Success Stories

Edited version of the marathon/half-marathon experience of various Asha runners

Amit
"It's dark, too dark, just like midnight. Now it's bright, like a white glow. It's still the afternoon, or is it? Wait, I see something at a distance. It's a board. Maybe it's the mile marker. But, did'nt I just cross one? Or, was that a while ago? I don't remember. I don't really care. Time has ceased to follow its linear path. There is a number on the board. It's blurred. A few more steps and I'll be able to read it. I hope it says, what I think it says"

These were my thoughts as I neared the end of the Philadelphia Marathon. The date was 23 Nov 2003 and the distance, 26.2 miles. The sign had read 'Mile 23'. Needless to say, I finished the marathon. Words fall short when I have to describe the experience. One has to feel it to experience it. I owe it all to the volunteers of Asha for Education's central New Jersey chapter and my supporters. I am thankful not only for the euphoric feeling that swept through me when I crossed the finish line, but also for giving me a chance to be a part of this wonderful program. All I gave to the program were a few hours every week running and getting in touch with my donors to raise money to provide basic education to underprivileged children. In return I received: the long lasting camaraderie of my fellow runners, a reinstated confidence in myself that nothing is unachievable, and above all the feeling of contentment that somewhere some kid can go to school.

I am not asking you to join this program. I am simply saying that Asha for education has this wonderful program, which allows you to have the experience of your life by putting yourself up for a challenge. And, while doing that you raise money for underprivileged children. Why pass it on? The choice is up to you.
Snigdha
Why am I running the marathon? I ask this question to myself and get asked by my friends as well. I believe running a marathon is a considerable challenge for someone like me who would not consider herself athletically inclined. More importantly, for the last two years I have been running a different "marathon" - working with a non profit group called Asha to provide basic education opportunities to underprivileged children in India. This marathon gives me an opportunity to raise money for a cause which is very dear to me.
Yep, finished the Staten Island half marathon of 13.1 miles in 2 hrs 40 mins - averaging around 13mins/mile. The race started on a bad note with wind & rain but that did not stop the 3000 runners. Very soon nearly everyone was way ahead of me as I started really slow. Thankfully my friends, Vrushali, Pankaj and Prashanth who were also running the half marathon were there to give me company. The whole trail was a loop along the Hudson River and around the 5th mile I saw some serious runners coming back. It felt good to see that this marathon was not just a joke. At 8th mile we decided to go faster and around the 11th mile we decided further increase our pace. By that time my knee had started hurting and the hilly trail with rain and wind was turning out to be a challenge. The best part was the last 0.1 mile when everyone was cheering me and encouraging me to run faster. Crossing the finish line was totally exhilarating.

This whole program (run & training) has been very gruelling both mentally and physically. I doubt I could have achieved this goal without the Asha CNJ training program. I am glad that I achieved my goal.
Diwakar
It had been grueling yet eventful 5 months ending in a triumph, only to be experienced. Statement likes "It (finish line) brings tears in the eyes of even the elite" made little sense until the time I crossed the finish line. Like the coach once said "I would never be able to run my first marathon again, so, enjoy every bit of it, and so we did. I had planned on dedicating each mile from 20.2 onwards to each one of my family members till the finish and so I did, with the last mile going to my DAD. Thanks to Badrish, he joined me at mile 21 and accompanied me till 23 (I guess) he kept boosting my morale. I stopped looking at my watch and was just counting on finishing the race, while every mile to the finish seemed longer and longer. Ajar joined me at mile 25 and was cheering, all I could make out and wanted to decipher out of it was that the finish line was few feet away. I was feeling dizzy by then, YIPPEEE there was the finish line.. I am now savoring every bit of the race in every muscle in my leg, but

