Airtel Delhi Half marathon 2009

With all the anticipation and excitement ,my marathon started a before .Getting the bib itself was like a marathon as the Bib was issued at Saket . So Chuggy( Vivek Chugh : One my Best friends here in Noida ) and me left for Saket .After taking 2 hrs to reach saket and hour and half waiting for the Bib/goodies bag we headed back to Noida , which took another two hour .Huh !

I got Up early with renewed excitement and enthusiasm at 5am .With the noise created by my early morning ablution , my wife woke up too and I tagged her along with me and headed for the event venue.
People were already swarming up with Zeal and Zest that this "Dilwalon ka sheher " is known of.There were about 8900 and odd participants in the half marathon category . I was glad to be one. The race started at 7.30 but by the time i crossed the start line it was 7.37.There was so much of crowd.
The thig that i liked most about the Marathon was , that there were people cheering us all through out the route . There were all sorts of bands and dance groups cheering up on either sides of the track for almost every 500m . Just imagine .. u get to hear Pop /Rock desi/Punjabi/dance ..etc etc ..there we Dhol being drummed ..Oh it was just amazing !With kids cheering up... Some senior citizens singing Saare Jahan Se accha to cheer ! Bhayya Daudo Dauo...! and so much more..
All the joy and excitement in my mind suddenly came to halt when i felt a pricking pain in my right knee .I knew what was in store for me . There was engine with Full fuel , but the wheels running out of air. Air tel Delhi Half Marathon was over leaving me with a bad Knee pain after the run . Here are some statistics and updates about my run . I clocked more than 3 hrs to make it to the finish line . Thanks to my knees which stopped supporting me after the 11km mark . I struggled every step ...with natural progression of walking , limping and stretching .This time I have taken more time than I had during my last marathon run at Bangalore . I had clocked 2.35 last time... My stamina remained as ever , however my strength of knees was not at it best ... I must also confess that my training regimen was not that extensive as i had done. So I guess If I'm pointing one finger towards my knee now rest of them are pointing to me . Ethiopians ruled the roost with top honors in both men and woman's section. Deriba Merga successfully defended his title, clocking a time of 59:54 minutes.World champion Mary Keitany won the woman's race by crossing the finish line and setting a new course record of 66:54. So much energy and stamina. Need to wok on that!

Arise Awake

If Swami Vivekananda were alive, he would be very happy to see that Ayaan Mukherjee, the director of the movie "Wake up Sid ", has given fresh coat to his quote “Arise awake until goal reached!" in a very contemporary form.
The movie is a take on the life of Sidharth Mehra. Who is a carefree guy...Who rides Life to Enjoy and academics is at the backseat in the ride. The movie takes us through the trials and tribulations in his life and how he overcomes it.
His conflicts and confusions in career, and all this ...The story is neat however pace of the story is little slow. You need to have patience.
In fact I think that all of us have a little Sid in us.... There was lot of nuances that were very well highlighted in the movie. Some of them were like theory of relativity, self realization and finally the arising and awakening. Ayan beautifully captures all those.
Theory of relativity is so vital in relationships. While Ranbir cribs about his failure in exam, his friend who’s one of the topper in college ...say that she fails every day fighting her diet plan where she is trying to overcome her weight issues, but still tries or a case where one persons interest is other persons bore .Konkana ( Aisha )sees that Ranbir is too young for her, only to realize later that Ranbir was her reason for stay in Mumbai. Or a situation where she dotes on her boss who’s all for jazz music parties which she finds as not her type. I guess the difference (relativity) can be enjoyed as long as the relationship is bounded by strong values .Love /Trust/Respect /Hope.
Ayan also showcases the point of doing things that one is good at can reap great results was also one of the highlights , where Ranbir finds himself as a total misfit in his fathers office doing regular job and does a great job as photographer in a magazine company. All in all its about following your dreams, desires with determination.
On a lighter side I found lot of Sid parameters in me .Some of them still in its latent state and some of them growing, some subsiding and some of them dead. Like for example , a great fan of Homer Simpson of “ The Simpsons” which is still latent in me [I used to have Simpson Collectibles on my desk] or plastic money usage , as though it was a Aladdin Lamp, which thankfully is subsiding or the passion to follow Photography seriously which is growing or clubbing endlessly , which is dead .
On the whole its quite a time pass movie, nothing to rave about.I give it a ***/***** .Very natural performances by the entire star cast.. However my wife begs to differ. Her feedback was loud and clear to me, when at the end of the movie; I had to say "Wake up Savita ".

Friendship Day , 2009.

On This day , a day before friendship day ,I'Missing all of my Friends from Bangalore here in Noida so Friendship Day is of special interest for me this year . I would like to Wish all my Friends , blog readers a " Happy Friendship Day" in advance. Click here to see my friends from Bangalore , with whom I had oppurtunity do a photoshoot, so time to remember . I miss u all guys ! Enjoy ur day ! Cheers!

Finished 5th

After about intermittent preparation for the run at Noida , I finally finished the 5Km run , 5Th clocking 23min's 40sec's . The run to finish line ended dramatically . Having maintained #3 position till the last 200m , two guys sprinted ahead of me with blazing speed . I was drained of energy and could not run ahead of them . This run has definitely mirrored my stamina,energy and strength , ahead of the Airtel Delhi Marathon in November . So its all preparation for next 12 weeks . Get going and start jogging ...!!

