happiness and food

A lot of people at work today asked me about what was I up to this last weekend and I have been sharing a lot with a lot! Here’s a written version for the records 🙂

The Challenge: 100kms | Teams of 4| 48 Hours

So, somewhere in the third quarter of last year(2013), we got to know about Oxfam Trailwalker which is considered to be the greatest team challenge requiring physical endurance, mental strength and team spirit. The challenge requires a team of four to walk or run a distance of 100km in 48 hours or less. The teams are also required to raise funds prior to the challenge and then these funds are used for projects directed toward the upliftment of the under privileged.

Who participated? Vikas with his three other colleagues took up this challenge. Their team was named “Walk the Cause” and they raised a little over 62,000INR which would be utilized to help the weaker section of Indian society.

Final Stats: 100kms | Walk the Cause | 27.5 hours

What did I do? Vikas and I knew that due to my still healing back, I will not be able to walk along the entire 100kms with him. There was also no point in taking up the challenge if I wasn’t physically fit. So, I was a part of the team’s “Support Crew”. Now the role of the support crew is crucial since the team depends on the support crew for food, clothes for change, water, medicines. The support crew even helps you stretch/relax and does the job of preparing you for the next lap. Not to forget, they are the ones who encourage you, cheer you when you need it the most!

The “Mind” Trail: The entire stretch of 100 kms started at Anekal and till the 100^th km in Bidadi, there were 9 check points at an average distance of 10kms. So, though you had to complete 100kms, you knew that the next goal is just a 10kms. I frankly felt that it was a mind game. Tell a person that you walk 10km and then you will reach a check point where you will have your support crew, you will get space to rest, you can relax/stretch and then you can move on is much better than asking the same person to walk a 100!!

The real challenge: Something that really struck me was the will and determination of the participants. Every checkpoint had an Apollo operated medical area where physiotherapists and doctors were helping people with their blisters, minor wounds etc. Now, I saw people walk into these areas, get bandaged and then start moving on again. That’s what life is – you face adverse situations that are painful but you still keep going cos that’s the right thing to do. I saw that people fought the scorching heat but they kept moving. I saw that it was not a full moon day and the torches were the only way to see what’s around, but the teams kept on moving. When the dogs barked their lungs outs, the walking sticks/poles were enough to keep the animal away. When the feet got sweaty, change of footwear made it easy. All in all the challenge was not the 100kms but how one fought the conditions to keep going till the 100^th km.

My experience: When Vikas took up the challenge, I was scared. I was scared because I knew it was going to be hard. I knew that it will be difficult to see him in pain and exhausted. All sorts of what ifs were in my head but I kept my thoughts to myself. Today, I know from my own learning that if you can believe in it, you can achieve it. A challenge like this stretches you not just physically but mentally. But it is achievable if you keep going!

Throughout the 27.5 hours when Vikas was walking, I was pretty much on my own deciding on what next when the team comes. I was a part of support crew for the team so when Vikas’s team used to come to the check point, my job was to be on my toes for the team.

This event also gave me a chance to see the villages of South India and witness the lives of people. According to World Bank, as of 2011, 68.7% of India’s population lives in villages.  I saw that these villages had no power supply, no concrete houses. Grazing cows and goats seemed to be a means of living other than farming. But what I also liked was that every village had a small store selling chips, Britannia biscuits and basic items needed to sustain life. I saw the Sarvya Shiksha Abhiyan boards on every other school. I saw that the kids had to wait for hours but the school bus came. I saw that the Mid Day Meal works in getting kids to study. I saw that not all the kids had shoes on their feet but they had bags on their backs.

The funny part: When you are out on such a challenge something that you think about is nature’s call. Yes, all this was taken care of by having portaloos at every check point but I still found them funny! One they were really high for someone my height and second they were funny! So, you know what I did! 😀

The last checkpoint: When we started the trail, it was hard to imagine that after the first 10kms, there were still 90kms to go. At the last checkpoint, the feeling is totally different. It gets hard to believe that you survived 90kms and now it’s just a 10 more to go!

The finishing point: The support crew walked the last 7 kms with the team. This was to encourage the team to not give up! In life, when we try hard to achieve something and the end goal seems far away, holding hands and not giving up is the best way forward! 🙂

So, to sum up the 30 hours, this was an experience of our lifetime. This was way different than our road trips but still it got us closer. Someone at work mentioned that this one of those experiences I would love to narrate when I grow old 😉 and I do agree!! 😀