Mile 20 Mindset Podcast Episode 021 - Featuring Mitsu Fonseca

From Couch to Marathon: Mitsu Fonseca's Inspiring Running Journey

Introduction: In this episode of Mile 20 Mindset, host Allen Maldonado sits down with runner Mitsu Fonseca to discuss her remarkable journey from a non-runner to a marathon participant. Mitsu’s story is not just about physical endurance but also about mental resilience and the transformative power of running during challenging times.

Main Content:

1. **The Beginning of a Running Journey**  
Mitsu’s running journey began in 2021, during the second lockdown in India. Seeking a way to improve her mental health amidst the pandemic, she set a personal challenge to run five kilometers without stopping. Despite not being an athlete in school, she dedicated six weeks to achieve this goal. "I was never a runner, but once I could run five kilometers, I just continued," she shares, reflecting on her initial steps towards fitness.

2. **Progressing to Longer Distances**  
After mastering the 5K, Mitsu began participating in 10-kilometer races for fun. "It was just really nice to go there," she recalls, enjoying the camaraderie of fellow runners. In 2023, she decided to take on a bigger challenge: a half marathon, which she completed as a prerequisite to register for the Tata Mumbai Marathon in January 2024. This progression illustrates how small achievements can build confidence and lead to greater ambitions.

3. **The Marathon Training Experience**  
Training for a marathon brought its own set of challenges, particularly in the hot and humid climate of Mumbai. Mitsu emphasized the importance of mental endurance, stating, "A lot of the marathon training was more about training your mind to go the distance." She learned to hydrate properly and strategize her fueling during long runs, adapting her approach based on the distance, which was crucial for her success.

4. **Challenges of Training in Mumbai**  
Mitsu faced unique challenges while training in Mumbai, often waking up as early as 3:30 AM to avoid the heat. "Sunday mornings are relatively empty here on the roads," she noted, explaining her routine to complete long runs before the sun became unbearable. This dedication and planning were vital for her training, showing the commitment required to prepare for a marathon.

5. **Race Day Experience**  
The excitement and anxiety surrounding race day were palpable. Mitsu described the vibrant atmosphere of the Tata Mumbai Marathon, India's largest marathon, with around 55,000 participants. On race day, she had to be at the venue by 4 AM, which meant an early start and a focus on conserving energy for the race ahead. "All I was thinking of at that time is try and conserve your energy," she shared, emphasizing the mental strategies she employed as she prepared to tackle the 26.2 miles.

Conclusion: Mitsu Fonseca's journey from a non-runner to completing a marathon is a testament to the power of determination and the positive impact running can have on mental health. Her story encourages anyone considering a running journey to embrace the process, set achievable goals, and push through challenges. Key takeaways include the importance of mental preparation, the benefits of establishing a routine, and the joy of celebrating progress, no matter how small.

Tags: running, marathon, mental health, fitness journey, Tata Mumbai Marathon, endurance training, inspirational stories, running community

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Hey, what's up, y'all? It is your boy Alan Mal Donado, and here we are with another episode of Mal20 Mindset. Um, I have an incredible runner, uh, this pod, Mitsu Fanseka. How are you doing today?

SPEAKER_01 0:19

Good. Good morning to you. Uh, I know.

SPEAKER_00 0:24

We've been having technical difficulty difficulties, but we gonna we're gonna figure it out and we're gonna make it happen um all the way from Mumbai. I appreciate you taking the time. I know the time difference is crazy. So again, appreciate you. So let's let's start from the beginning. Like, where did where does your running journey begin? Was it for fitness? Was it for mental health? Was it for just collegiate reasons, school, etc.? Like where did where and why did your running journey begin?

SPEAKER_01 0:56

Uh it started in 2021, and it just started as something that I just wanted to do, mainly for my mental health. It was also around the pandemic, uh, when we had like the second lockdown here in India. So I took it as a challenge to run five kilometers, and that's how it began. It took me around six weeks to actually be able to run five kilometers, which is about three miles for you, uh, without stopping. And uh since I was never a runner, like I not in school, I didn't really participate. I wasn't an athlete. So yes, and once I was able to run the five kilometers, I just continued. And the year after that is when I started running ten kilometer races just for fun, it was just really nice to like just go there. And in 2023, that's when I decided that you know I think I want something more of a challenge. So I decided to um I wanted to run a marathon, but in order to register for one here in Mumbai, you need to have a timing certificate for a half marathon. So I decided to train for that and I ran one in 2023. That was my first half marathon. And then once I received that time and certificate, I registered for the Tata Mobile Marathon, which takes place in January every year. So in 2024, January, that was the first marathon that I've ever run. The Tata Mobile Marathon.

