Sustained Sporting Excellence is Round the Corner, If...

The games are still not over as I write this. And Shobha De is a much relieved person now that we have two assured medals, a figure that can only go up (hopefully). At least the twitterati have so much to be busy with. But a 2-week long wait for the 1^st medal got me introspecting on how we can go about for a better sporting future. So here goes my prescription:

Our athletes have been spoilt by the facilities available to them today when compared to just a few years back. We should make them travel in state transport buses & passenger trains within the country. And make them stay at the decrepit dorms in our stadia. This will not only make them tougher but also help them focus on their sport. Today, they only worry about economy v/s business class when they travel to mega events (http://www.indiatimes.com/sports/rio-olympics/rio-olympics-bound-dutee-chand-struggles-for-36-hrs-in-economy-wthout-rest-or-sleep-while-officials-enjoy-business-class-259549.html). 

The best in American sports are found in its universities. Our education system is no different, it has the students rushing from one tuition class to another. Make them do so on foot & we will see the next set of sprinting heroes & heroines wrapped in tricolor. But only if the banks & auto finance companies play ball on this front. Our schools also need to go back to the old practices of disciplining students (as in our days). Though not very effective (else, why did they drop it?), it at least made the kids tougher.

We need to get more officials accredited for the events so that our ministers can concentrate on the wellbeing of our athletes. If they have to spend all the time worrying about their chamchas (http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/rio-olympics-organisers-threaten-to-cancel-vijay-goel-s-accreditation-116081101524_1.html), how will they ensure proper lodging/boarding for our sportspersons? We can’t leave this task to the federation office bearers, they are too busy politicking at a global level.

Forget Lodha Commission’s recommendations, we need more career politicians in the sports federations as is the case with cricket. This will help us frame rules that are favourable to our sportspersons. And also manage tricky situations. Had someone like Sharad Pawar or Arun Jaitley been in IOA, would Narsingh Yadav be banned just a day prior to his bout? Maybe our netas believe the scale of corruption in apex international sporting bodies is beyond their caliber, but they also need to prove their credentials globally.

 

I hope the bulging biceps of Sakshi Malik could give rise to a new fad where our girls & their parents chuck the quest for a size zero figure (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Narendra-Modi-tells-US-daily-Gujarats-malnutrition-due-to-figure-conscious-girls/articleshow/15948509.cms) for a more muscular one. And if the advertisers give more endorsement deals to the well-rounded bollywood stars, beauty could have a new definition. Of course, with the gau rakshaks protecting all those cows our budding wrestling heroines will have all the milk & ghee they need.

Earlier, the best in combat sports moved to a sporting career, while the rest kept democracy alive. TN Seshan & his successors then detached the art from of our elections. Unfortunately, this cleanup robbed our brave youth of an alternate career & our wrestlers & boxers now return home empty handed (or dope tainted) from showcase events. And as Sakshi Malik’s stupendous show proved, our political parties now have a large cache of strongwomen to choose from. (At the time of writing, the male wrestlers were yet to take the mat, so some medals may be on our way.)

Just as we have training camps for the athletes, shouldn’t we also have a conditioning camp for the visiting officials? It is very demoralizing for our athletes when our leaders tweet about one but put in the picture of another (http://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-in-india/sports-minister-vijay-goel-confuses-indian-olympic-athletes-in-tweet-gets-trolled-2978614/). In fact, we should have ready draft of tweets & Facebook/Instagram posts to be posted online by the netas during the meet. Saves their time too.

This could have gone one & on, but our girls finally ended the medal drought & I would rather celebrate their performance. And that of the rest who went to Rio & gave their best. Bravo, girls & boys!! You are one of the best out there, whatever the soft porn writer may say!!!

Runs & Rains

I like running in the rain because then no one can see me sweat. This is total BS. I like rains, running too & running in the rain takes me back to those carefree childhood days. Which happened when I went out for a run. But this is starting from the middle & let me go back to the beginning.

Till a few months back, life was easy. If I woke up early, I would go out for a run, walk or a bike ride. Till the fitness bug bit the wife & her friend. Rather, the friend who wanted to reduce her weight & thought of going for daily walks (as if this would have helped). All was well, till they decided to change their schedule from post-dinner to early mornings which is my preferred time. But one can’t argue with a wife, especially if one of her close friends is involved. After some negotiations (actually, a one-way dialogue), it was decided (by them, obviously) that they will have the 5:00 to 6:00 AM slot, as they had to return in time to get the kid ready for school.

With weather being good, I had returned to an active life by cycling in the mornings. But having woken up early today, I had ample time to go out & run. As part of pre-run routine, I walk about half a km to a tea stall, which not only primes up the body to the task ahead but also helps in catching up with friends who would be out walking or cycling or simply going to work. So it was today. I switched on the mobile data & turn on the GPS prior to beginning my run. And it started drizzling. Not wishing to spoil a mobile, I handed it over to the tea stall owner. And went for a short 4K.

