Taming a Stallion…… 100 days of Agony and Ecstasy…..Salute to JP (aka Jai Sawant)

Taming a Stallion…… 100 days of Agony and Ecstasy…..Salute to JP (aka Jai Sawant)

This article is dedicated to my friend and buddy, Jai(Jitendra) Sawant  a young dude in his early 50s and who completed Full Marathon at TMM (Tata Mumbai Marathon) in his Ist attempt of FM.

Well now that you know the result, and success…..let me share “Behind the Scenes”, the agony and ecstasy when this was achieved on Sunday, Jan 20^th at 11,00am in Mumbai when humidity was high and temperature soaring even higher.

Sept, 9^th 2018 Ladakh Marathon , only crazier attempt such crazier stuff at 11,000ft above sea level dessert. Jai and me and few more of us,attempted and both completed.

Mutual respect for each other and a bond was formed.  Over a casual conversation he mentioned I have registered for TMM FM challenge.  I had stayed and practiced with him 8days at Ladakh, I knew he was a Stallion, a fast very fast runner.  But I also knew he had not run Full marathon and surely not in Mumbai.

Casual conversation and mutual respect for each other, changed to serious talk over Ladakh celebration at ladakh. Bonding was already formed. Now it was friendly to formal tie-up to team up to succeed for TMM FM. On way back and our journey, the final gaps were sealed to team up and achieve success at TMM FM.

I took up the challenge to be his mentor and analyst, and prepare him to run his Ist FM at TMM.

Jai had sacrificed lot for his Ladakh preparation, and I knew more sacrifices in store ahead for TMM. So we agreed  to celebrate and party to hearts content , but once done no looking back.

So after a sabbatical of complete September, Jai confirmed we start our collaboration in October.

Oct,4^th I said let us do a run and kick-off . 10KM fast run, the best we can run.

Jai : 55 min 10KM

Manoj : 61 min 10KM ( My PB chasing him to observe him)

I can run with Jai only after his 25KM(My secret discovered after 10 weeks of together)

My agenda observe closely his run, his pattern and most important his strengths.

Jai was a stallion, his BIGGEST STRENGTH he does not STOP, he knew no such thing as SLOW.

He ran uphill, faster than most run downhill, his another big strength.

He was the best and fastest I had ran with.

I knew my task for next 100 days, to work upon the Stallion Jai.

• Build endurance to last 42 KM approx. 6hours on road.
• Strong legs to carry you after 2 hours for next 4 hrs.
• Strong mind to have faith in self, and believe he can do it.

With the above goals set, it was to sync with Jai, the above are we both need to work upon.

Our bonding of  Ladakh and going thru highs and lows at ladakh had helped us to quickly agree.

We agreed on few simple things.

• Practice to focus on strengths.
• Work on areas to support the strengths.
• Build endurance to run 21KM after 21KM are done.
• Strengthen all muscles and different muscles of body.      
• Right Diet to build strong muscles.
• Most Imp, less RUN and more Strength Building.

We had approx. 100 days , to Jan,20^th 2019.

I discussed and suggested Jai, we need to do 2 days gym, 1 day hill and 1 or 2 days run.

Hill run and Road run, were heart and soul of Jai, challenge was GYM.

Jai had never done Gym and did not like GYM workout.

Well now that we had agreed, now we both had no U turn till D-Day Jan,20^th 2019.

I outlined a Gym Plan and started Induction to Gym and Weight Training.

We both agreed on Diet to support the Weight Training.

Oct,10^th 2018 with above agreement we kicked-off the ABC of Gym Weight Training and rest of days Training.

I had simple principle, and shared the same with Jai.

• Slow, Steady and Scalable preparation.
• Consistency.
• Faith in self, at all times.

Our 1^st testing time was going to be major event of Pune,PRBM and implementation of our plan.

Nov 3^rd week was PRBM and we set it as our Ist goal to see the benefits of our plan.

Every week our routine was 2 days gym, 1 day Hill repeats and  1 or 2 days run.

Jai sacrificed all external attractions, was sincere and committed to workout.

I salute his determination. His determinations, was his key element of success.

