Flashback -25 years ago…

Parents (introducing us to guests): these are my children, say namaste kids…
Guest (looking at my brother) Oh my God, he is so handsome, beautiful green eyes, golden hair, and those eye brows, perfection!
Guest (looking at me) Hmmm…nice hmmmm name.

That’s the reaction I have grown up with, which by the way did wonders for my self confidence. My brother has been the most good looking child in the entire family and I have been, well, just average, guess he got the best genes from our parents and I was stuck with leftovers.

Few days ago it was Indian festival Rakhi (or Rakhsha Bandhan), it’s a festival where sister ties a holy thread on brother’s wrist. The brother in return offers a gift to his sister and pledges to look after her. Since I was born, we have celebrated this festival with much aplomb .Now, several years later, Pacific and Indian Ocean apart, I still mail him rakhi every year. Don’t get me wrong, just like brothers and sisters all over the universe we too follow the sibling’s cosmic law of getting on each other’s nerves (I think he does a better job than I).

All my girl friends use to be gaga over him, and some even became friends with me, so that they could get to know him better (yup, another ego booster for me). He was a usual pest, pulling my hair, calling me dunce, ridiculing my style of clothes. These kind of brotherly deeds always made me wonder, what a wonderful life if would be, if I was the only child.

For some reason, I was wondering about the same recently, and it smacked me in my cranium, I would never had the passion for music, or be unruffled in catastrophe, generosity would probably be learnt and not just way of being, never ever giving out a secret you have been entrusted with, and not eating ketchup because it is animals blood, well, if we leave french fries accompany aside, my brother knowingly or unknowingly has taught me tons.

I “copy catted” him in several ways I thought he was cool, and I bet he doesn’t know that and if he did, he would be tugging at my pigtails right now.

ps don’t be fooled by the tongue sticking smiling gecko picture that I have posted, look deep into its eyes and you will see why I get nightmares.
By the way, for my reader outside of USA, Geico is a popular insurance company: http://www.geico.com/

Last week, my better half was trotting half way across the world and I was in my abode alone. The impression that one gets from movies like “home alone”, is that it’s exciting to be by yourself, eat whatever you want, put stingy cologne on your face, leave mess lying around… I thought so too, but let the truth be told, I hate being unaccompanied.
While hubby was increasing his airline miles traveling to the land of her majesty, the Queen, I was sleeping on the couch with lights on. I have never been a chicken, but for some reason I was petrified by the slightest sound for the three nights that I was by myself. I tossed and turned, tossed and turned, repeat again, but just couldn’t sleep. Usually as the clock blinks 10 pm I am off to bed and 10.15 pm deep in slumber, but those few night internet was my best friend. Ask me about treatment for split ends, ten day weather forecast in California, Idaho and Germany, feng shui, how to plant okra, I know it all, cause I just couldn’t sleep!
The afternoon he came back, we both were so exhausted, he because of 16 hours of travel, hectic schedule and jet lag and me, because of information over load and sleep deprivation. Me time really sucks! Glad he is back home!

Don’t get me wrong, I love Food Network channel, it makes me want to try out new recipes and cook creatively, but shows like Cupcake wars and Ace of cake, the sugary half an hour episodes compels me to bake and within minutes I set in motion preparing for the new calorie loaded recipe. The aroma of baking engulfs my kitchen and I am on my knees, no, not praying for forgiveness for gluttony but looking in the oven (it’s under the stove) and counting minutes till the 450 degrees of heat does its job. It’s a good thing that I love to share what I cook so I get to eat one or two (sometimes when I am naughty, three or four) baked goodies AND then off course the next thing, my diet is scorched.

Here’s what I am thinking to deter myself from baking - nip it in the bud and get cable disconnected so I won’t watch tv and be inspired to bake, or maybe fling the oven out of the window, or never keeps eggs ,spoons and mixing bowls at home, or write a letter to food network to pay for my gym membership and next size clothes….I ran the list with my friends who I usually share the baked goodies with and they promised to take me out shopping for the next size tent, oops I meant dress, if I kept baking.

Thank God for such friends who motivate me to keep baking and buying newer bigger clothes!?! They also promised me that they would run with me to shed the extra brownie pounds and reduce eating sugary goodies to once a month, so I guess its win-win! Glad that sorted out, can’t wait to get back on my knees againJ

How can one not complete 5k in one’s personal best time when Shakira is crooning “Waka Waka…This time is for Leena”( yeah, I tweaked the lyrics just a bit in my mind)but it really worked! I heard this song 3 times close to the end of the race. Her voice was like adrenaline, kept me sprinting toward the distant black and white finish flag.

Before the race, I told myself again and again, and yet again, don’t start running too fast in the beginning, but nah, I never listen to myself. I sprinted off hastily when, organizer said “Go” in his high pitch voice, I was hoping to begin with a “bang” he said he forgot his gun at home

By the time I was about 1.5k, there was this athletic type guy running in the opposite direction, I thought he had lost his way, but then it struck me, he was almost done 3.5k and heading back to winning the medal and relinquish pancakes ( Organizer had pancakes after the race for all)

I increased my music to another decibel, took a deep breath and kept following the red arrowed marked path. It was an awesome experience, so many friends, family member and volunteers encouraging runners to the finish line.