A few metres & I was already drenched. By the rains & maybe, some sweat too. It felt good, being wet & running. The traffic reduces too, which helps. The cows move under the trees, which helps more!! And the temperature drops, making it very pleasant to run if one can avoid the puddles & ignore the wet road. One doesn’t even feel the sweat, assuming the effort has made one sweat. Or the rain may have washed away the sweat as the water didn’t burn the eyes or tasted salty.

The only negative part being I did not have my mobile with me but Runkeeper lets one log activities manually. You may be surprised I did not have any misgiving in leaving a premium flagship mobile handset with a roadside tea vendor. Firstly, I trust him as he provides me with hydration support after my runs. And not just hydration, this is also the place where I had my customary post-event drink after VIHM (read about it here - http://runfunetc.blogspot.in/2016/03/after-long-wait-hm-returned-to-baroda.html). Secondly, haven’t we handed over our country to another chaiwala? Surely a mobile phone cannot be more valuable than our nation. And I trust my chaiwala as much!!

As you know, we runners are not only sensible but also very particular about our safety. We always run against the traffic to avoid any vehicle coming from behind running over us. Now, I differ here when not running a loop (as was the case today). I run on only one side (to avoid crossing the road), so that while I follow the runners’ credo during one leg, i forget all about it on the return leg. But not really reckless, for two reasons. One, I run with the traffic when the legs are fresh so that I am safer when I am tired. Two, I run on the streets of Baroda & a vehicle can come from any direction. This is what this tempo, going for delivery of packaged water cans, did. To avoid taking a U-turn, this guy (as is the common practice) was driving on the wrong side. He was also very concerned about avoiding the oncoming traffic. So, he was driving right behind me & honking continuously so that I would give way. I had to give him an angry look before he overtook me.

Coming back to the tea stall, the friendly chaiwala handed me a small plastic bag to keep my mobile in as it was still raining. And I proceeded back home to begin my day on a satisfied note.

Running after a long time & I have spoken about everything else but my run! As this post is already long enough, I will give the briefest of specs. I did 4.1 km in 33 minutes returning a pace of a little over 8 min. Not bad, if you ask me!

Hey Runner, Which One Are You?

It takes all kinds to make this world. And this is true of runners too. Here’s an attempt to classify the runners that we often come across:

Bhappi Lahiri – They are loaded with gadgets when they run. Not to mention, their accessories are every runner’s envy. You name it, they have it. When they run, the whole world knows how. When they don’t, the whole world know why.

Anna Hazare – Polar opposite to the Bhappi Lahiri types. They are the simple ones who are seen only when turn up for events. And that’s where their performance that does the talking. But they are gone before you can catch up with them.

Jayalalitha – They are the heavyweight runners who are the masters of their circle. And have a swarm of runner fans who, while not able to run to their cadence, take each of their words as the gospel. Which they provide in plenty.

Ram Gopal Varma – The earliest ones to catch the running bug. But lost from the scene on account of injury or age, they frequently make a comeback only to retreat without regaining old glory days.

Arvind Kejriwal – They have had some fabulous runs early on when they started out. Fabulous enough to know what is wrong with a(ny) runner, which they never tire of informing everyone else but the subject.

LK Advani – They are the ones who have been running for as long as anyone (& their parents) can remember. They had always been one of the best in business but have now slowed down after realizing they can never be best enough.

Hema Malini – They are actually cyclists, swimmers, mountaineers. They run not only because it helps them be better cyclists, swimmers, mountaineers but also because that’s where the crowd is.

Smriti Irani – They are essentially Hema Malini plus; they were cyclists, swimmers, mountaineers. They run because they can no longer cycle, swim, climb. And also because they found they can run as well as they could cycle, swim, climb.

Arnab Goswamy – They can’t run. They know they can’t run. They don’t even run. But they think they know, like no one else, how to run. Whenever they can (mostly at post-event meal counters), they catch hold of the Anna Hazares & Ram Gopal Varmas & lecture them on how they should have run & why they shouldn’t have run.

This is not a comprehensive list of runner types, you may pls put in your suggestions in the comments below!

Pics courtesy:

Bhappi Lahiri (http://www.theindiapost.com/entertainment/tv-programes/bappi-lahiri-made-a-guest-appearance-on-zee-tv-celebrity-singing-reality-show/)

Anna Hazare (http://www.mid-day.com/articles/shashank-udapurkar-to-make-a-biopic-on-anna-hazare/15232089)

Jayalalitha (http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jayalalithaa-tamil-nadu-cm-aiadmk-swearing-in/1/439762.html)

Ram Gopal Varma (http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sridevis-thunder-thighs-made-her-a-star-yes-you-read-that-right-ram-gopal-varma-sridevi-obsession-guns-and-thighs-twitter-fight-boney-kapoor/1/536563.html)

Arvind Kejriwal (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/arvind-kejriwal-quits-over-jan-lokpal/article5688528.ece)

LK Advani (http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031017/haryana.htm)

Hema Malini (http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/film-career-has-helped-me-as-politician-hema-malini/)

Smriti Irani (http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/smriti-irani-rahul-gandhi-amethi-bjp-congress-2014-lok-sabha-polls/1/352814.html)

Arnab Goswamy (http://www.countercurrents.org/ramagoud041215.htm)