Sentiments Exemplified

I have liked the poem "Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes ever since i heard it.
Lend a glance to it..

http://www.potw.org/archive/potw85.html

Mini Marathon ..

After a long forethought, i decided to give it a try. PSG-Tech "Mini Marathon" was scheduled to kick off @ 7 am yesterday. Making my pair of shoes available the night before, i dashed into my slumber @ 1 am. I was diligent enough to see that any resolutions made by the toughest minds in the world were bound to liquify before the tyrant of all emotions, passion and sincerity - "SLEEP" ! And so had to be cautious enough to set in an alarm & two reminders at 5:45 am to make it to the Marathon.
Things went on well, i woke up successfully and gazed out from the veranda. I could some "Aarva Kolaar Jantoo" jogging around the field and yelling "Machan, Vaa da.. Warmup Pannalaam..". The first years block was a 'cacophonous mess' with most of the guys exchanging their anticipations on the Marathon and bantering each other on his outfit and mannerism.
I put on my shoes and moved on to the stadium to get my chest number, "385" - pronounced the volunteer there. Pinning it to my chest, i wiled away the few odd minutes watching the preparations going on around.
It was 6:45 and the Physical Director voiced the rules for the race. The whole track was 8 kms long, meandering across the campuses of PSG-Tech Hostels & PSG-IMS&R respectively. I wondered if i would be able to complete the race !
By 7, the principal flagged off the race & the crowd tumbled through the road ahead. The initial 15 minutes were a total chaos with people speeding across excitedly as though determined to win the race. It was a dense swarm of shoes tottering on the tar ! After a mile and a half, the crowd diluted to my satisfaction, as few souls remarked "Machan, Mudiyala da.. Ipadiye odna deadbody thaan! Ambulance kooda kidayathu da.." Most of the guys slowed down within some distance, panting out. My senses started abusing me for tiring them at such an hour when they ought to be buried in the bed. Not wanting to stop, i continued carrying myself in brief trots.
The mob diminished in front of me, with few struggling at the same pace as mine. The sight of track stretching way ahead into the PSG-IMS&R campus wringed all energy out of me. It was highly tiresome to run around the football ground, watching the "co-panters !" It was probably half the distance when i thought i would come to a stop (not withstanding the 5 km continuous run), well aware of the fact that once i lay my legs to silence, i would find it a herculean task to start-off again. I came to a standstill & it was an eternal bliss for me then. An auroral warmth hit my face drenched with sweat. I turned back & spotted some fellas dragging themselves towards me. Not wanting to deteriorate my position which i guessed was beyond a hundred, i started off.
The next few minutes pricked me like hours with each step desiccating me to extremum. Moving along in ant's shoes, i completed the race at 7:55 - duration of 55 mins. I wondered what position i would be in, which i expected would be in three-digits :) I chuckled @ this very thought. The man @ the endpoint, handed over a chit to me & i glanced over. "58" it said, so this these senses of mine managed a decent finish,"Not bad", i thought.
Being intensely evaporated, i dashed on a chair waiting for the elite members to receive their medals & trophies. My turn came after quarter-an-hour & i went up to collect my Certificate of Participation.
The race though weary, was a tonic experience indeed :)