I did it in 30 minutes

For the first time in almost four and a half years with the Hindu, I got up at 5.30 a.m.

I was very excited as I was making my debut in the Chennai Marathon. On my Yamaha YBX, I sang throughout the 20-minute journey to the Labour Statue (the starting point).

As I parked my vehicle and surged towards the venue, a sea of people greeted me. I quitely went and sat in a corner. Madhavan was there with the mike in hand, then Manzoor Ali Khan came.

When 'the Run for a Cause' race was announced at 7.15 a.m., I had to forcibly move towards the race arena, and lift the barricade to run.

I didn't want to exert myself fully in the first 1.5 km. I kept half-walking, even as 40-year-old lady raced past me. I said to myself, "Keerthi, buck up."

Mid-way, a band was assembled to entertain the amateurs. By the time I finished my first lap of 2.5 Km, I knew I will not be able to complete among the prize wineners (the first 25 gets cash prizes).

The real runner in me emerged in the last 100m. Seeing runners older than me, I pressed the accelerator, and with the crowd egging on, I sprinted superbly to finish in a time of 30 minutes.

I was not a wee bit tired. Way to go Keerthi.