“Somewhere Someone Is Daring To Do The Things Which We Are Refusing To Do Saying We Cannot”

“Me, A man with Brain Tumor & My Marathons”

- Lion.Balamurali.P , Vazhapadi, Salem, Tamilnadu.

Hello Everyone!

I am Balamurali and I am 48 years old. I live in my native Periyakrishnapuram which is located next to Vazhapadi National Highways Road in Salem District. I am running a Computer Graphics & Printing Business in Vazhapadi. My wife Mrs. Mageswari is a Government Servant who is working with Judiciary (Court) for the past eight years. We are blessed with two sons Dharanish (17 years) & BharathKannan (13 Years)

First reason for this Write up..

It’s the sixth year starting (12^th October 2016) of the my journey with the FB group “Ullathanaiya Udal – U2 ” which is mainly concentrating on the exercises and workouts. And also I am stepping into the fifth year of the World of Marathon which adopted me through “Tower Twisters Anniversary Run” on 9^th of April 2017.

Second Reason..

To provide a clear cut view and to motivate the people who has so many doubts and finds excuses for not doing activities towards their health, with the following questions.. Should I Jump in or not? Can I Run? Whether I can do it? Is it necessary for me?

During my school days, I had some interest towards Sports. Even then I never thought of playing anything. I mainly concentrated in my Studies, Studies and Studies alone. I remember I was playing Kabaadi & CoCo for namesake along with my friends.

In college, as a result of my active participation in NCC, I was elected as the Leader (CSUO) for about 200 cadets in 1994. During that period, I had undergone about 40% of the Army Training which includes Rifle shooting and a Camp in our Capital New Delhi.

That was all... As like every normal human being my journey of life started towards the direction of my Carrier, Marriage & Earnings.

Brain Tumor :

Am I an Exceptional on the game of the Fate & Destiny?

It was June 2005 (I was 30 years old) and I was just married less than a year. My wife was carrying, 5 months pregnancy and that’s when the fate started its cruel play.

I started getting Headaches often and treated those with the local Doctor friends. Also, we couldn’t find the reason for my diminishing hearing power of my right ear. Thought it may be because of the Sinus or Eye sight problem. Also, I could feel something is rolling inside my head whenever I used to walk fast, and my inner gut started telling me “You Have Some Serious Issue”.

One day, I suffered an unbearable headache. Vision started to slowly blur. I couldn’t stand at all. My right leg & right hand refused to obey my orders to move. It took me several hours to come back to the normal state after taking first aid, injections and medications. As one of my friend suggested, I searched for some Doctors through internet and rushed to a famous Neurologist Dr.Pranesh practicing at Coimbatore.

Since we didn’t book any appointment, he asked us to come on the next day. I stayed that night in my sister’s home and the next day went to the Doctor again with my brother-in-law.

Doctor instructed me to take an MRI Scan after hearing my problems & symptoms. We went to him again with scan report by 11.30 pm. He took the report from us and asked us to come on the next day and left his desk. Immediately, he recalled us cancelling the next day’s appointment and asked us to wait. After thorough examination of the report, he called my brother-in-law inside and discussed something when I was waiting outside.

He came out with a shattered mind and I asked him “What is the problem?” He avoided my question and told me “Doctor is advising to take an injection, please do it and the rest shall be discussed during the travel going back.” I agreed and took pain killer injection and I never anticipated that a huge pain is going to hit my mind soon.

I was so tensed with some unknown fear that started growing inside my mind. While travelling back, he showed me the scan report with a terrified look. In that scan report there was a “BLANK SPACE - SIZE OF AN APPLE”. I was horrified to see that and asked him“What was that..? Nothing was printed in that space? It’s all white? Why”? Then he replied “There was the issue”

Acoustic Neurofibroma

There was a large mass of cyst called “Acoustic Neurofibroma” was formed on the brain, inside the skull. It started growing as a small cyst on the hearing vein of the right ear and grown enormously. Since it was pressing against the brain, the organs controlled by the brain are affected. That’s why all these headaches, inactive hands and legs and other issues happened to occur.

They couldn’t find out the type of the cyst and if I give even an extra pressure for example while going to toilet the cyst may burst. If it bursts

“Everything might be over”. The Doctor insisted us to get admitted in a famous hospital in Vellore and get ready for the operation immediately within that night.

My world was shattered in a minute. I was shaken to the core. Usually I hate men crying and I used to scold them when they cry. But tears were shedding from my eyes for the first time. I was not crying for me. I was crying for my wife. I was scared to leave her alone in this young age with the child in the womb. If I die my younger brother will take care of my parents but who is there for my wife except me?

Before I reach my home back, my friends consoled my parents, brother and wife and planned for the next step to be taken. Local friends in medical field advised us to go to Bangalore Manipal Hospital. Anything can happen during operation. So we decided to surrender to Dr.A.S.Hegde who is a famous Neurosurgeon in Bangalore. His success rate is also a reason for that. Without prior appointment it is very difficult to meet him. Even it takes a month to get an appointment.