SPEAKER_00 2:38

Okay, so so so before we get to to the to the marathon, let's talk about the training. You you went from you know the couch to a 5K, you you you mastered at to a point where you got to the 10Ks, then you get to the half marathon, you complete this thing, you qualify, you decide to then say, hey, I'm going for the 26.2. What did you learn about yourself during training? And what did you do differently, you know, in comparison to let's say the five, the 10 and a half marathon training?

SPEAKER_01 3:17

Um, a lot of the marathon training was more about training your mind to go the distance. Um, also because I'm I was training in Mumbai, it's really hot and humid. So training in that heat was awful. It was it was awful. So that was like a whole different mental thing that I had to develop uh to like just keep going, run all those miles in that heat, um, learn to hydrate really well, take my electrolytes on time. Uh fueling, fueling was like a whole different thing. Like I had to figure out what strategy would work best for me uh based on the distance. So that's what I practiced during the long runs. Um and then yes, finally uh we we came to race day. I was prepared. Of course, I was really nervous as well since it was like my first marathon start line, but it was an incredible experience.

SPEAKER_00 4:18

Now, before we before we get to the start line, I want to I want to talk about just what were the most difficult parts of of training. I know you mentioned before that um Mumbai can can get a little crowded during the day. So I believe you had to get up at what time of the day to get your runs in order to have a a a nice open space.

SPEAKER_01 4:41

So during the week, I would start my runs around six in the morning, uh, which means I would ideally wake up an hour before that. Uh, because I don't like to be in like too much of a hurry before the runs. Yeah. I like to wake up, you know, probably have tea or coffee, eat something, maybe just like a banana or something, and then head out for my run. But when I would do the long runs, which for me would be Sundays, because Sunday mornings are relatively empty here on the roads. And I would wake up like either at 3.30 in the morning or four, in order to start my run by 5 or 5.50. Um, because if say I had like a three-hour run, a long run to do, I always wanted to finish it before like 8 30 because once the sun rises, it's just like it's way too much. It's a problem. Very uncomfortable for me.

SPEAKER_00 5:36

So it's it's a problem. I had a I had a guest on the other day. He was from Toronto and he was talking about, yeah, it was like negative 21 or something degrees or something like that. I'm like, yo, this is crazy. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I was and I was being reluctant to run on my sunny day, and I was like, let me go ahead and go outside because this this I I ain't got nothing to complain about.

SPEAKER_01 5:58

Um you must have lovely weather there, Nelly.

SPEAKER_00 6:02

That is that is completely true. I'm not uh we are we are definitely spoiled. We had a little sprinkle of a rain the other day, but it is beautiful outside as as I as I look outside. Yeah, no, great. It's about like a 70, 75 a day. Yeah, perfect. It's perfect. Not not to rub it in. Not to rub it in.

SPEAKER_01 6:21

So do you like go out for runs even at noon sometimes? What would the weather? What would the beautiful?

SPEAKER_00 6:26

I'm going for a run after we after we finish this part. I'm going, I have three miles a day. I we have a some beautiful mountain trails where, and fortunately, because of the weather, I I can I I don't have to go as early in the morning and it's still it's still cool. Especially at the beach, too, because I can do my long runs at Venice. So I'll run from Venice all the way up to Malibu, depending on the distance. Um and no matter what time of the day, sometimes we go at the crack of dawn at like five in the morning. Sometimes I go at 12. Um, just because it's a little more live, the energy, the people that are at the beach, and you know, I'm kind of feeding off of that. Although I am running by myself most of the time, I can still feel the crowds of the of the beach in certain areas that kind of give you that energized of a race day. Because they're they may not be fans, but you still see and you have life around you as you know when you get on these long runs, they can get they can get pretty lonely when you get to to spots where ain't nobody at, or nobody's paying attention. Everyone has their own lives to live.

SPEAKER_01 7:35

I don't think anyone really cares when you're doing a long run. It's just like no in your mind.

SPEAKER_00 7:40

Yes, it is. Yes, it is. Yes, it is. No, you want to you want to pretend that people care, but no, no one, no one cares. No one no one cares. No one even knows you're on now, like 17. Um, so like that they're totally oblivious to your struggle. It's it's all right. It's all right.

SPEAKER_01 7:58

So I I think like on Sundays, usually here in Mumbai, when people wake up, we're like already done with our run and breakfast and everything.

