The journey began with the film "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara". Ernest and I had gone to see the film, and it made us nostalgic about the past. We couldn't go to Spain, so we chose the next best option, i.e. Thanks to Val's recommendation, the Goa Marathon became our focus. Initially we all started with great gusto with a few walks round the park etc. I got hit by food poisoning, and preparations were further interrupted by a trip to NZ and a viral infection. Rajat of course had his left arm in a sling due to a small fracture.
Still we persevered in our own way. Rajat, Val, Ernest and I booked our train tickets, confirmed our stay at Vasco Residency, and reserved return flights two months in advance. We were joined by Chander, who had just recently done the Airtel 1/2 Marathon in Delhi.
Ernest was quite clear that it had to be a fun trip. Landed on Saturday morning and settled in to our rooms after breakfast at a neighbouring Udupi joint. Val recommended the excellent restaurant Anand Ashram for lunch, while plans for the evening remained open for discussion. Ernest was keen to have a good meal and suggested we hire a car, and we managed to get a Wagon R for self drive. Val proposed visiting the Arpora night market, though hesitated at the idea of travelling 45 kilometres to get there. Finally, we drove down to Arpora, but the night market was scheduled the next weekend. Some kindly souls guided us to the Baga River night market (Mackee's) and we had a great time listening to music by the Imaginations, a Hula-Hoop performance which left us stunned and a complementary jug of beer in addition to the one we already ordered (courtesy Joe Rodricks, the MC and Ernest's brother-in-law). Rajat was of course getting high on Pepsi all the time. Ernest encouraged Rajat to come up with a composition and the best they came up with was "Goa with the flow" and this was before the beers mind you. Chander wanted to help some needy people by giving them a ride, but the Wagon R was already full. Saturday also happened to be Rajat's anniversary, and he kept getting calls wishing him on the occasions as well as the trials and tribulations of the next day i.e. the marathon (it was always marathon not half-marathon)
We returned to the hotel closer to 11 pm and had to report at 5 am for the 6 am start. All of us surprisingly managed to make it to the start line on time and we were off. This was Rajat and Ernest's first half-marathon and Rajat, despite having one arm in a sling, took off like Usain Bolt. Of , andse, I caught up with him by walking fast in the next 200 metres. Ernest kept Val company, as Val had enjoyed Goa for almost a week and his reflexes were not up to the mark at the start.
Rajat and I largely walked and kept some mini targets like overtaking a 60-year-old lady and then an obese man and so on and so forth. We had barely reached the 7 Km mark and Chander was already on his way back. Shortly thereafter, Ernest joined our group, having left Val behind. The three of us then continued on our journey with small jogs (25 metres) and long walks. It seemed like a fine day to walk in the sun (who said you have to run in a half-marathon :-) ) We believed we were leaders in our category (seniors) and Chander's data crunching of course proved us right after the event. This is not a story of tired calves, hurting knees etc. It is about the joy of being able to tell yourself that you can do those 21 KMS (21.1 as per Rajat). Ernest's view was that Bihari's are not comfortable following anyone, whereas Rajat commented that the Punjabi mindset was always open to ideas and people.......On the way there was some recorded music and an occasional band. A third of the run was along the Zuari river and we a2 hourshed that the entire marathon was along it. Unlike Mumbai there are not so many people on the road cheering you on, but it is only the second year, and I am sure folks will be more enthused. The only sore point for us was that the 5 KM run had a lot of youngsters who should be doing the half-marathon. To make matters worse, they also had cheerleaders along the path :-)
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At the finish line, a trained athlete ( a year junior to me in school, Samson who finished in half our time) encouraged us to sprint, so we did another 20 metros dash and almost finish in a dead heat (Rajat, Ernest and me), Val followed a few minutes later. Chander had of course completed the course in 2hours and 40 mins. Chander and I headed back to the hotel to get the car as the rest of the gang was clearly not in the mood to walk 2 kms back to the hotel.
In the afternoon, we were off to Furtado's for lunch, wrestled with the flies, enjoyed the beautiful sea view and the beer (Rajat of course got high on Pepsi as usual). Some seniors took a leisurely nap in the afternoon. Dinner was at Fiplee's, where we all had our Ghajini moments. (we could not recall singers of popular songs and had to resort to Google search).
On Monday morning, we enjoyed Puri Bhaji, with Val preferring a specific type of potato, followed by a visit to the Mormugao Port, which had surprisingly good roads due to its barge traffic. Kieran joined us for lunch on Monday at the La Paz hotel, and we enjoyed the food. All in all a great time.
Mumbai Marathon here we come:-)
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