building the Engine, Not Chasing the Clock
Every marathon block has one week that quietly changes the direction of the campaign. It doesn’t produce a personal best. It doesn’t make Strava headlines. It simply lays another brick in the foundation. Week 5 was that week. After the niggle in Week 3 and the controlled return in Week 4, the objective was simple: get… Continue reading Week 5/20: Building the Engine, Not Chasing the Clock
Ahmedabad or Baramati Marathon?
There was a time when choosing your goal marathon was easy. The Indian running calendar had only a handful of full marathons, and your decision was usually based on one simple question—which city am I travelling to this year? Today, that’s a luxury problem of the past. Every weekend seems to offer multiple well-organised races, and… Continue reading Ahmedabad or Baramati Marathon?
Week 4/20: Engine Back in Rhythm
Marathon training isn’t about one magical workout. It’s about reaching a point where running simply becomes part of life again. This week felt exactly like that. After the ankle niggle last week, I was curious to see how the body would respond. The answer was reassuring. No drama. No setbacks. Just five solid days of… Continue reading Week 4/20: Engine Back in Rhythm
Week 3/20: Engine Knock
Week 3: The Hardest Workout Was Doing Nothing After two weeks of building momentum, Week 3 reminded me of one of marathon training’s oldest lessons: fitness grows when you train, but longevity comes from knowing when not to. The plan looked simple on paper—hill repeats, aerobic runs and another marathon-specific long run. Life, or rather my… Continue reading Week 3/20: Engine Knock
Maa Kasam! “Khoon Pasina” to “Loan Approved”
When we were growing up, our entertainment algorithm had exactly three inputs: Doordarshan. Amitabh Bachchan. Whatever poster the neighbourhood video library had outside. Our walls carried posters of Khoon Pasina, Khuddar, Coolie, Deewar, Shakti, Namak Halaal, Trishul, Mr. India, Ardh Satya and a hundred other films where the hero began with nothing except a mother, a moral compass and occasionally a torn banyan. Our inbox… Continue reading Maa Kasam! “Khoon Pasina” to “Loan Approved”
The Odyssey: The World’s First “Trust Me Bro” Story
My review, take it with a pinch of salt and lime. Every civilization has an epic. India has the Mahabharata.The British have Beowulf.The Greeks have The Odyssey. After watching The Odyssey, I couldn’t help but wonder… What if Homer wasn’t documenting history?What if he was documenting the greatest drunken explanation in history? Hear me out. The Trojan War has… Continue reading The Odyssey: The World’s First “Trust Me Bro” Story
Week 2/20: Building the Engine
Week 2 of the Ahmedabad Marathon training block was a reminder that marathon training is never a perfectly straight line. The plan called for a little more mileage, but life had other ideas. I missed one aerobic base run, which meant the week’s volume ended at 47.5 km instead of the planned 55–60 km. A few months… Continue reading Week 2/20: Building the Engine
Amar, Akbar… Anthony… and Maybe Me
I was born a Maithil Brahmin. For fifty years, I’ve been carefully maintaining this identity. Janeyu? ???? Puja? ???? Maithili? Work in progress. Arguments with my mother over rituals? Lifetime achievement award. Then one inconvenient question arrived. If Hinduism says I will be born again… will I be reborn as a Hindu? Or has the… Continue reading Amar, Akbar… Anthony… and Maybe Me