SPEAKER_00 8:07

Yeah, see. Yeah, yeah, no. No, no. No, I it it depends, it depends on the Sunday. It depends on the night before, actually. Like the night before will determine whether we're gonna be there at 5 a.m. or I might pull up at 1 p.m. It it could it it can it can drastically change on the night before. Um, but the long run has to get done. So my next question is we get to this marathon experience, meaning the expo weekend. This is your first marathon. Take me to that to that weekend and what it what did it mean to you? How did it feel to to experience that picking up the bib the night before? Did you sleep well? Let's take me to race weekend.

SPEAKER_01 8:48

So, okay, uh I'll talk about the week as a whole, all right? So I like Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, I think I did like shorter workouts, including a speed workout. And then I had plans to go to the expo on the Thursday, all right? Uh because I wanted to rest on Friday and Saturday. So the race here in Mumbai starts at five in the morning. So we've got to be at uh the venue by four. They always tell you to come like an hour before your start time. And in order to reach the venue at four, I would have to leave my house at three.

unknown 9:27

Oof.

SPEAKER_01 9:28

Or even like 2.30. So it's really early.

SPEAKER_00 9:32

So when did you what what time did you try to go to bed to get up? Like 2.30. Like that's when you go to bed.

SPEAKER_01 9:39

So that's the problem. Because the race is like so early here. I tried to get most of my sleep on Friday and Thursday night.

SPEAKER_00 9:48

Got you.

SPEAKER_01 9:48

You know, because I know like I'm gonna be anxious and a little nervous and probably won't sleep well on Saturday night since I've got to be at the race so early. So, which is why I did not run on like Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I of course did like a short walk, but my main aim was not to tire myself. So I was at the expo for probably an hour checking everything out. They had a lot of fun games and stuff, but um I was nervous, I was also very excited about my first marathon because that's something I've I had planned like what, six months before? Almost six months before. So it was like it was like the final day, like ooh, I need to like put it all to the test and see how it's gonna go. So all I wanted to do, and that's something I kept visualizing as well, was the finish line, you know, to keep visualizing the finish line. And yes, I mean that's all I had.

SPEAKER_00 10:49

Take me to race day morning since you because it sounds fascinating, being that you guys I I love that he starts so early though, because I've definitely been in marathons and they've started later, and it it has been trouble because it it will we'll be in the middle of the day, the sun is on top of you, you at I I've gotten dehydrated during the Berlin marathon, and it was not fun. Um how is race morning in um you know Mumbai? Like, I've had my experience at New York and Chicago. Like, is it is it just as crazy as you know these marathons over here in the States as far as like the morning of people are super energized, there's porter parties all over the place. Like, what is what is the race day morning for a marathon in Mumbai?

SPEAKER_01 11:41

Okay, so this particular marathon that I ran, the Tata Mumbai one, it happens to be India's largest marathon. So we have around uh you could say 55,000 runners in total, however, not all of them run the full distance. So amongst those, uh you have probably around 13 or 15,000 runners who run the full distance, and then you have like a large number that runs the half marathon or even the 10 kilometers race. They have a 10k as well. Uh so we started uh early, like 5, but then of course many people were there. So the gates open at 3 a.m. in the morning. So people can come in, like you know, leave their baggage, then go to the quota parties, and they also have like a couple of like the warm-up session for everyone. There's like the stage um where you have the entire holding area, which is like this large ground. So everyone just comes there, and then you have the corrals, so divided into like A, B, C, D, I think there's E as well. And closer to the race start time, that's when they open the corrals, and then you know, you're let you're allowed to go towards the start line.

SPEAKER_00 13:00

And okay, so let's so let's talk about that. As far as you you you you get to your corral, you're you're you're walking to the start line, the gun goes off. Like what are what are these first thoughts in your head as you you get your first few steps of this marathon where I believe it was what two years? Two years ago, you went from not being able to run a 5k all the way through to now you're preparing for your first marathon. What are the thoughts to your head as you as you begin the race?

SPEAKER_01 13:35

All I was thinking of at that time is um try and like conserve your energy. I was just telling this to myself because I'm like, in a couple of hours, I want to see that finish line. Come on. I want to tell myself that I am so proud of doing something I thought I would never be able to do.

SPEAKER_02 13:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:56

Run 26.2 miles or 42.2 kilometers. I was like, it always felt impossible. Like it just felt like such a large distance. It was like, it felt like never-ending. So my longest run was about uh 20 miles uh during that training block. So that was like around 30, 31 kilometers max. And then I was like, what about those last few kilometers? Like, how am I going to have the energy to just go ahead and reach the finish line?

SPEAKER_00 14:30

That's that's Tim Mo K. Yeah, you got Tim Mo left.

SPEAKER_01 14:34

Yeah, and then you know, I I mean I had planned to execute it like you run slower and then you end faster. But uh of course I was so excited at the start line, so I went out a little faster than we should have.