Grueling it may be,
Twenty-six miles I shall not kneel.
Makes a difference to one child,
How fortunate will I feel!
No man stands as tall as he who stoops to help a child!
Pankaj
I used to think running as something to be done forcibly. Not as a sport. And never voluntarily. But now i get up every Saturday religiously at 6:30 AM, go to Johnson Park and run distances ranging from 2 miles to 10 miles. Its hot in NJ during the months of May-June-July. Temperatures sore as high as 85 F. And we get to bring only 1 liter bottles, full of plain water. Thirst, Grime, Dust, Sweat, NaCl, Perspiration, Shin Splits. These are not just words anymore. I have experienced them. Pronation, Negative Split, Motion control, Best mile pace. Its a whole different world! But i get up weekend after weekend and run. What keeps me going? Sense of Achievement. I see people in malls, at the movies, in school, in student center. People with near perfect bodies. I want to be one of them. I will be. Someday.

....at the end of mile 7 i was physically done. My right shin was not hurting anymore but i discovered new muscles by then. I imagined myself sipping hot masala tea, tucked in my comforter and watching seinfeld re-runs in my apartment. That image made the run more miserable. I struggled to ward off those evil thoughts. At Mile 12 (which is near the entrance to the Richmond County Ball Park) we could see finishers eating bagels and walking towards the ferry or returning home. And we were still running. We had been on road for more than 2.5 hours and i was ready to eat a bagel. At the point where the road curves i could see Partha, our coach and Ranjini cheering and clapping for us. Partha ran with us the last quarter mile. Our other teammates were shouting '5 minutes till official times close' . Amit joined me while Vrushali ran with Partha to cross the finish line. We had beat the official clock to enter the record books!
Sonia
I made the decision to start training for the half marathon because I wanted to take on a physical challenge. Training for the race has helped me push myself to goals I never thought I could reach. I vividly remember the day I completed my first 5, 8, and recently 12 mile run. It was unlike any feeling I have ever experienced. These runs are not only physically rewarding but emotionally fulfilling as I am hoping to raise money for ASHA. I teamed up with ASHA, an organization that helps educate underprivileged Indian children. I hope the money that I am able to raise for ASHA by running the half Marathon will not only help provide a fundamental education for these young children but will give them the opportunity to experience life in new ways.
Sameer
The experience of training for a marathon completely revolutionized my life. Without doubt it's a daunting experience. It necessitates tenacity, mental strength, time commitment, and above all relentless willpower.

Week 1: Ammmmm interesting and challenging I should do it! Started off with a 3 mile run. Took about 40 minutes. Week 2: Moved to 4 miles Week 3 thru 9: Get Set gooooooooooo>>, Yeah I am getting better with every run Weeks 10 thru 17: Hmm it's not easy! Toiling through the long runs of 8 through 20 miles. Lots of perspiration and enervation but no dearth of enthusiasm and zeal. As this is all about striving to make a difference!

Week 18: First Real test -- Staten Island Half Marathon; completed 13.1 miles in 2 hrs 17 min. Got tremendous boost and sense of accomplishment

So, what motivated me to do it all? Children are the future of a nation. My heart sinks at the fact that even in this 21^st century there are still 180 million children out of school in 6-14 years of age category in my beloved nation. India's adult illiteracy rate still hovers around 44%. Education could empower the children by giving them freedom of choice and help them become better citizens of the world
Kiran
Finally the 25th mile! Whenever I dallied with the thought of walking a bit longer at the water stops, I kept remembering all my friends who had wished me and contributed to the cause. It would be a shame to let them down! From here on I sprinted, I don't know why....just gave into the exhilaration...and even raced a few people on the way (ah, those few extra positions ahead :-) ). The finish was sweet! The had a medal and all ready, and gave us a silver foil wrap to keep ourselves warm (the weather was terrible, only good thing about it was that it did not rain). After handing over the 'chip' I headed out and it was then that I felt the pain set in. I think it was that last sprint which did me in. The legs were hurting quite bad, and stayed that way for about 30 mins or so. Though, at this point it didn't matter much. It was a great experience!