Ending the year 2022 with mixed feelings and more than the usual share of anxiety leading upto TMM 2023. On the one hand, looking forward to experiencing the buzz , energy and comraderie at India's largest marathon event in 3 weeks from now, after a break of 3 years. On the other hand ,for the first time in 20 years of long distance running, I am apprehensive as to whether I would be able to cross the FM finish line (for the 16th time in Mumbai) or return with my 1st DNF at this event(2nd ever at a FM event). The reason being Neurogenic claudication (the loss of neural co-ordination between the brain,spine and the leg ) that I have been diagnosed with , after 6 visits to the physio clinic , an MRI and a doppler test in consultation with an ortho and neurosurgeon. Due to these visits to Dr G, I am considerably under prepared for a marathon with just 2 runs of 32Km+ vis-a-vis the usual 4-5 in a training cycle. And neither of these runs went too well. One was a 3:36 min, 32K at the end of November and the other a 3:59 min, 34K yesterday. Both these runs went reasonably ok till about 25K (at average pace of 6:30/K). Post that the left glutes pain and the left foot heaviness resulted in significant drop in pace. Yesterday's run was compounded by severe cramps in the right quads - something that rarely happens during my runs.
I am hoping that the expereince of running so many marathons, the adrenaline of a big race and proper pacing (6:30/Km in the 1st half and around 7/Km thereafter ) should enable me to finish the race in about 5 hours - my slowest ever FM finish.
