My 100-Day, 1000-KM RUNNING CHALLENGE
Initially, when I decided to run 1000 kilometers within 100 days, I felt it would be very easy. A daily 10-kilometer average is nothing for a runner.
At that time, I still had shin splint pain in my left leg from being injured during the Mumbai Marathon (organized on January 23). As per the advice of Nitin Saini, ground injuries always heal on the ground. So, instead of making any more excuses for my injuries, I decided to go back to the ground.
I decided the starting date of my running challenge would be April 1, 2023. Nitin Saini was right. My left leg shin injury pain was 100% cured on my 400-kilometer completion and the 40th day of running.
I was regular until the 50th day and 500 km. But in the stadium, I had an accident during my 501 km. One footballer kicked the ball, and unfortunately, my eye became the target of his football. I fell down, was not able to see anything from my left eye for a few minutes, and was not conscious. Thanks to Sakti Singh Hada. He was also running in the same direction at the time of my accident. He helped me handle this situation, and immediately I went to the eye specialist, Dr. Sudhir Gupta. After primary treatment, I had to rest for two days. I was not feeling comfortable running for these two days.
Again, I came back to the ground and started running on day 53.
During my downhill mountain run in Rishikesh (around 600 Km), I felt that my right leg had been injured with shin splint pain. It was a terrible pain. Because of continuous running and not giving the body proper rest, my injury started to increase day by day. During the 650 to 750 km, I was taking alternate day rest from running. But on the 86th day, I found that I had a 100-kilometer backlog over my daily 10-kilometer average. On my 86th day, I completed 750 KM. But my shin pain did not allow me to run faster and increase my daily mileage.
Read the remaining story in the comment section. Because of the word limits of Instagram, I cannot write here more words.
At that moment, I decided not to sit, not to take a rest, and to focus on my 100-day challenge. During the last 14 days, I increased my mileage from 16 km to 25 km in a day at a slow pace (6.20 to 6.40). I was not getting proper time for the lower body workout and giving some rest to the muscles for recovery.
During the last few days, I had to run in intense humidity and rain. But I enjoyed every situation, regardless of the weather. Sometimes, I had a fever, a cold, and a headache. But with every run, I felt that my body was healing itself. I didn’t take any painkillers or paracetamol during my 100-day run. Running cured all the physical pain itself.
Thanks to Shakti Singh Hada, he was always available behind me to motivate and support me.
During those 100 days of challenge, I learned:
1. To be focused on self-commitment and have 100% trust in our abilities.
2. Consistent efforts bring success.
3. Running is like medicine and meditation. You forget every physical and emotional pain after a few kilometers.
Two years before, I was taking medication for diabetes and cholesterol and was on the brink of high blood pressure. I was used to swallowing paracetamol during fevers almost twice a month.
Now I am not taking any medication. I am diabetic-free.
Whenever I feel feverish, I go for a run. Sometimes, twice a day, it is like taking paracetamol twice a day.
A healthy diet and a good lifestyle can cure any disease.
Note: Shakti Singh Hada and Nitin Saini are the best runners in my city and good humans.
My day-wise runs are available at https://www.strava.com/athletes/103255889