All through my schooling in Madras, I was an athlete first, a student second. During my years at medical college I was a Tamil Nadu State and Madras University basketball player, and constantly active. However, life happened and I became a wife and mother of two girls, as well as dentist and orthodontist in Kodaikanal.
In my new life, I faced a constant on and off battle with my weight. I tried every diet under the sun, but never managed to get within sight of the level of fitness I have now reached. It was not until February 2012, when I was over 50 years of age, that I met Prahlladh – my soon to be personal trainer, who was nothing short of a Godsend. Through conversation with him and encouragement from my husband, I started training and working out. Initially, my sole intention was to lose weight – fitness was not even on my radar.
My initial workout was a combination of cardio and conditioning/weights. My first run was almost two months later, and Prahlladh made sure I ran for only about eight minutes at a stretch. Gradually, I began to increase my distance. I had injured both my knees during my basketball days and never thought I’d be able to run this way. Thanks to conditioning, I was soon running more than I’d ever imagined, and not once did I encounter a knee problem. I initially ran thrice a week, anywhere from eight to15 km each time. Before I knew it, I enjoyed it so much that it became an obsession. Needless to say, I lost all the excess weight within eight months and gained fitness dramatically. I was able to run 42 km within 11 months after my first run! The endorphin rush after a good run keeps me on a high the whole day.
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It isn’t easy to balance workout, a dental practice and home. I do it by exercising at 5 a.m., 6 days a week. This way, I have no excuse for missing a workout. Once I’ve passed the first 15 min of running, I don’t want to stop! I’m a firm believer of “mind over matter” and that everyone can run. It just takes work. Find a time of day that you can be consistent with, no excuses. You must balance your runs with cross training, to build and strengthen your muscles. It is also important to maintain a healthy diet. And consistency is of course vital. Also, find a way to make your workout fun – for me, all I need are my Hoka shoes and my music, and I’m good to go!
My first official half marathon was the Coimbatore Vodafone Marathon in Oct 2013. My trainer told me, “It’s not about running fast or winning but about running steadily and finishing well.” Thanks to his advice and training, that’s exactly what I did. I placed 19th in the women’s category with a timing of 2:33:40, and the sense of achievement was phenomenal.
I hope to not only run more marathons, but also challenge myself with new terrains and different courses. Running has opened up a whole new world of possibilities and has had a dramatic impact in my life. Many people have asked me about my transformation. Most believe that it is impossible to start running after reaching a certain age, and I don’t blame them for thinking so. But I am evidence to the contrary! So I say, “Go for it!” With the right training, guidance and persistence you will be surprised at what you are capable of.
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