I was quite excited for the Freedom ride 2014. After a break
finally, got back on tracks of endurance sports. And this time, it became the
toughest race. It was a good opportunity to participate in one of the best rides
of 2014 - a 67KM route, through the tortuous serpentine routes across beautiful
hilly terrain of Hyderabad. Many thanks to Qualcomm for sponsoring the program,
Saturday ride group for practice, and thanks to the organizers for a successful
event.
It is a break from the monotony and reviving the habit of
being on the road with a cycle or on a run. Last time I did the AHM Delhi half
marathon in November 2010.
The up hills were already challenging, and the strong
morning head winds accentuated that challenge with little more support from a
hot weather. It’s a mixed feeling at the end, with good mixture of struggles, cramps,
pain, and some dogged school-boyish determination to finish. After Mumbai full
marathon in 2009, this ride was quite challenging, given the limited
preparation I had. These five hours efforts needed 5 bananas, four frooties, 4 chocolates
bars, and 1-2 two liters of glucose water on the way.
I will not dare to narrate my experience to my mom (the pain
part at least), as I know I will get the default comment, who told to you to cycle :)!
However, sore legs, cramped thigh muscles, and all that pains are a distant
memory Now. Whenever I will look at the medal – there will be a sense of small achievement,
yes I could do it!