Keeping humility aside for a bit, I am so proud to complete my first 5k much ahead of my record time, this is definitely an achievement for me.

Few things that I said I want to accomplish in my previous blog-
Running (not walking) my little heart out to the finish line- Oh yeah, I ran the whole 5k!
Not to be last to finish- I didn’t have to worry about that at all.
Not cry after I finish the race- a tear or two don’t actually count, do they?
Enjoy the experience and have fun!- It was a remarkable experience!

I was considering not to race at all for few unavoidable reasons, but with motivation and inspiration from my husband and my ex colleague, buddy, pro-runner Heather, I did it and I am no long a racing virgin!:)

I had read in one of the health/running website that novice runner should never run on the course that they have not walked before, so this morning, my husband and I, went to the Elysian Park, where the 5k race will be held next Saturday. It is a charming park with beautiful views of downtown Los Angeles. As we started running, I was in for a shocker; it was not a straight stretch leveled road as expected. It was hilly!! I have never run uphill before, never EVER! Sometimes people tell me, I am a snail (I think they wanted to say “slow” but were too kind) I suppose I concur with them today. I should have done my homework before registering for the race.

Another challenges that I will encounter is that I am a nocturnal runner, always ran after sun set, guess I am “Team Edward” (Twilight fame). It was tough running with the ball on fire sizzling brightly in the sky.

So will this blogger succeed, or accept defeat even before launching to the first race…will find out in just 6 days!

Finally, I have registered for my very first 5K! It’s on Saturday, July 31st, here’s the link http://aztlanindianrun.com/default.aspx . I am so energized; I will at last have number on my shirt! Apparently it’s called “bib”, runners usually pin it on front of their shirts.
Butterflies and zillions questions in my tummy, am I prepared? how do I avoid pre-race anxieties ? warm up? Cool down? Play list? what do I wear, I know it’s not the prom, but it is my first race! What do I eat, before and after? will there be water? am I a complete Looney?
So far, I know the answer only to the last question and its YES!
Ok, here are few things that I want to accomplish in this race-
• Running (not walking) my little heart out to the finish line.
• Not to be last to finish.
• Not cry after I finish the race.
• Enjoy the experience and have fun!

Do you have any tips to offer first time racers?Click the "comment" button and help me reach the finish line.

Strength training is the use of resistance to muscular contraction to build the strength, anaerobic endurance and size of skeletal muscles, yup that's the definition directly cut and pasted from Wikipedia, but nearly not are important as strength training that I have in mind. I was talking to a friend of mine, who my husband and I call superwoman ,she is having a challenging time juggling two very active kids, demanding 80+ hours workweek, no weekends time with family, zero vacation for two years, squeezing in strenuous workouts, attending classes and never ending assignments.

To take on all that, by choice or because it’s your duty, and still be positive, without an ounce of alcohol in your blood stream, is what I call mental strength training.

So how do we strength train our minds to curve balls life throws at us? Here’s my two cents – things that I seek to incorporate in my life-

Be positive, stay positive, subscribe to jokeaday, be an walking advertisement for dentist and smile a lot, work out, dance at every opportunity, take daily dose of multi vitamins, let the small stuff- be small stuff and not stress about it, eat healthy food but don’t skip on dark chocolate or tiramisu once in a while, drink a bit (avoid during work hours) and most importantly have fun and live boldly!

Do feel free to add to the list via comments tab.

Yes, I had bugs for dinner last night,marinated in yogurt, just a touch of mayo and ketchup with fingerling potatoes on the side. Yeah right, I am vegetarian, born and raised as vegetarian, never had the choice to choose!
I have been running in the evening because of the hot weather and obsession with fairer skin,ran 3k in 19 minutes, average pace 6.30. The run was really good, I was focused on increasing my pace, cool breeze blowing my newly cropped hair, I believe it provides least resistance while running:),out of the blue, a big bug flew into my mouth...I huffed and puffed but could get the bug out. I spat, coughed and imitated throw up, but the bug seemed to fancy my oral hygiene and stayed inside my mouth. The only things left for me to do was drown bug, the bugger, I drank water, don't know if bugs have soul, but if they do may it rest in peace temporarily in my stomach till morning.

How do I avoid this from happening again? any suggestions? I wish to stay vegetarian and prefer cereal for dinner.

I killed the bug and the bug killed my appetite.

Here's to all the bugs who fly into unassuming runners mouth, fly in peace.

Few weeks ago, I read in a health magazine that running shoes should be replaced every 300 to 400 miles, that gave me a jolt, I could never buy new shoes again! Mine would last for a lifetime! I got up, put on my shoes and started running and since then have not looked back.
I have been doing cardio and strength training for sometime now but it does not compare with the thrill of running! The first time I ran, was 5k in 35 minutes, I was at the top of the world AND ready to pass out because of exhaustion. The rush of adrenaline kept me from thumping to the ground, I hugged my hubby, my best friend, who was running right besides me!

I never thought I could run in my dreams or day dreams! I have always been in awe of runners, the strength, form and energy they emit always captivated me.I am happy to say...My name is Leena, and I am a running addict!