SPEAKER_02 14:49

As we all do.

SPEAKER_01 14:50

And then in the middle, uh I sort of settled into a steady zone, but then between I think the 28th kilometer, that's around 18 miles, and um 22. Okay, I think I had this sort of a dull phase where I I don't know, my pace kind of dropped. And uh the 36th kilometer of this marathon has a lovely uphill. So once I crossed that uphill, yeah, the last five kilometers, somehow magically, I was able to run faster. So I managed to finish that race strong. However, in between, there was this phase where I kept thinking, I'm like, why am I even doing this? No one has forced me to do it.

SPEAKER_00 15:38

Yeah, so that's that's that's the so that's my next question as far as the Mal20 moment, the Mal20 mindset, that moment where the wall happens, where you start questioning yourself. The the moment that I I like to coin the the fifth grader, the fifth grade bully carrying a backpack full of your life traumas comes and smack you in the face with it. What what mal was that and what were the thoughts going through your head at that particular time when you were hitting this wall?

SPEAKER_01 16:08

I think the most um difficult miles mentally for me were between 22 uh no 20 and 22. You know, I think that's where I don't know, I just kept thinking like why am I doing this? Like I said, like no one has forced me to do it.

SPEAKER_00 16:32

So why is no one put a gun to my hand? Why am I out here? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:38

And um it was just like a very dull phase, and I just kept I just kept telling myself. I'm like, there's just a couple of kilometers left, one foot in front of the other. Just keep going. Uh I know it's it doesn't seem sensible right now. We don't know why we're running, but everyone's running, so just keep running along with them.

SPEAKER_00 17:01

Nothing makes sense at Mal 20. After Mal 20, nothing makes sense. I completely agree.

SPEAKER_01 17:06

And it was also a little emotional because I kept thinking uh of you know, like the hard times in my life, and uh it just it just felt like a very emotional time. But the one thing I also kept reminding myself throughout uh those kilometers was just keep moving, you know. This is not the time to stop. Uh, you will reach the finish line soon. Uh, I think one thing that was really mentally affecting me was the fact that I had an incline at the 36th kilometer.

SPEAKER_00 17:37

Yeah. Oh yeah. So is it I like I I promise you, most marathons, they kill me with how they put these courses together where literally the last three miles often are uphill. Like, like, like, like, is it is it just a rec is is it a rule? Like, it seems like every marathon, the last, like New York, you go through Century Park and that's uphill. Uh LA is just it's nothing but hills. Um, so I I could imagine the last one I ran in Las Vegas was downhill up until you got to the last three miles, which was uphill. I'm like, yo, this is so did you finally break through the wall or did you carry it to the finish line?

SPEAKER_01 18:27

Uh no, I didn't carry it to the finish line because, like I said, once I crossed that, the road with the incline, which was probably around, say, a kilometer, okay? Uh once I crossed that, it was just flat all the way, like say five kilometers to the finish, which is three miles to the finish, which is all flat. And it's also uh we have this road here called Marine Drive. So you have the Arabian Sea on one side. It's so that's all the way to the finish then. That just sounds that just sounds fly.

SPEAKER_00 19:01

I just just run it alongside the Arabia Sea where you that's where I'm at. That just sounds cool.

SPEAKER_01 19:08

When I saw the sea, I was like, okay, you know, and I am going to reach the finish line. Like, I know I'm completing this marathon. Also, uh, I forgot to mention, but that road with the incline has the most crowd support ever. Like this entire marathon, it's that particular road that has hundreds of people just there standing with different signs. Uh, they're all right.

SPEAKER_00 19:34

They know it's tough. They know it's tough right there. They know everybody there know it's tough. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:41

So that was really motivating. Like, even if you felt like stopping. Uh, I mean, I didn't want to stop. I was like, even if it's tough, I'll just take small steps uphill, but I'll keep going. And then once I was done with that road, I mean, I felt so relieved. And then I was like, okay, Mitsu, it's just three miles to the finish. You can do this. So, and then after that, it's like like I mentioned, all flaps. I was like, okay, I just need to keep going. I am going to see the finish line. And as I neared it, somehow, I don't know, I was just like, okay, this is these are the final few hundred meters. I could just go. So I somehow gathered all whatever energy I had, and I ran. And when I actually saw the finish line, I think there was like a tear that fell out because it was just so emotional. And I was like, I did it. So I actually crossed the finish line with like a big smile on my face, and I was really glad. Uh, because that was like, it just felt incredible. I was like, wow, my first marathon, and I've done it like 42.2 kilometers, something that felt uh unachievable a couple of months back, and I'm like, here I am. Uh so yeah, it and then it was just incredible, it was really lovely.

