A Runner's Anecdotes: Tata Consultancy Services World 10K run- 19th-May-2013

Event name: Tata Consultancy Services World 10K run
Event date: 19th-May-2013
Event venue: Bangalore
Run distance: 10 KM
Bib #: 15220
Overall time taken: 66 minutes 59 seconds
Overall run Speed: 8.96 KM per minutes
Time of run: The run started at 7:22 AM

This was my 6th TCS (formerly Sunfeast) 10K run in 6 successive years. I dont know whether the event people keep any records but i did feel very proud to have competed in all the editions so far. I consider this as one of my achievements and see it as my commitment to consistency.
I probably wasn't best prepared for the run but had the quiet confidence that i will be able to finish the run. The basic principles that i followed included-

Listening to the body at every step.
Be flexible to change the running strategy based on how the body is responding.
Maintain some pace but dont over-pressurize self with time goals. (i never have any time goals).
Increase pace when there is a downward slope.
Maintain pace (not reduce) when there is a upward slope.

With these in mind, i set out for my 6th run. All the past runs that i did, i was mostly alone but this time i was accompanied by few friends who ran. As expected there were literally 1000s of people in the run. Finding the way out of the stadium is especially tough when you have to walk through the narrow lanes, so the start of the run went in finding feet on the group with so many enthusiastic runners around. The best part about the TCS run is the festivities around. There is loud music, spectators encouraging you all through the course. I was steady throughout the run with the lap between 7th and 8th Km taking more than 7 minutes and rest other laps took less than 7 minutes. Some practice before the run always helps to maintain consistent speed.

Since many people from my current organization participated in the run, i wrote an article in the company newsletter. Listed below-

Oprah Winfrey once said, "Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it knowingly or unknowingly what you put into it." These are the words that describe values that we at Citrix have imbibed over the last few years. Running was almost like a sport of an elite few years ago at Citrix, but it has grown big with each year. TCS 10K (formerly Sun Feast) run has almost become a platform that has launched many runners. This year was no different with several Citrix employees taking to the road with their running shoes and steely determination early in the morning on Sunday, May 19th . As a part of this year’s run, Citrix supported Association for the Mentally Challenged (AMC) by contributing an amount of INR 150,000. About 20 employees signed up for this event as a part of their Global Day of Impact initiative.
Of all the runs that happen in Bangalore, the atmosphere and buzz around TCS 10K run is the most electrifying. With literally thousands of people on the road, and music and other festivities going, it is like a carnival. While being part of such a mega event and completing 10K run was grand in itself, the icing on the cake for all of us at Citrix was Rakesh Singh, GM, winning the CEO dash (400 m run), beating about a dozen CXOs running for the coveted top of the podium finish. It was really a proud moment for all of us at Citrix. Congratulations Rakesh!

Timing data:

Courtesy: http://www.timingindia.com/results_page.php?category=139