Have you ever wondered—what does it mean to feel truly alive? I have.
Simply put “feeling alive” is going beyond simply existing. Going beyond being stuck in the ever turning cogs of life. Life is precious and literally one of a kind. To put it another geeky way, the odds of finding another human like civilization in another planet is one in 10 billion trillion i.e 10^21, which is more than estimated grains of sand on earth, which is 4 x 10^20.
You’re rarer than all the grains of sand on every beach, combined.
It is easy to while away our time on this literally one of a kind planet, ruin it while we are at it, reach the end of our time and wonder where and how all the years went by. How often do we let the days blur together?
Let’s be honest—we’ve all been there:
Putting off dreams and plans for “someday.”
Obsessing over the past and letting it rob us of today and tomorrow. This quote from the Hindi movie “Dear Zindagi” summarizes this – “Don’t let your past blackmail your present, to ruin your beautiful future”
Reacting on impulse instead of choosing to respond with intention. The Buddha taught – respond to a situation do not react. You are in control when you respond, when you react the situation controls you. This is also one of the core tenet of Buddhism which can be achieved by practicing mindfulness.
Scrolling endlessly, numbing our minds instead of feeding our souls.
But here’s the wake-up call, next time your pointlessly doom scroll or sigh its only Monday fire up this longevity calculator and find out how many potential days/years you have left. That is how many birthdays you’ve yet to celebrate, how many sunsets you can watch, christmases you have left.
I don’t know who needs to hear this reminder right now, but I definitely do: You get one shot at this life. So make it count.
Love fiercely.
Try boldly.
Forgive quickly.
And live, not just on the weekends or holidays but every single day.
This is your life. Make it beautiful. Make it yours. Love Zindagi.
In my adult years, every Lent, I decide to give up meat and alcohol. However, in recent years, I haven’t been able to stick to it. Something always gets in the way i.e. devil wins at pushing his temptations and I end up breaking my Lenten abstinence.
This year was different. Today marks 40 days since I embarked on this alcohol and meat-free journey, and boy, am I glad I did.
My health related metrics have gotten better compared to previous month,
HRV (Heart Rate Variability) is up by 4 points.
Resting Heart Rate is down by 6%.
Restorative Sleep is up by 36%.
There can definitely be some confounding here, these changes could also be due to an increase in my average strain/exercise minutes over the last month in the lead up to my late spring goal half marathon training. However, I’m quite certain that abstaining from alcohol and meat has definitely played a role as well.
The biggest win has been breaking the habit of drinking on Friday/Saturday nights. There were weeks when I eagerly looked forward to my Friday/Saturday date night with my favorite IPA. This abstinence has made me realize that alcohol doesn’t have to be a part of my weekly routine. I do not need it to be part of my routine as much as I thought it did. I can imagine my mom reading this and thinking her prayers have been answered.
Going forward I’ll likely add a constraint to this habit—alcohol only when socializing. Because, in my case, this equation definitely holds true:
INTROVERT (ME) + ALCOHOL = EXTROVERT
Giving up meat has also encouraged me to explore vegetables seafood and grains that we seldom or never have cooked before. My families new favorite? Char-roasted Brussels sprouts or Lemon Couscous —boy, are they good!
I’m by no means advocating giving up alcohol or meat, nor do I plan to do so myself. Moderation is the operative word. Enjoying alcohol and meat in moderation makes you appreciate them even more. A quote by Hosea Ballou comes to mind:
“Moderation is the key of lasting enjoyment.“
Also, I have always wondered, when we go about choosing lenten abstinence or sacrifice do we almost always give up something that would benefit us, specifically health or wellbeing? I am not sure about others but it is definitely the case with me. From next year on, I have decided to add to the list of things I give up and thus build on the previous year. So next year – alchohol, meat and ______. I have a year to think about what to fill the blank with.
You have started running regularly. You struggled in the beginning, but as you put in the days, you discover the hidden Kipchoge in you. More walk-run sessions are slowly transitioning into longer stretches of running. You feel you are a couple of months away from your first race, but which race?
It lets you filter by month, region, or specific state, and race distance. Once you find a race close to you or in the city you want to run, look up the race on the site Raceraves. Read race reviews to find out what runners of the previous iteration of the race think about it, focus on what they say about race organization and difficulty.
If you eventually want to run races in various states, Raceraves’ race calendar by month is what you want. Pick the month you want to run and sort by # of reviews to find the most-reviewed races for a given month.
There is no shortage of races in the United States. Get hooked and stay hooked!
As we transitioned from yellows and browns to gray and white, Northeast America was getting colder by the day. It was time to uphold our Thanksgiving getaway tradition—heading somewhere warmer, which, more often than not, meant Florida. Due to the busy hurricane season of 2024, the west/Gulf coast of Florida was ruled out, which eliminated our favorite vacation spot, Anna Maria Island. After much back-and-forth among friends, we narrowed it down to Melbourne. This city was also conveniently close to the Space Coast Half Marathon in Cocoa Beach.
