Milestone - A Half Marathon

I have a desire to achieve another milestone. I signed up for the Kantipur Half Marathon. I had never attempted that long run. 21.1 km is a long distance, and I am less excited and more nervous.

On 18 May, I got myself ready. I tied my running shoes and reached Thapathali. The Prime Minister shot into the air to start the run. I ran through the crowd. The runners of 5km and 7 km sprinted ahead of me. I monitored my Garmin to make sure that I wasn't running too fast. I had a long way to run.

By 6 km, I was already tired. I used to run more than this without feeling fatigued. I continued slowly. By the time I crossed 8 km, I saw the real runners returning from the midpoint. Oh, they're like superhumans.

I trudged through the vehicle exhaustions until I finally reached the midpoint. Pausing for a moment, I took a leisurely walk and replenished myself with some much-needed hydration. My journey from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur was difficult and a return trip was going to be more difficult. In moments of fatigue, I drew inspiration from David Goggins' powerful words: "The 40% rule - when the mind signals fatigue, exhaustion, and the desire to quit, it's merely scratching the surface, indicating that only 40% of one's true potential has been tapped into." I questioned where the rest of the 60% were. As I pressed on, the energetic beats of the 'Rage Against the Machine' playlist kept me moving forward. But, I wonder what other runners ate or drank, who surpassed me without difficulty.

The final few km were the most difficult. My legs started hurting. The new running shoes have not broken in. My final steps were heavier than I had ever felt. I also passed a few tired runners. I crossed the finish line and I felt like a winner.

Wow, what a day it was! Unfortunately, the certificates were finished by the time I reached the office - the organisers were less organised. I completed the task in 2 hours and 6 minutes, which is my new personal record. The winner of the marathon completed the race in 1 hour and 7 minutes, double my speed. I'm not too concerned about receiving the certificate, because I have had my achievement recorded.

Comments

The Weekend Expedition

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." — Saint Augustine "One must travel to learn." — Mark Twain "To travel is to live." — Hans Christian Andersen Travel quotes are beautiful. They make me want to quit my job, buy a backpack, and disappear into the mountains with nothing but a notebook and an unreasonable amount of optimism. Then I remember I have bills. I also admire the people who wrote these famous travel quotes. They all lived before commercial airlines, budget airlines, baggage fees, airport security, visa applications, and the invention of the middle seat. Back then, travel was a genuine adventure. You packed your belongings, mounted a horse, boarded a ship, or simply started walking. If you returned, you wrote a book. If you didn't, someone else wrote your biography. There was no climate guilt attached to every journey. Nobody calculated the carbon footprint of a camel. There were no traffic jams stretching for fi...

My Morning, Their Midnight

Time is relative. I am not bragging about Einstein's Theory of Relativity. This is about several time zones within Kathmandu city. Five o’clock is not universally “early morning.” This morning, it was a usual morning for me. But the empty roads suggested that for many others, it was still midnight. Near the temples, devotees were already walking back from their prayers. Their day had clearly begun long before mine. I imagine they must be thinking, "Ah, the late risers are out." And the vegetable vendors? For them, 5 a.m. is practically late morning. Shops open, scales ready, transactions underway. Their workday was already in full swing while it was still dark. Then comes Thamel, lights still glowing, people spilling out of pubs, laughing, smoking. For them, the night was young. It appears Nepal’s little Las Vegas, blinking through a hangover. “Early” and “late” are not absolute words. They are relative to what we make with our own lifestyles. Time is less a clock and mor...

The Pursuit of 3:59

I registered for my next marathon. The 18th Kathmandu Marathon is scheduled for Saturday, 10 October 2026, just one day before Ghatasthapana. The following morning, Dashain will begin. Families will gather, kites will appear in the sky, Dashain dhuun and smells of the festival. And for me, if all goes according to plan, it will also mark the end of a three-month break from alcohol. What a day to resume a glass of whiskey. I am giving myself three months to prepare properly. No shortcuts. No excuses. Clean eating. Consistent running. Adequate rest. I am breaking my last year's marathon record of 4 hours and 28 minutes. This year, the target is clear: sub-four hours. The difference between 4:28 and 3:59 is not only twenty-nine minutes, but it is also going to be what I do in these three months. My run, my food, my sleep and many more, all my small decisions will definitely make a difference. In many ways, the marathon itself is the easy part. The race lasts a few hours. The preparati...

When a Job title becomes an identity

"Hello, my name is Bond, James Bond, and I am a marketing assistant." A 9-to-5 job holder, James Bond would be proudly selling a product. But James chose the right job: to become an assassin. he is still a government employee, and much of his identity as 007 is as an MI6 agent. Our surnames are based on profession. My surname is Maharjan, which means a farmer. I no more do farming; nonetheless, the surname remains deeply embedded in social identity. My surname says what my parents and ancestors used to do for a living. Many government quota systems are still based on surnames. For me, I have a profession, and I have my Business cards, LinkedIn profiles, office door nameplate, email signatures, and my elevator pitch; all reinforce my profession as the centre of my identity. Have I blurred the line between my profession and personality? I have been a job holder for more than 25 years now. A job title is useful for me. It tells people what I do. It is comforting. It provides pu...

The book Thief

I finished The Book Thief this week. The first thing that stands out about the novel is its narrator. The story is told from the perspective of Death. Rather than appearing as a terrifying force, Death becomes an observer, a collector of souls, and ultimately a storyteller. Out of the millions of lives that pass before him, he keeps returning to one ordinary yet remarkable girl: Liesel Meminger. Liesel is a foster child growing up on Himmel Street, a modest working-class street in Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Through Death's narration, we witness her life, her struggles, her friendships, and the quiet moments that unfold beneath the shadow of a devastating conflict. What impressed me most was the simplicity with which the story is told. There are no grand military campaigns or dramatic political speeches. Instead, we see football games in the street, the loyalty of her friend Rudy, the kindness of the Hubermann family, and the small routines of everyday life. Most war ...

Random hits on the keyboard

Search This Blog