• Focus was
• Build Strong legs.
• Firm upper body.
• Strong Core.
• Faith in self -Strength.

5 weeks of above routine and 1 week before PRBM we did TEST Practice run.

Result:  Fastest HM, and energy and drive to do few more KM after completing.

Our synergy was Success. Strategy was right.

PRBM D-day, Jai ran like a stallion and did his PB in HM.

He was just fast ,faster charging…….

Now that his confidence in self and weights training was restored, I had to drop a BOMB.

He had to UNLEARN something and I had to spill out the tough bitter truth.

He ran FAST. He had to rein self. He needed to conserve energy for 21KM more after doing 21KM.

It meant he had to run slower the Ist HM almost 30 min slower.

He could do HM in 2hrs, but challenge will be doing next 21KM, with energy battery over.

So now he had to mentally accept if he did Ist 21km in less than 2.20 to 2,30hrs he will have major challenge doing next 21KM.

• Change of Training Plan
• Focus on Legs.
• Focus on Lower Back.
• Build CORE.
• Control Pace.

We set date we have to do 26KM, 32Km and experience the Body changes and its impact on endurance 30 days before D-Day.

I used to monitor Data and analyse areas to leverage strength. Jai with full dedication, used to work on those areas.

We decided we will challenge self by testing self against the tough so that we can take the Mumbai head-on.

He did SRT Hell Series a tough hill trail run of 2 forts across tough terrain and multiple hills in approx. 4hrs 25KM.

His strength  was growing as per plan and so was confidence.

He still was fast, and had to develop self-control to rein the stallion in self.

3 weeks before D-day we scheduled a long 32Km run.

We had agreed Ist 21KM to be done in 2.20 hrs to 2,30hrs.

Wait for water and energy food,

On the D-day of 32Km planned run, he galloped and was running like hell.

I kept warning from 15km , to rein self and control, Pause for water and food.

But jai was on roll that day, he did 25Km very fast very fast.

As expected due to speed, lack of water and expending the energy by 26km he got hit by Leg Cramps.

With great difficulty and excruciating pain, he completed the 32KM .

Jai was down due to this calamity. I can empathize since self had given up twice before my Ist FM.

Our task was to get that faith in self and experience that surge which can happen only after success.

I shared the analysis of 32KM run, gave my feedback possible causes for the pain.

We sat down and made plan for the FM.

We once again set date for long run 10days before the TMM.

I had to restore his faith in self and I knew controlling self and to rein was going to be the trigger part for his success. This was tough testing time. Only 10 days left, we could not afford any failure.

We focused on intense Strength training for 1 week and had detail plan to control self during long run.

Jai agreed, his real run would start after 32 KM. He had to stay physically fit till 32KM and mentally fit last 10kM.

With all homework done, mentally set we prepared for the final long run before the D-Day.

Jai was magic that day. He kept adhering to signals. He kept track of the pause for water breaks and food.

He cruised the 26KM like knife thru butter, I had to literally stop and push him Car. He was the controlled stallion to gallop 42KM that day.

But we had to hold our Guns for the Final Face Off on Jan,20^th 2019 TMM.

Well that day sealed his success he will do. We both were very happy and celebrated in advance.

Next few days was to remain

• Calm
• Injury free
• Maintain Diet
• Continued faith in self
• Well Hydrated.

The rest is history……

Jai was the winner, winner over self.

Winner without competing with others, but competing with self.

He did which most not dare to dream.

He did the FM in TMM one of the Worlds most premium event.

He completed the FM with smile and galloping all the way to finish line…..

Well no sweet success is without sweat and sacrifice.

None can experience the agony he went for those 100 days.

None can feel the pain and turmoil he went thru on hot and humid day of run at Mumbai.

Only he and he knows the physical and mental turbulence for those 5.30 hrs to finish Ist FM.

I salute him for his hard-work.

I salute him for his lion heart run.

I wish him the best.

Jai ka Jai Ho……

I was lucky and blessed, to be catalyst in his success.

When you(self) practice and workout with the best(Jai), you become better.

I too achieved ,my PB of HM 2.20 hrs

More details of the D-day and his success in next article.....

Tough Times dont last, Tough people do