Travel and Arrival
Flights and Airbnb were booked. We were three families—two flying out of Rochester, NY, and the other from Toronto, Canada. We landed in Orlando the night before Thanksgiving, did some last-minute grocery shopping since stores would be closed the next day, and then drove down to Melbourne to our Airbnb. The Canadian family arrived later, having had a longer drive from Fort Myers. The night did not end early—we kicked off our party right away and ended up sleeping around 5 AM. A great start to a weekend of partying, but not ideal when you have a race on Sunday.
Thanksgiving at the Beach
On Thanksgiving Day, we spent the morning at the nearest beach, Satellite Beach. The weather was pleasant, in the low 80s (°F), but the beach itself wasn’t ideal—rough waves and shells scattered everywhere. However, it was a paradise for the kids (and some adults), who collected a bag full of shells. After the beach, we spent the rest of the day cooking, lounging by the pool, and celebrating Thanksgiving and birthdays.
Rainy Friday & A Hidden Gem
Originally, our plan for Friday was to rent a boat on Merritt Island, but the weather didn’t cooperate—it rained all day. Instead, we ventured south in search of a beach and accidentally stumbled upon Turtle Crawl Beach. It was a hidden gem, and fortunately, the rain let up for a while. We had a blast battling the waves and strolling along the shore. The beach was nearly deserted, likely due to the inclement weather or perhaps because it’s not a widely known spot among tourists.
Saturday: A Tough Choiceor was it
By Saturday, the weather had improved, and our group was split between visiting the Kennedy Space Center or renting a pontoon boat on the Banana River. The Canadians, flying back on Sunday, had to choose between the two, while the U.S. contingent had until Tuesday to fit in whatever was left. We opted for the boat, largely because “Mr. Canada” was a fisherman in his past life, an aspiring one in this one and was eager to catch some fish.
We rented our boat from Cape Cross Boat Rentals, a place I highly recommend—their customer service was exceptional, something you don’t see much of these days. We had lunch at Dolphin Restaurant, where the food was decent. Our two-hour boat ride started around 3 PM, and it was absolutely worth it! We spotted dolphins, manatees, a variety of birds, an incredible sunset, and, to top it all off, we even caught a couple of catfish. It was a day well spent.
Prepping for Race Day
Saturday night, the night before the race, I laid out my running gear. I debated between full sleeves, short sleeves, or no sleeves and settled on short sleeves, knowing the humidity would make full sleeves unbearable. I also decided, for the first time, not to carry water during the race and to use Huma Electrolyte+ gels instead. I like Huma gels because they go down easily and pack 250 mg of sodium.
Race Day: Space Coast Half Marathon
I woke up at 4 AM, ate a banana, and steered clear of Stinger sugary waffles this time. I’ve realized I run better on a relatively empty stomach. The Canadian was kind enough to drop us at the starting point, which was 30 minutes away. We arrived at 5:30 AM for the 6:15 AM start. It was pretty cold, and not bringing a jacket turned out to be a mistake. I had to stand in line for the restroom for about 20 minutes—the race lacked enough porta-potties for its size (over 3,000 participants across the half and full marathon).
The race started in waves—the full marathon at 6 AM, with half-marathon waves beginning at 6:15 AM. The rocket launch sound simulation and video countdown at the start line were a nice touch.
At 6:15 AM, we were off. The first mile ran through narrow roads, requiring careful navigation to avoid bumping into a fellow runner. It was still dark, and the poorly lit roads didn’t help. The sun wasn’t set to rise until around 7 AM. Once we reached the road by the sea, the runners had spread out, and it was smooth sailing from there. The course was mostly flat with a few rolling hills, nothing too challenging. Aid stations were set up approximately every two miles, offering water, electrolytes, and, at some stations, Gu energy gels.
I had hoped to beat my personal best of 1 hour 48 minutes, but that didn’t happen. A week of partying, late nights, and alcohol didn’t exactly set me up for peak performance. I finished in 1 hour 53 minutes. My friend ran a PR though. So looks like all the partying helps him with his performance. The race medal was by far the largest I’ve seen or owned—a really cool design. Finishers also received a race-themed beach towel.
Post-Race Celebrations
The post-race party was decent, and best of all, they had chocolate milk—believe me, nothing beats cold chocolate milk after a hard race, not even the free beer on offer. Unlike other races where post-race food and drinks are rationed, here they weren’t. There were two beer options, and I preferred the Kona Big Wave.
After the race, we headed to Cocoa Beach, spending an hour or so at the pier. From the beach, we could see a Kennedy Space Center launch pad with a rocket already mounted. After the beach, we returned home, and our Canadian friends left for their flight back.
