Resurrection

It is almost two years since the last post on this blog. Hectic work schedule and detoriation in ability to run long or fast without pain were easy excuses to put off updating the blog and it spiraled into a vicious cycle. Revamping the blog and launching version 2.0 was one of the many unfulfilled 2018 resolutions.  After toying with several aspects of changes such as redesigning the layout, changing the URL, focusing on informational content (versus personal experiences and observations) and even abandoning it all together here it is - resurrected  with some minor layout changes and cleanup of inactive links and information no longer relevant. TMM 2019 , less than a week away, was one key factor that motivated me. Hopefully this is not a one time post - there is potential to do a monthly post based on the topics that have been shortlisted so far.   

This post serves as a quick summary since the last one - the intention is to expand on some of the topics in future posts. 

During 2017 and the first half of 2018 continued stress in the left quads and left sole hampered the running. The key focus was to strengthen the glutes, quads and the upper body to try and get back to injury free running. Following are the highlights of the last two years:

•  Disappointing FM  at Western Pacific marathon (Fremont, CA) in April 2017 (enjoyable course, age category first but the time of 4:07:45 was one of the slowest finishes in several years)
• Skipping the Bangalore Ultra after starting at 50K or longer distance in every edition since 2007
• Continued the trend since 2015 of just one or two events in a year due to injury
• Visits to  orthos and  sports doctors/physios 
• Changes in diet to increase protein intake
• Not abiding by advice from an ortho and friendly coach to skip Mumbai marathon  and finishing at a consciously slow time(2nd slowest Mumbai ever) of 4:34:57
• "Lost" my Garmin 310XT device in September 2017, briefly used Strava, bought a Tom Tom Cardio 3 in Dec 2017 and found the missing Garin 310XT in Dec 2018
• 5 months of personal strength training with trainer Sekhar as a result of which the pain in the glutes moved to the quads and then slowly dissolved enabling one to crank up the distance and then pace of runs
• Decent 50K finish (7:14:17)  followed by 10K run/walk at The Malnad Ultra  to complete 60K in 'celebration' of the start of life's sixth decade
• Discovery of some wonderful (albeit tough) running routes in the new neighbourhood off Doddalamara road

Some non-running related milestones during this period:

• Vacation in Yosemite national park, Monterey Bay, Savannah, Charleston and NY in May 2017
• Vacation in Poovar, Kerala with dad and families of all siblings in Dec 2017
• Retirement from full time corporate job(CSR leader of Dell India) in April 2018
• Adoption of an Indie breed puppy("Bambi") in June 2018
• Move to a sustainable community in a semi-rural location outside Bangalore in August 2018
• Entering the 6th decade of life in August 2018