The Year That Was

Started new year with a resignation, ran another Half Marathon in Mumbai, birthday wasted, shifted home, changed company, found new friends, got my Royal Enfield Classic after a very long wait, shifted home, resigned once again, felt cheated, shifted base to Pune, experienced a lot of pleasant rides between Pune-Mumbai, co-founded a company (part time), new company, new colleagues, helped starting another entrepreneur, co-founded another venture (part-time), Ran Delhi Half Marathon for the first time, experienced one of the happiest moments of my life, close friends got married, planned to get married/blessed with babies, hires quitting without any notice,  got Android, momentarily closing of one of the ventures, almost lost a big contract for one of the startups, read quite a lot of books, decided to learn programing once again, had a real tough time in deciding for quitting, resigned for the last time on a Monday, on the path of being entrepreneur (full time), learned a lot, grown a bit, still single, still happy, still looking for a someone, ready to experience new life, new beginning, new challenges.

Howdy 2011! What you’ve got for me?

My First Delhi Half Marathon

After running my first Half Marathon in Mumbai in 2007, I wanted to run Delhi half marathon. The thought of running with thousands of people on Rajpath in a misty morning with India Gate in background used to give me goose bumps. But even after registering for two consecutive years, I could not participate because it did not sync with Diwali holidays. However, this year the day was in perfect sync with my holidays and I registered for it dutifully.

As compare to my last 3 half marathons, I was best prepared this time. I was comfortably running/walking 10+ kms couple of times in a week in Pune and I was expecting to complete the run in 2 hours but things always do not go as you plan .

After reaching Delhi, the first task was to collect Bib and goodies bag from the expo. Participants were required to submit one identity proof and the organizers made sure they get to mint some money out of this. One photocopy of the identity proof was being charged Rs. 5 (that’s 5 times the market price). The goodies bag had some interesting things like pav bhaji masala, chhole masala and maggie .

The Saturday evening was very chilly in Delhi and I was  sceptical about the next day run but Sunday was not that cold as compare to last day. First 1 hour in the run was pretty smooth (except for the loo break after 1 km which was forced by consumption of 1.5 litre of water before run) and Endomondo was helping me to keep my pace constant. I completed 10 kms in first hour but once the sun started rising the temperature soared and by the time I reached Rajpath it was pretty hot. After completing 14 KMs it was pretty difficult to run because of cramp but I continued jogging/walking with slower pace. As I finished my 18th Km (I think), the Delhi dream run was started and last 3 kms were the same for both runs. The enthusiastic dream runners with different kinds of fancy dresses and banners, hoardings made these last 3 kms more painful. The half marathoners were literally wading through the sea of dream runners. When I reached finish line, it was 2:43:07 since the starting gun was fired.

I have participated in 3 Half Marathons in Mumbai and had high expectations for Delhi Half Marathon but it was no match for Mumbai experience. The people’s participation is quite high in Mumbai where people will line up beside the road and cheer you up, give you biscuits, juices and fruits. Audience were completely missing in Delhi.

There were other things which were not well organized in Delhi. Baggage counter was the biggest problem. The participants had to wait for more than 1 hour to get their bags. The finishers medal distribution was not properly managed as well. Some runners even staged a small protest about this. Later, organizers promised to send the finishers medal by post. The route planning could have been better. The dream run route should have been different than half marathon route, like it happens in Mumbai.

I was surprised that how Procam which puts a great show in Mumbai Marathon can manage to have this mediocre organized Delhi run.

I enjoyed my Delhi Half Marathon run but the experience could have been more enjoyable if the things were more managed. But still I look forward to run in Delhi next year and I hope it would be another memorable experience minus the mis-management.

Watch Phoonk alone and win 5 Lakh

After horror movies like Darna mana hai, Darna zaroori hai and Ram Gopal Verma ki Aag (yes! that was a horror movie and I did not have courage to see it), Ramu is coming up with Phoonk. He has announced a prize of Rs. 5 Lakh ( half a Millon INR) who can dare to see Phoonk, all alone in theatre. and yes.. Darna Mana hai.

This is a very unique and first of it’s kind marketing gimmick and I am sure this is going to help the movie.
via Economic Times

How to stay awake in a meeting

Bombay Lives has this How-To on how to stay awake in a meeting. I Googled for it and found Bullshit Bingo, this website takes the game to next level by randomly generating your card and different versions.

Here is how it works:

• Print or draw the box like the one below and write one of these words in every square.
• Cross appropriate square when you hear one of these words.
• When you have crossed, five squares, horizontally, vertically or diagonally, stand up and shout BULLSHIT!!!

Now, instead of avoiding meetings, you will look forward to them .