Monday: Kennedy Space Center
On Monday, we visited the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). We booked tickets online in advance, having read that they sometimes sell out. Seeing the rockets up close was jaw-dropping—hard to describe in words. However, the center isn’t ideal for kids under five; it’s challenging to keep them engaged for an entire day. That said, the two five-year-olds in our group had some fun, especially with the simulated flight to Saturn’s rings. The highlight was the reveal of the Atlantis Space Shuttle—truly breathtaking.
We returned home on Tuesday, filled with great memories and with the Sunshine State checked off—stop number 8 on Kliyaras journey towards visiting and running 13.1+ miles in all 50 states.
I am asked this question or a variation of it quite often.
How to start running from 0?
Getting Started
I am often asked about my running journey.
Before I started, I had no experience running long distances. I only took up running when I turned 40. It took me about two months of training by following freely available training plans online. There are many plans out there, including ones titled “Couch to Half Marathon.” I highly recommend checking out Marathon Handbook, whose podcast I regularly listen to and enjoy.
The Challenge of Starting from Zero
When you start from nothing, there is only one direction to go—up. It’s important to accept that the journey will not be easy. It takes time, perseverance, and patience. Running never truly gets “easy,” but you will get better.
One of the biggest challenges is avoiding comparison. As the saying goes, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” It’s easy to compare your running pace or race times with others, but remember: you are your own competition. Aim to improve and beat the version of yourself from yesterday.
Overcoming the Initial Struggles
In the beginning, there will be more difficult running days than easier ones—don’t give up. When I first started running, I often found myself questioning, “Why am I putting myself through this?” a few minutes into every run. However, that feeling would always shift by the end. After every run, I felt accomplished and eager for more.
Preparing Your Body for Running
If you are not currently active, do not exercise regularly, or carry extra weight, I strongly recommend incorporating a few months of general exercise before diving into running. This will help condition your body and reduce the strain on your legs when you start running.
A Word of Caution: Running is Addictive
Once you finish your first race, you may find yourself hooked. The excitement of achieving a goal often leads to searching for the next race to sign up for. Before you know it, running can become a full-fledged hobby involving:
A cycle of signing up for races
Owning multiple running shoes in rotation
Experimenting with nutrition strategies
Investing in running gear
It can get expensive depending on how far you take it!
Balancing Running with Life
The longer the race, the more training hours you need. Running requires a significant time commitment, and most of us already lead busy lives. The key is finding balance—figuring out how to incorporate training without disrupting family and work responsibilities. Everyone’s situation is different, but you will find your rhythm as you go.
And yes, be prepared for a lot of laundry!
The Biggest Reward: Fitness Gains
One of the greatest side effects of running is the improvement in fitness. I have never felt more fit in my life. Taking on this hobby can make ___ the new 16. I had filled in the blank with 40, what will be yours?
I never saw myself as a long-distance runner. In fact, I had never run a continuous kilometer in my life. The only running I had ever done was between wickets while playing cricket many years ago.
That changed when my brother and sister-in-law signed up for a half marathon. Having never run before, they not only enjoyed the training process but also experienced the immense joy of accomplishment after finishing their first race. Their excitement was contagious, and it rubbed off on me.
My brother often spoke about the indescribable “runner’s high” he felt after long runs. I was intrigued—hooked, even. One part of me wanted to finish a half marathon and bask in the glory (and the bragging rights) that came with it. The other part of me wanted to experience the fitness gains that came with training. And so, my journey began.
The Struggles of Training and My First Half Marathon
Training was hard. Every time I started running, I questioned why I was putting myself through it. Yet, without fail, every time I finished, I felt great. The struggles and low points of the run would fade from memory, and only the sense of accomplishment remained. That feeling kept me going.
It took me just over two months of training before I ran my first half marathon in September 2023 in Rochester, NY. I finished in 2 hours and 18 minutes, enduring a lot of misery both during training and the race itself. But thanks to what I call “runner’s selective amnesia,” I only remember the joys associated with running.
Fast Forward: From One Race to a Lifelong Passion
Now, in March 2025, my journey has taken me far beyond that first race:
14 half marathons completed, with a personal best of 1 hour 48 minutes
1 full marathon at 4 hour 13 minutes
8 different U.S. states checked off my list
What started as a simple goal—to run just one half marathon—has transformed into a lifelong mission. My bucket list now includes:
✅ 100 Half Marathons ✅ Running 13.1+ races in all 50 U.S. states ✅ Completing all seven World Major Marathons ✅ Half Ironman ✅ Full Ironman
An Unquenchable Passion for Running
What began as a single decision to run one race has grown into something far greater—a lifelong crusade, an unshakable passion for running, and an unexpected yet thrilling journey toward goals I never imagined for myself.
Ironman is a triathlon that involves swimming. I do not know how to swim.
The Boston Marathon, one of the World Majors, has a qualifying time by age. My only marathon time is an hour over the required limit.
A friend of mine once quipped on a different topic, “A man can dream“. But to achieve, you must first dare to dream. I once couldn’t run—now I can. I cannot swim, but one day, I will.