SPEAKER_00 20:58

So when you finished the uh when you crossed the finish line, you had this incredible sensation. Um what did you think about, I guess, the most? Did you think about the beginning? Did you think about when you first started? Did you think about um just how much you had to overcome to get to this place? Like, like, give me a little more in in in in depth on how and why this was just an emotional moment for you because again, two years ago, you couldn't complete a 5K without stopping. And now here you are completing your your marathon. What did it what did it what other I guess what did it mean to you by crossing?

SPEAKER_01 21:45

It um it just sort of reinforced my belief that if I if I want to do something and I take the steps to go ahead and you know, um like uh follow a path to get to it. That it is achievable. And that feeling honestly, Alan, until today, I don't think I can actually explain to anyone what it feels like to actually finish American. Like once you complete it, I tell them, I'm like, you got to run one to actually experience what it really feels like.

SPEAKER_00 22:21

Yes. No, I I I've helped several people, and that's in part why because I've this the self-confidence that I have gotten from completing, you know, uh now 14 marathons. It's um it's empowering that I wish I had a magic wand that I can, you know, touch everyone I know and give them this sort of self-confidence. Unfortunately, you have to go through the grueling experience of running 26.2 in order to sort of feel the way I've felt. So uh it's beautiful watching people cross the finish line for the first time after you know many conversations with me and with themselves of them not being able to do it and to finally be able to is is beautiful. So my next question is after completing this marathon, how has it changed you outside of running your your your your personal life, your your business, etc.? How has completing this marathon made you better?

SPEAKER_01 23:31

Um I think when you go through an entire training block because you've given so much and you've put in so much into that training block, it sort of just becomes it it's sort of like it becomes a part of you, I feel like um like other things that probably would have mattered to me if I wasn't a runner, they don't really matter anymore. So like I'm okay with not having anything else to do on a Sunday, I'd be very happy if I just have to go and do my long run. Uh in fact I look forward to that when I'm training for a marathon. I actually look forward to the long runs.

SPEAKER_00 24:08

And and then I got I I got twenty I got twenty twenty on Sunday. Yeah, yeah, ready to go, ready to go.

SPEAKER_01 24:18

And and then like even if you if you have to have your dinner on time, you need to go to sleep on time, it just doesn't bother you as much. Like you you like that discipline, you actually sort of start appreciating that discipline. You like the person you've become, at least I love the person I've become. When I'm training for American, it's just it feels I I feel so good when I've uh if I if I complete like an entire week's plan, if I've executed the runs uh well, it feels good. But even if I haven't, I think I've matured as a runner where I'm like, it's okay, I'll do the next one, you know? So I I don't dwell too much on that. Um I think it has it's sort of made me um be more considerate with myself. Uh like I'm I'm not too hard on myself anymore because I have that belief in me now that if I can continue training, I know that I will be able to complete it. And the same thing translates into like other areas of life as well. So if I know if I I have that belief now that if I put in the work, I know that you know I will be able to make something beautiful out of it. I'll be able to gain something good out of it. So yeah, I I think what I love most is the discipline that I've developed. Um so yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:43

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. So my my next question is um there's somebody listening right now that is considering uh or maybe in the same position that you were in as far as I I'm just want to run this 5k. And then there's some other people that may be interested in in running their first marathon. Um what would be your biggest tip to that person?

SPEAKER_01 26:13

Um I so this is something I've noticed in India, uh, because everyone's just like so many marathons, everybody wants to run it. Uh but I would still advise them to start small and take it like one step at a time. Run your first 5k, then move on to the 10k. Get comfortable with the 10k, then train for a half marathon. Because what I've noticed is that when people just progress way too quickly, it leads to a lot of injuries. And then mentally that starts affecting them when they cannot run because they've they found so much happiness in running, and then when there's a setback, sometimes it's just really difficult. But if you condition your body over time, it just makes the whole experience so much sweeter. Like you j you just love it when No, I I come I completely agree.

SPEAKER_00 27:08

Uh, my first marathon, I don't even know if it was considered training. I I just went and went and started running and didn't even have a plan. I was like, all right, I'll just go run a couple miles and get the legs loose, and then I'll and I'll go go run a marathon. Yeah, uh one broke foot later. Uh I I I learned it the hard way that you are completely, you're completely correct in regards to everyone out there taking it, taking your miles at a moderate pace, jumping out the jumping out the plane can be fun. And I'm I'm definitely one of those individuals that jump out a plane in in most situations. But in a marathon, yeah, no, take your time.

SPEAKER_01 27:56

I think it rewards patience as well. So that's something else you develop when you were training.

