Mile sur : A fresh composition

It was only today that I got a chance to view the new MILE SUR MERA TUMHARA on Zoom TV. Until today all I had heard about it was that it was nowhere near the previous version going by the loud and clear opinions on all the social networking forums.

To be honest, when I saw glimpses of the video earlier, I also began to think like the others and criticize it until I actually sat down and dispassionately viewed a screening once again myself.

Yes, you guessed it right. I did like the new version!

Before you close your browser let me explain why.

MILE SUR MERA TUMHARA was successful and popular not only because it was a great composition which it was but also because it brought icons of the country together on the same platform provoking the sentiment of integrity in a subtle manner. Icons form the film fraternity, sports, performing arts, creative artistes. You name it! The original version was shot over 20 years ago and hence had icons of the previous century all of whom are today legends and almost define the golden era of yesteryears.

The new version also attempts to achieve the same. The video begins with AR Rehman playing a tune on the finger board followed by Amitabh Bachan dressed in a tux. (Why a tux???) It showcases the first family of the hindi film fraternity, the singers that are making waves today viz: Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghosal, Shaan, the trio of Shankar Ehsaan and Loy. Musicians Amjad Ali Khan with his sons, Louis Banks with his son, Zakir Hussain, Taufik Querieshi and Trilok Gurtu. Performing artistes Shobhana, Shamik Davar, sports persons who have got India international glory viz: Vijendra Singh, Sushil Kumar, Bhaichung Bhutia, Abhinav Bindra, Saina Nehwal and Gopichand. Yes, would have loved to see Leander Paes with Mahesh Bhupati and the great four Indian Batmen of our times along with Anil Kumble in there as well. This one does not showcase Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Lata Mangeshkar as they are very very senior and no longer performing as they used to but does showcase Dr. Yesudas and Dr. L Subramaniam.

Most people I spoke to were irked by the presence of the bollywood film stars of today in the video. The previous one had stars as well. Amitabh Bachan was just a big star then, not a legend as he is today. The older video featured Sharmila Tagore, Waheeda Rehman, Tanuja amongst others as well. They were the stars of that decade. This one has Deepika, Priyanka and Ranbir. If the stars of this decade make people feel this way, it is mainly reflection on the fact that they are no longer role model material. Which is sad but true and has nothing to do with the composition and video.

We have a cliched tendency to compare a product of today with that of yesteryears. We compare Sachin with Sunny. We compare Sonu Nigam with Rafi. In my opinion, comparisons between icons of two different eras is quite simply stupid as they are a reflection of the times.

The tune is jazzy alright but is today's music not like that? If youth of today can not relate to this video, well then they are not altogether pleased with what their times have to offer.

It reflects that the era gone buy was really timeless.

This I truly believe is a very good composition.

New?

I bought this new pair of running shoes around December first week.

Prompted by a FB status message by a friend checked for myself and found that I have done 157.1 kms in them already in spite of the tapering, vacation and travelling.

They are not so new now after all...

Comeback ride

Through the last leg of my training for SCMM 2010, I have had to stay away form my bicycle as it would tend to work the ITB stiffer. Now that the big event is behind me, time to get back to some cycling me thinks :o)

Yesterday I made it point to give the much required attention to the bike. Cleaned the body, chain and transmission assembly and took it for a small 4km ride to the petrol pump to get the air pressure checked.

As I approached the bunk, I saw a long queue at the air pressure stall and so decided to leave the idea for another day.

A passer by noticing me slow down and looking keenly at the station asked sheepishly in Kanada, “petrol beka???”

That left me smiling all the way back to my house...

And the run...

Now...my marathon was fairly tragic. Went strong for the first 29-30kms and after that had a sudden drop in body condition over the next 4-5kms and had to pull out after 35kms. I have no injuries though apart from routine sore muscles after the workout. This is last that I am writing about 17th Jan 2010. It was a reflection on my training. Have to train better and a bit differently.

I have been doing a fair bit of thinking about the Sunday run before I close that chapter for good and move on.

From my limited exposure to the sport, I have arrived at the following:
Speed is important: It will really help to train for a 4 or 4:30 marathon. That ways you will be in a better physical state to tackle the demands of the last 10 kms.
By this I mean that one should be a regular 2 hr half marathoner so that the strategy of doing the first half in 2:15 – 2:30 (on conserving and running slower) and then going all out for the remaining becomes a viable option.
Now, my best half marathon time has been 2:25 and that too during a practice run recently.
I was after this goal some time back but ignored it in favour of building my distances for SCMM.

Need to hit the gym regularly: This has shown results during the last length of the training . Need to take this further.
After a couple of good night's rest, I am good and much better than yesterday. I am amazed at the recovery time. This I believe has a lot to do with the strengthening (?)

Need to attend the group runs like RFL: I, for many reasons run alone most of the time which is ok, but once or twice a month at least a group run can be a good reality check. If you do well there you know you are going ok or else you need to have a re-look at your training

Will return to training in a week. Have a marathon coming up on Feb 14th at Pondi. Not sure whether I will run. It all depends on the way my body recovers.

The tapering begins

Finally on 1^st January 2010, I did my longest run in the program. I did a 32kms @ 7:38. It was a huge burden on my mind which is now lifted. Like my physio friend tells me that its always a good feeling to know that you can now do a 30+ distance. Lets hope it works that way for me. I had also tried to run in the hot sun to get a taste of the conditions that will be prevalent at Mumbai during the SCMM.

After this run, the ITB was sore but the pain was considerably less and hence I could complete the distance. I believe this was mainly due to the support provided by the new set of tapes that I was wearing for this run. I am positively keeping them on for the main race as well. The muscles that were the most tired were the quadriceps and calves. Even the chin muscles were quite sore.

Through this run, I was able practice a bit of water and electral management. Lesson to be learnt was that I need to carry more than one packet of electral to survive throughout the distance. The positive sign was that throughout the four hours, there was no significant sign of cramping. Which was a big relief.

I followed it up with a strong 10k run yesterday, 3^rd January 2010 which most likely appears to be one of my last runs before I leave Bangalore for a vacation. I am growing increasingly happy with the recovery time that my legs are showing off late. Even after a draining run, I feel confident of another run in about 30 hours time. This ideally should come down to 24 I believe.

Anyways, this training and preparation is shaping up better than the last year. Visiting my physio tomorrow after which I will be more clear about the plan for the next two weeks.

Until then, keep training hard!