Marathon - First Prize

First of all i should appreciate the effort taken by Infosys folks for successfully hosting the Marathon. A lot of planning in the background and the effort put in to execute that was just commendable. The distance was just 4 KMs. We had run the marathon for republic day.
We had to go to a place which was some 2Kms ahead and take a U turn and return.Just before the race, i had only one thing in mind. At any cost, we should complete the Marathon. Urundu Urundavathu reach the finishing line. With this only target in mind, i geared up for the race. With no space in the front, stood in the end with just a few friends beside me. An ambulance and a sumo was supposed to follow us all throughout the race. Water and Glucose was kept at regular check points. This all was done considering the safety of the employees. Once the signal was given, i sprinted like a bullet. Not even a single break in between.When i had completed more than 75% of the race, i could still see few people huffing and panting to reach that distance. Well if all this had hapenned, then i would have been really happy. But nothing as mentioned above hapenned. I completed first but from the last. The 4 KMs had created a false impression in my mind. I realized this only while running. Only one part of this was true. I was standing in the last with few folks beside me. The signal was given and the race started. But all the folks standing first ran very fast. I was one of the few who were left behind. And i was the only person who stopped at the first check point to have water. At the second check point, i saw one of my friend who was in the same position as me. As usual had water at the second check point too. We both were not in a position to run so we both started walking joking and laughing all the way. We would have just completed 25% of our distance, a guy was making his return journey( He was the winner. Well he was a sportsperson. A hockey player. Right from the beginning, he ran at the same pace.). With just 300 metres to complete the race and with the finishing point in our sight, we started running the rest of the distance. The only solace that we got was a standing ovation from a few guys who saw us running the last few steps. Well my intention was fulfilled, i completed the Marathon with a bit of running and more of walking. And one important learning from this was, my stamina was and is very very less. Hope to improve that in the coming days.