SPEAKER_00 28:02

Um, that's a that's a good point. That is that is a very good point. It is definitely taught me about pacing because that was something that I you would hear, but you didn't really you didn't really consider it in depth until you start running a marathon and what what pacing truly means. Where it's like, oh, you'd be all this way was pacing through that. But when you have to pace and you understand that, yes, I have the ability to run a five-minute mile, but I have more than one. I have several. I have several. And then it's like, okay, how comfortable of a run do you want to make this? And different times in a race where you're dealing with your mental, your physical. Sometimes you have your cramps and all this other stuff, or pacing, that is where pacing is important. If you and with the consistency and building the mouse up slowly, you start to understand your body more in order to react when the race gets a little funky. Because depending on the mileage, it can get spooky. It can get spooky in areas and you have to fight through it, and you have to just really understand that pacing is how you get through it. Um, so great, great, great, great point. Um now, it are before we go into the last section, which is the knees outspeed questions. I want I would love to know if there's any other sort of funny or you know, wild scenarios that you may have seen or come across during any of your races. Like I've ran 14, I've lost my phone in a race. I've I've I've almost cursed out a fan on the sideline. Apologies to my my guy in Chicago for that. I was going through a lot. Um I've had some some wild marathons uh moments and situations. Um, do you have any outside of uh the stories you told today?

SPEAKER_01 30:04

Um so kind of funny, not very funny though.

SPEAKER_02 30:09

Uh it was basically uh I'm sure I'm sure it's about to be hilarious. I'm sure it's about to be hilarious.

SPEAKER_01 30:16

So the same race, okay, last year. Um I was getting ready to run it, and uh I reached the venue quite early, like an hour before. And uh I didn't immediately go to drop my bag because uh what happens is you need to drop go to baggage drop and then you go and wait in your chorale and you can finish your warm-up there. I waited outside baggage drop to put glitter, and I started putting glitter for the other people, and then what happened is the race was about to start, but I still had to drop my bag, and there were like around 100 people before me.

SPEAKER_02 30:55

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 30:56

So when you're in chorale A, you start um say at I think it's 5 p.m. uh 5 a.m. I'm sorry, or 5 5, and then the next chorale starts five minutes later, all right? So I was in chorale A, but there was no way I could get to the start line in time because I had to drop my bag, which took I don't know, it took like another like 10 minutes or so. I dropped my bag, I I couldn't really warm up, I just decided I'll just jog to the corral. But when I reached the chorale, there were thousands of people already, and there was no way I could just like wade through them, so I just sort of jumped in place and I was like, okay, I'm like I probably this is gonna be my warm-up now. And I think I went with like chorale B in that crowd. I reached the start line, so of course I started with a lot more people, but I didn't have an option, so since there wasn't any warm-up done, I didn't really, there was no dynamic warm-up, nothing. It was just the the random jog that I did to the start line.

SPEAKER_00 32:06

So in glitter, in glitter, don't forget the glitter.

SPEAKER_01 32:11

No, no, don't forget because I was determined that I am going to run this race as a celebration of the entire trading block.

SPEAKER_00 32:19

So I was like hilarious. I was like, race day is gonna be discovered yourself in magic deaths.

SPEAKER_01 32:25

I know yeah, so that's what happened. So that was I would admit I would never do that again, though. Like I'm always making it.

SPEAKER_00 32:34

How did the race how did the race go? Like, did what did the did the did it was it a decent race? I know you didn't get to warm up, but you you definitely had you shining.

SPEAKER_01 32:43

I I ran it, I ran it a lot better than the first my first marathon, which was the previous year. So yes, but the the thing is that was it was incredibly hot uh last year at the race.

SPEAKER_00 32:57

So it was sprinkles make it to the end. I wouldn't know if the glitter made it to the end if it was that happened. They did, yes, yes, they did. All right, all right. It was a win. That's a win. That's a win. If the glitter made it to the finish line, it was all worth it. It was all worth it. That's funny.

SPEAKER_01 33:14

It was a good run, it was very emotional for me, but I was really happy at the end to have completed it um much better than the previous year. So I was I was glad. And yes, but that start line experience was a little um weird for me. So I always make it a point to reach on time now.

SPEAKER_00 33:35

Anxiety, especially with those type of crowds and the time management and getting just navigating in that type of energy because it it is chaotic. Like those morning race days, it's chaotic. It's a it's a it's a good chaotic energy as everyone is really charged up and amped up. But it's if you I've definitely went went in the wrong corrals and different things like that, and how that can definitely mess up the flow just at the beginning, because um I've I've heard and I've heard other runners even speak about it as far as over-exerting too much energy early on in the race, running past and weaving through people. Um so sometimes, you know, that that will affect your race in the long run. But let's go to the last segment of the other pod, which is the knees out speed questions. Uh, knees out coalition is my running crew. Shout out to the knees out crew. Um, I'm gonna ask you a question, and then there's, you know, sort of one-word answers, but please elaborate. Do not feel imprisoned by these rules, of course. Um, but knees out means yes, and knees in means no. So were there ever any times in your training where you felt like quitting, but you still showed up for yourself?