Running and Living Marathon , Noida

Its running time guys. On 19th July 2009 The Running and Living organization has organized a 5Km/10Km run .
Quick Info :
Location :
Elemention Gym,
Tower B, Lower Ground,
Green Boulevard, B9A
Sector 62 NOIDA
[Near Fortis Hospital ]

Contact Number :01204571671

Timings :
Free Registration : 6.00am
10Km Start : 6.15am
5Km start : 6.30am

Click here to check the map of Runnning Circuit

Click here to Join the NOIDA Running Group at Google groups

Also for beginners , please go through Running and Living Website , it has some amazing details about running , tips and training information , and loads of other information related to running .

I'm all set and ready to run .... are you ?
–

Rakhi Ka Swayamvar

After all the hype and waiting Rakhi Sawant's swayamvar aired on NDTV Imagine on 29th June .Since then me n my wife are glued to TV between 9 to 10 pm on NDTV Imagine. Seemz like Rakhi's prospective grooms are all set and ready for all the drama. At the outset when I watched it felt more or less like any other reality show with the exclusivity that its a Swayamvar . This show is similar to the FOX Networks " Who wants to marry a millionaire " where 50 eligible girls compete against each other to marry .The difference is that here its Rakhi who is millionaire and the guys are vieing to marry her. The competition in the Indian context is " Swayamvar"




Its is great to watch Rakhi for a change in her mellowed down , shy and docile behavior. I'm fan of Rakhi for the reason that she is so uninhibited , courageous and brutally honest .She makes no bones about her marriage on small screen of her big decision in her life .She owes everything she achieved to the Small screen . I'm really appreciative of people who are Honest and truthful . That's when great energy and vibration gets exchanged .She was the one openly admitted about her plastic surgery of her lips ,when asked about the same on Karan Johars "Coffee with Karan ", she said "Jo cheesein God nahi deta, woh Doctor deta hai"!!!!( Implying What God has not created , Doctor creates one )

The guys participating in swayamvar range from a business man from Canada , Astrologer from Delhi , Engineer cum model from Ghaziabad, Police inspector from J and K , Sales Manager , Advocate from Haridwar , choreographer , A marriage Consultant !!! , a fitness instructor and also there was 21 year old guy who just passed out from College from Yamunanagar ( BTW that guy was voted out in the first elimination.) so on and so forth .

The show is very engaging .We hop to different channels during break and make sure we tune back in again . That's the commitment that I have as a ardent fan of Rakhi .While my wife also watches and reminds me every time when I hop to different channels during the break , to tune back in .

There is all the masala /drama /fun / excitement/ curiosity as in any other show. The guys are happy when the are not eliminated and greet each other, make sad face when eliminated. Rakhi on the other hand grills the contestant to know them better . To assist in her big decision there is Ravi Kishan from the Big brother fame , carrying out the duties like an elder brother . Contestants are doing all it takes to woo Rakhi .So far they have Sang , Danced and Wrote love letter . I just hope that all that's happening in the reality show is a real manifestation of the contestants love for Rakhi and and not a show of love for Rakhi . I only wish Best of Luck for Rakhi and for the contestants ,may the best man win .

Mushroom on Toast Recepie

Ingredients:
200g of Mushroom washed and diced.
4 juicy tomatoes chopped
4 onions chopped
1’ Ginger chopped
4 Chilly chopped (According to taste level in your family)
2 table spoon of tomato sauce
Coriander / Celery leaves chopped
Mustard Seeds ( Sarso ( Hindi ) / Sasuve ( Kannada) )
Cumin (Jeera (Hindi)/ Jeergey (Kannada))
Refined oil 4 table spoon
Salt to taste

For the toast:
Whole wheat bread / White Bread
Oil / Butter /Olive oil /Clarified Butter (Ghee) to use as a spread while toasting.
Method:
We tried this recipe at home after tasting it at Peach Blossom hotel ,Fagu Shimla on a recent trip .
It’s a simple, easy to cook, nutritious and delicious breakfast.
First Prepare the Mushroom based spicy spread.
Method:
1. In a heated Pan( Hanchu ( Kannada ) ,Tava( Hindi )) /Wok / Kadai( Hindi )/Baandli ( Kannada) , ) heat the refined oil .
2. Add the Mustard seeds and wait until the splutter settles .Add Cumin.
3. Add the chopped onion. Add chopped chilies. Stir the onions until they turn translucent.
4. Now add the ginger and stir again .Now adds tomatoes and keep stirring it occasionally to the point when the skin and the juice are separate.
5. Now add the Mushroom and allow it cook in the gravy for about 10 minutes. Now mix the Tomato sauce and stir it allow it cook for about 5 more minutes .
6. Garnish the Dish with Chopped coriander.
For the toast:
Cut the bread in to desired shape. Toast the bread on pan /oven with oil spread on it (any of the mentioned types in the ingredients list). Calorie conscious guys can omit the oil and dry heat it over the pan or the microwave.
Once the toast is ready, spread the Mushroom based spread over the toast, Mushroom on toast is ready to eat.