Null Pointer Assignment

On Sunday (June-06-2006), we had the monthly RFL (Runners for Life) run at Malleswaram. The run was around Sankey Tank. The scheduled run was for 8 laps and each lap was 3.5 kilometers. There were around 15 runners who came for the big run. There was another smaller run of 2 laps for beginers.

We started around 6:30 AM. I decided to have a slow run and do as many laps as possible. First two and half round I ran with Bhasker and then fell back, a little. There was a section on CV Raman road along IISC, which was a steep gradient of over 1 KM. I started suffering on those. Finally managed to complete 6 laps with no injury.

Highlight of the run was a 70 year old smiling gentleman, Dinesh who completed 7 laps. I hope, I will do 24.5 KM when I turn 70.

I had a 20.8K run on Sunday June 4th. After many years I had such a long run. I finished in around 2:25 hours. How unprepared I was for the run, showed up right after with severe body ache. Had lunch at Nandhini Palace. It's a good place for carb. loading. Went to Garuda mall and bought some running clothes. Had to take few aspirins before going to bed.

I will have to tweak few things in the next couple of months to improve performance. I surely need more mileage to cover the same distance comfortably. Then I will have to work on speed. I believe, I can do couple of KM more per hour if I practice properly. I am still focusing on doing a comfortable half marathon.

This run was on Indiranagar, 80 Feet Road – 13th Main - 100 Feet Road - Old Madras Road – 80 Feet Road, loop. The course is 5.2 Kilometers. I started near ISRO office at the south end of 80 feet road.

Places to watch out

1. 80 Feet Road and 13th Main/Jeevan Bheema Nagar Road – Heavy Traffic and tricky crossing
2. 100 Feet Road and 12th Main (after Food World) – Traffic
3. 100 Feet Road and 6th Main (Before Bus stop) – Watch out for buses
4. 100 Feet Road and CMH Road – Watch Traffic
5. Just before 100 Feet Road and Old Madras Road – Garbage Trucks (plenty of these), and slums children using footpath as bathroom.
6. Old Madras Road – Traffic
7. 80 Feet Road – Very smooth, watch out at CMH road crossing
8. 80 Feet Road & 6th Main – On Sunday at 8:00 AM, it’s full with Church going people. Lot of Traffic.

I am hoping to find a less complicated running route. I have heard that Indiranagar-Koramangala inner ring road is a good option. Most probably I will have to take my car and park somewhere. Also it will work as a water stop.

It's very important that we keep safety in mind when running on streets of Bangalore. There are quite a few crazy drivers on the streets here. Almost on every run I have faced situations, which could have been injurious to health. Today morning I saw a Motor Cycle knock down an elderly walker who was trying to cross 100 Feet road at Indiranagar. I stopped and tried to help the gentleman. He had a swelling on the back of the head. The bike rider was not even apologetic and was irritated that he was getting late.

I generally run in Indiranagar area and although the roads are relatively empty in the morning, the drivers try harder to mow down runners and walkers. The worst are the call center cabs and city buses.

Here are some precautions we all can take for safe runs. Please share your ideas and thoughts

1. Always run on the right side of the road. So you will face the traffic while running. You still have to be aware of jerks driving from the wrong side, behind you.

2. Always carry your cell phone with you. It could be a lifesaver. Mine also acts as a stopwatch for run times. Make sure your phone is charged.

3. Be aware of your surroundings. Be confident but not fool hardy while encountering a traffic situation.

4. Be extra careful at crossing. Do not worry about loosing 10 odd seconds and not check the traffic.

5. When you run on the right side of the road, be careful about traffic making right turn towards your side of the road. If they come from behind, you might not be able to judge. So just before a right turn on your path, slow down and look behind/left of you.

Let's all enjoy safe runs.

Just wanted to share news about Debu's (oops Dave's) new Karate school. He has been a fitness and Karate fanatic since I know him from PUCSD days. I am really proud that he has opened his own school at Austix, TX. Here is the URL for the school --

http://www.austinkarateacademy.com/

If you around Austin or know somebody in the area do tell them about it. Good luck Debu.