SPEAKER_02 35:00

Knees in.

SPEAKER_00 35:02

Okay. Okay. Now, do you believe everyone has at least one marathon in it?

SPEAKER_01 35:10

Knees out.

SPEAKER_00 35:12

All right. Um, do you think uh the marathon is more mental or physical? This is sort of a trick question.

SPEAKER_01 35:22

More mental than physical. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 35:26

Now, you've ran you've ran uh a couple of marathons, so I'm going to tailor this question a little differently. Would you be willing to run an O True?

SPEAKER_01 35:39

I have. I mean, I've ran I've run like 50 kilometers after my first marathon. Uh but that's it.

SPEAKER_00 35:47

So you wait, wait, wait, wait. So you went you went from you went from the marathon and you just said, you know what, I'm going for 50 of the things. Right. Right right after right after the marathon. After the marathon, you just told us that that heel at MAW 22 had you had you rethinking your life after that, you like, I'm going on for 50.

SPEAKER_01 36:08

So I I I'll include a small bit over here, okay? Um the marathon, my first marathon, was in the third week of January, all right? And exactly a month after that, we have a very famous ultra marathon that happens uh in the nearby hills. It's about three hours drive, all right? And that happens a month after the first. So in my head, I was thinking, like, I've already gone through an entire marathon training block. Why don't I just keep that fitness and then run the 50 and then take away?

SPEAKER_00 36:47

Okay, wait, wait. So you you talk about you literally ran this back to back?

SPEAKER_01 36:53

Like a month later. So the ultra was a month.

SPEAKER_00 36:56

That's that's that's back to back. A month, a month, a month later, it's back to back.

SPEAKER_01 37:01

Yes, you just but that's because I I didn't want to like I had to please, please explain, please explain.

SPEAKER_00 37:12

I'm like, okay, okay, so no, I know you went through the training, but so was this okay, wait, wait. I'm trying to I'm trying to get up, I'm trying to digest all of this. So you you decide to run your first marathon, but as you because I'm pretty sure you had to sign up for this before you even completed the first marathon.

SPEAKER_01 37:35

No, so that's the thing. So you needed to submit like a marathon certificate in order to register for the ultra. And luckily, in that year, they had waited until this marathon was over. So once I had the certificate, I was like, it's just like another four weeks, and I've done my long runs already. I'll do like maybe two more after a week of recovery. And uh I was like, I'll do the ultra, and then after that, I'll take like a break or do just like shorter runs. So that's what I did. And um, yeah, I've never run an ultra after that.

SPEAKER_00 38:10

So okay, I'm about to say, like, how was that? Like, what like what are you running like a month after you go out there and you knock out 50 kilometers?

SPEAKER_01 38:21

Like that's just like it's five miles more than the marathon.

SPEAKER_00 38:26

So again, again, like I like I said, you you were rethinking your life at mile 22. Now, what how are you feeling at MOL 30 of this uh a month away from you running your first marathon? Like, were were there any walls there? And I and as you mentioned, you said that was the one, the the one ultra that you're gonna do. So it seemed like it was fun, but it's not, it wasn't too inviting for you to go back and do it again.

SPEAKER_01 38:54

So it was fun because uh so that particular ultra, it starts uh like after midnight. It starts like at 1:30 a.m. So you've got to wear like a headlight because you're running in the dark and there are hills, and it it felt amazing at first. It was cold, it was chilly because you were like in that really nice hill station sort of uh region. Yeah, but I think I hit the wall in that race at 26.2. So once I was done with the marathon distance, and then I had like five miles more, I think my body was just like, like, why are we doing this? Like, what do you have to prove? Nothing.

SPEAKER_00 39:39

Like, but like we just like this is th less than 30 days of us completing the our first marathon, you were just good. Oh, I love it. I love it, I love it.

SPEAKER_01 39:51

So I I had like so much energy because my nutrition, like my fueling was great, but then I was just like, so after I finished 26.2 miles and I had the remaining few miles left, I was just like, I like my pace had dropped a lot because I was just sort of like just forcing myself to run and reach the finish line. Uh so yes, that that was very difficult mentally. Um, because I I kept questioning like, why am I doing a 50 kilometers ultra? Like, why? So, but anyway, I it was a great experience, but um yeah, I never went back to do an ultra. I'm pretty happy with the marathon distance.