Dr. A.S.Hegde , Neurosurgeon

In this critical situation, one of my friend’s father’s friend who was working in NAL Bangalore Mr.Sathyanarayanan uncle took remarkable efforts to fix the appointment in the next 2 hours with the help of his department.

I was a bit relaxed after discussing with the doctor. He made me feel comfortable with his soothing words, giving me courage to face the operation and explained the problems I may handle in future. He asked me to go home, console everyone and come back for operation after 2 days.

I got admitted as advised by the doctor in 2 days’ time. Pre-operative procedures started. After thorough monitoring and continuous examinations they fixed a date. It was a Thursday and the operation started by 11 am. A crew of 14 doctors showed their expertise for almost 8.30 hours. Evening by 7.30 it was over. I entered into the GATE OF DEATH and I returned safely. I couldn’t believe it at all.

Since the cyst was on the ear vein, while removing the cyst they had to cut my ear veins of right ear. So MY RIGHT EAR WILL LOSS ITS ABILITY TO HEAR. The nerves connecting the spinal cord and controlling the right side of the face has also been cut. So my right side of the face will not work anymore even it had some sensation. Right eye will not BLINK. It will be open round the clock. Till date, whenever it gets dry my only option is using eye drops to lubricate it.

I bought a new face which even my close buddies won’t be able to identify easily. Okay, no issues, at least, I AM LIVING now. Returned home after 15 days of hospital stay, the day before our First Wedding Anniversary. MY EXISTENCE WAS A GIFT TO HER on our anniversary.

Almost for about 6 months, I was in bed rest. With the help of my friend Thambidurai, a physiotherapist I was recovering slowly. “You don’t have choices. You have to lead your life like a Doll without moving” was the advice received with Love and I believed on that for years.

The next earthquake attacked 4 years ago. Since I handled a heavy weight which created a pressure on Disk C6-C7s of Spinal cord, I suffered unbearable pain again in right hand and back.

Again MRI scans, discussions with Dr.Pranesh and Got admitted in Coimbatore PSG Hospital. Pain killers and Physiotherapy alone for so many days. When I was discharged, they instructed me not to ride two wheelers, should not shake my body, and for atleast 2 months. I should take bed rest with physiotherapy regularly. It was a must do thing.

With the help of a physiotherapist Mr.Madhanagopalan, I did Traction at home twice a day for an hour with 5 Kg was enough as per the doctor’s advice. But I did it for 2 hours and with 7 Kg hoping to get well soon. At last senseless right hand has regained its sense. But till date index finger of the right hand has no sense at all. Again, I became like a doll.

If I wanted to learn and try something like YOGA, people who knows my history & geography will advise me with care “Please don’t hurt yourself by doing all these”.

Somewhere I got awareness. I don’t remember which was the right place or time. There are 200% chances for probably it would be “U2” FB group posts.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/494414430753853/

Our body is working all the 24 hours for us, but are we spending enough time to take care of our body? This was a big question until I read the FB postings of Mr.Erode Kathir. I was astonished by the posts and was asking myself, “he is a very busy person, how can he spare this much time to for physical activities?” I din’t hold the questions with me, I contacted him for the answers. His answer was “please join us. If possible continue or else you can leave.”

So with his permission and a kind of mutual contract I have included myself in U2 Fb group. (Ullathanaiya Udal - Fb group only for the activities towards health which includes walking, running, swimming, cycling,etc.,)

When I joined, I was wondering about the postings of the other members. (It was 600 when I joined and today it is 2300, in which at least 100 persons are updating regularly on a daily basis). These many are getting up early in the morning and doing work-outs for their health? “That’s fantastic” I felt.

Anyways, I joined the group and wanted to give a try and start something. I decided to start walking which would be only viable for my health condition.

I tuned my alarm for 5 am, but woke up by 7 am only. (sshhhh..pls don’t tell anyone that I switched the alarm off, covered myself and slept off again). This continued for some more days and my wife started teasing me “ You? Going for a Walk? Big Joke” The next day I was up to switch off the alarm before it rang.

I had to choose a road to walk, but which side or which road? Since I lived very near by the highway, I decided to choose NH. I walked with torch in hand, slippers on toes.

Political Experts of our region who has gathered at that time in the tea shops were gossiping at me (what’s the matter? I came to know about that later through some local boys. It was “Poor Guy, he experienced a narrow escape from death in recent past. Now in this age itself he is suffering from Diabetics. Oh. His grandfather had that. So he must have also got as genetic. That’s why he is going for walking.)

First day, I walked just 2Km and posted in the group. OMG, our group members liked & commented on that and appreciated me by wishing.

