32 KM done. Stopping to catch my breath.

10 KM more but it is flat or downhill. The knees are going to hurt but the heart and lungs will get a respite…

Why couldn’t Pheidippides die half way thru his journey? I would have completed by now 🙂

“You got this one, right Rajib”.

“Yep”.

“You remember the strategy, right?”

“Yep. Start slow”.

“And then?”

“Errrr…. then taper off???” 🙂

As far as the eyes go, runners and runners… And these are just the guys who will start before me!!

Talking to as many runners as I can. Asking them where they are from and how they got started running. I also told them that this is my first marathon. And that if they recognize me laying down on the side of the road, could they please hit the Pause button on my Garmin watch and THEN call for medical help? A heftily build German guy asked me if they could just drag me to the finish line.

I let him know it would work better that way 🙂

btw, I am yet to meet an Indian…

The place where the Greeks beat the Persians! Where Pheidippides fateful run began!! We are still a couple of hours away from starting. Right now, I am shivering in the cold and talking to all the runners here. Meeting people from all corners of the world – must have talked to people from at least fifteen different countries.

But in my own mind, I am a Kenyan right now!!

Got up early – it is 5 am here – 10 pm back home. Time to size up my competition for today. And that is him!! It is going to be my mind versus his body. Let the best man win!!