A Podium Mother- Smithaa Kajale
I believe that the mind conspires what you start thinking, I had made up my mind to finish the race, and I did.
Let me be ME
I believe that the mind conspires what you start thinking, I had made up my mind to finish the race, and I did.
While boarding the flight back, I felt an uncomfortable stomach-churning. I called up home to ask about Misri, and my mother gave a satisfactory answer. The uneasiness continued all through the journey. Once we reached home, Misri was running a high fever. Upon consultation, the doctor prescribed some medicine. We fed Misri and went to bed.
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and decided to quit at that point rather than try and finish the race and worsen my injury. It took a lot more mental courage to pull out than it did to sign up and train. I had promised Sumit I would come back whole and not broken. Next morning, I took the flight back home. I cried for many many days though. I will go back another year soon, because I know I am persistent.
If there is a storm, then there will be calmness as well.
If there is darkness, then bright light will follow soon.
If there are mountains to climb, then there are rivers to swim too.
If you can walk, then you can indeed run too
Get up.
Start
And see you at the finish line.
This medal was not just a piece of metal but my most prized possession.
Next time wherever you see a female runner with a bulky body, or in a sports bra, or not-so-fitting-into-sanskars then do waive at her with a massive smile because it takes courage and grit to break barriers and run for her freedom.
At the age of 53, this little girl asks all the ladies to move out and create that hustle- trust me, you’ll not regret.
Each one of us faces challenges and personal hardships; there will be days when that pillow seems like the best companion ever. But only when one faces those demons head on with courage and conviction, can one overcome the odds.
I also have an accurate observation that I am genetically slow when it comes to races, but no one can beat me when I chase a local train.
I waited patiently for I knew that the cocoon will take its own time to crack open and the butterfly will be out in the open.
It puzzles me that I see so few women who look like me at races despite living in a country that has top notch facilities for athletes – and have found that a lot of the barriers that women in India face are present across the diaspora as well.
“You’re so much more than the numbers on your plus size lingerie”
Mother of two boys, a Fauji kid, Asia book of records holder, represented India in Canada for somersault competition, a college professor by profession, thrice failed attempts for Ironman to … Continue reading Dabang Maa: Sunita Dhote