Not Being Sarkari

Yesterday, I ran my second full marathon in Chandigarh. It was absolutely fun while I was running.

First things first...Weather was perfect for running. It was little cold in the beginning and more pleasant once I crossed 10 KM mark. Track was flat, air was clean as we were running around one of the most beautiful areas of Chandigarh.

I was impressed by my improved timing.

I was slow for first 21 KM but picked up my self in later half. For last fifteen kilometers there was an ongoing battle between body and mind. I am glad that it was mind which won in the end. I was able to finish my run under 5 hours and 30 minutes, which is an huge improvement (according to me) from my last timing of 6 hours and 15 minutes.

Unfortunately, my battle did not end at the finish line. In fact, I realized that real battle has just began. After I reached finish line, I found out that they have removed time-recording chips and there is no way to know my time. When I asked for some guidance, one volunteer came with a piece of newspaper and started writing my time on that. A newspaper which would soon find a place in dustbin or road (considering this is India), was used to record my 'hard earned' time. It was disheartening and showed the extent of nonprofessional. It also revealed kind of inexperience for handling such events where efforts of every runner (long distance and short distance runner, fast and slow, young and old) is special to himself and needs a much better way to record those efforts.  

Then I decided to speak to one organizer, who turned out to be some 'sarkari' guy. His attitude can be summed up as if-you-have-bouquets-you-are-welcome-but-incase-you-have-brick bats-get-lost. He plainly said "if you are going to complete so late, we are not responsible for your time". He was happy to brag (that too while shouting) about his presence in the event as if without his presence nobody would have cared to run and the whole show would have crashed. Organizers should have announced in the beginning that any runner finishing after 4/5 hours is on his own and things would have been simple as I would have no grounds to complain. But these sarkari people want participation also and then do not want to take care of participants.

Though couple of other volunteers did come to help me out from this fiasco. But I have little hope of this getting resolve now as Indians truly believe in raat gayi baat gayi.

Anyways, I learnt something important. Next time either I will run in a marathon where there is some respect for slow runners or I improve myself enough to run marathon at fast pace. And while living in India, I am bound to encounter sarkari chamachas and bureaucrats who will make me feel like shit after my all efforts, so I have to learn running marathons at fast pace. And also quitting is not an option especially because of useless fucktards called as sarkari afsars.

Another typical sarkari thing, refreshments were in aplenty for all sarkari naukers and their families, other chamchas but not for runners. I know atleast four runners who were clueless about getting refreshments. Couple of did request some sarkari chamcha for the same and I am not sure what happened to their requests. Did not have any patience and strength left to face these fucktards.

But in the end, I was glad that I improved my timing and intend to do better in future irrespective of the fact whether I have any record to prove that or not.

Note to myself - no more running for certificates. It is only for myself.