SPEAKER_00 40:36

Right, right, right, right, right.

SPEAKER_01 40:38

I love the marathon distance.

SPEAKER_00 40:40

I hope the meta was amazing. I I I'm excited to run uh I plan to run my first Ultra next year. Um I love the idea of being in nature, so uh I'm I'm interested to get to that experience because I do love the marathon space with the crowds and all of that, but I do feel like there's a different, there's a different type of experience um doing those type of mouth in nature and on a trail. Like I I run the trails by my I'm literally doing this as soon as we get off. I'm going to go running my mouth. I love I I love that. So I'm I'm super amped uh to run my first Ultra. I'm I'm super delighted that you have an and it is it's it's it's hilarious after your first marathon. You like, I'm I'm knocking it out. I'm already trained up, I'm ready. Don't ask me to do this again. Like, don't ask me to do it again. I'm I'll I went I went in here with fool, just being completely naive after I completed this marathon. I'm just gonna knock out this 50. I got it. I love it. Um, so my last question, my last question is do you feel that running can change a person beyond the mile?

SPEAKER_01 41:57

Yes. Um knees out. Yes. For sure. Uh there is I I keep telling people, I'm like, there's a lot that you can actually understand about yourself only when you start running, which you probably wouldn't even realize uh when you do any other sort of movement. Like it could be anything else, working out at the gym or you know, like uh doing yoga or calisthenics or anything. There are certain things you realize only when you start doing those long runs. Um which I feel I don't know, I think only runners would understand that. So if if someone hasn't started running, it's very difficult to even explain that to them.

SPEAKER_02 42:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 42:39

Because it changes you in so many, so many different ways. There are things I have realized about myself that that I probably would never have if I hadn't started running.

SPEAKER_00 42:51

So No, I think it's it's a it's the perfect opportunity for you to have these internal conversations that you rarely get to have outside of let's say run. It's your functional meditation for me. Like anytime I meditate or try to meditate and just sitting down, I just fall asleep. Like I just I'm just go I just knock out.

SPEAKER_01 43:15

Yeah, running is like moving meditation. Yes. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 43:19

Exactly. Um, I found that, you know, running and then painting for me is my functional meditation where I could be doing something but mentally be somewhere else simultaneously. Um so it's a it's a beautiful experience, and I and I urge all of those individuals that's listening now that may be on the fence of running that the the casualty is the fit uh the fitness aspect of running. That is the casualty, but the mental clarity and the personal connection that you get with yourself is the true benefit of running um from my experience. Um listen, man, this is. This has been an incredible story, incredible conversation about running. Um I I am definitely I as I love my run cations and and love running in the world, I definitely want to experience uh a Mumbai marathon.

SPEAKER_01 44:20

Oh, and I have something to tell you about this marathon.

SPEAKER_00 44:23

What you got?

SPEAKER_01 44:24

So when you complete the marathon distance here at the Tata Mumbai Marathon, you get a medal that's actually two medals joined together. So one is your finisher's medal, and the other one, when you take it apart, is an inspiration medal that you can give to anybody who has inspired you.

SPEAKER_00 44:43

You better quit that so. So, so I'll see you January about another.

SPEAKER_03 44:51

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 44:53

No, listen, I I I'm I that sounds incredible. And I would uh yeah, I I gotta add it to my list. I gotta add it to my list of uh marathons for sure. Um it sounds incredible. Uh the weather, you know, not not as exciting to get out there in the humidity, but I I'm pretty sure the experience will overshadow all of that.

SPEAKER_01 45:17

Yeah, I think you need to run it just once, uh just to experience it. Um, yes, do come. And would be lovely to be able to do that.

SPEAKER_00 45:27

And that's and that's how I get to see the world, man. Like I haven't been to India before, so that'd be a great opportunity for me to check that off the list as well. Um, again, running is just the excuse to travel. Um so so yeah, no, I I can't wait. And also interested in see how this medal, you know, even comes about as far as being able to get that's that's super cool. Um yeah, that and I and I'm pretty sure that's how y'all get so many runners every year because they probably give that to somebody and they probably inspire next year. I gotta run and get the real thing now.

SPEAKER_01 46:01

Yes, yes, that does happen. You're right. That does happen. It does happen.

SPEAKER_00 46:06

I'm listening. I know if somebody gave me that man. I'm like, man, I gotta go get my old. Thank you. Like, yeah, I love this. I already know me. Um listen, everyone out there, please follow and subscribe. This is another incredible episode of Mal20 Mindset. Peace, y'all.