Waking up early has become a habit. I continued to walk on NH roads. I started tracking my activities with a mobile APP. When I posted on a day with a slight drizzle which I enjoyed a lot, I received an advisory comment from Mr. Durai Arasu “Bro, NH is not safe for walking. Early morning vehicles will come with rushing speed and with sleepy drivers. So,Please change your practicing route.”

Then I came to know some of my local friends were walking in a school ground and now they discontinued it because they lost their company.

I changed the route. Same time U2 announced a continuous 21-days challenge. I walked in our own school where I did schooling. I didn’t concentrate on the distance but continued my practice regularly. My friends saw me walking daily and joined again as a team of 8.

Now my slippers were replaced by the new shoes. I wanted to walk at least for the new shoes I bought. My 11-year-old son also joined me. The next two months we walked together and found that our father – son relationship gap has reduced a lot along with the slightly bulged tummy of my son. I told him to practice getting up early morning and make it a habit to improve his studies and I don’t want him to try hard with these activities at this age. Now-a-days he is getting up early and joining me on all holidays.

One day I got bored to walk again and again.Felt I could try something else? My brother told me they were playing Shuttle.Now they are not playing because they don’t have a partner. I said, let’s play it again. I bought YONEX for me and KONEX for my son.

From next day onwards walking and shuttle continued. Walk for an hour and Shuttle for 30 minutes. Activities were posted regularly in our U2 group. This time Durai noted all these and wanted me take in charge of the group activities for the month of January. That’s where I got a world of new friends.

I smiled at my wife who was exclaiming to our son '' What a surprise? Your dad is getting up by 5 am daily and going for walking.''

At this stage, I was monitoring brother Balamurugan who ran 3 km daily to reduce his body weight. By watching him I asked myself? Can I also run? He is running because he is fat. I am very lean. Then I why should I run?

I also had a fear while running and jumping, will something happen to my head again?

When Balamurugan was telling me “I don’t know why anna. If I am not running even for a day? I feel that day is wasted and I feel that day less energetic” I felt like “Aah! Why can’t I try this once? Daily I am walking, Let me try two rounds at least. Whatever happens let it happen.” That was the root cause and thought process which triggered me to run all these Marathons till date.

How to run? To what distance? What are the problems faced while running? Is it ok if breathing is abnormal? What Pace? What diet to be followed? I never knew any of the basics of running and I was running a distance of 3km. Then slowly increased the distance to 4km, 5km and found there were no issues. Then I felt guilty about myself “Alas! I wasted these many years without running.”

U2’s “running machine” Mr.Rajkumar was watching my posts regularly. When he crossed our village for an official work with his friend Mr.Anandan, he remembered me and called. In our first meeting, we had a chat for sometime. Over a cup of tea, a lots of information and experiences were shared about running. Just by running alone Raj has reduced around 25kg of his body weight. His suggestions and advises are the core factors of my running. Even today, he always monitors my runs and advices/motivates me whenever necessary.

With Raj’s guidance, I stepped in to the journey of Marathon by enrolling my First Marathon in Chennai conducted by “Tower Twisters” a 10-Km category without any registration charges in 9^th April 2017.

My next Marathon was at the foot hills of Yercaud, organized by Salem Runners India. I have completed that run in an hour enjoying the beautiful scenery and wonderful weather. That was a blissful experience at my home town.

Next was in Coimbatore in which I ran 8.5 km (distance marked was 10 km) in 48 minutes.Lesson to be learnt here is that “we should never participate in the Marathons which are conducted by the Inexperienced team” (I don’t want to mention their name here.)

DRHM 2017 – Chennai – My First Half Marathon (21 Km)

Next to that was Chennai Trial Marathon (21 Km) in September 2017

Vodafone Coimbatore Marathon (21Km) October 1^st 2017

12^th November 2017, Spice Coast Marathon (21Km) Cochin

03^rd December 2017,WIPRO Chennai Marathon (21Km)

07^th January 2018, Muthu Marathon (21 Km) Konganapuram / Salem – My 6^th Half Marathon & 2018’s First Marathon.

When I crossed 21.1 Km in 1:57:21 hours. This is my Personal Best Timing ( Sub 2).

21.01.2018 – Salem Mega Marathon - Run with my Son (10Km)

27^th January 2018, Kodaikanal Hills Ultra (21 Km) – Kodaikanal

11^th February 2018, Auroville Marathon (21Km) Pondicherry

18^th February 2018,

Hill Experience in Yercaud Hills Ultra Marathon (25Km)

Erode Run – Half Marathon (21Km) 22.04.2018

Ooty Ultra 2018 – 30Km

100 Days of Running Challenge

100 Days

110:05:44 Hours

1,123.45 Kilo Meters

100 Roads

One Goal

100 Days Of Running made me whatever the achievements and the self analysis done by me all these 17 months, being a competitor to myself a very normal thing.

400 Meter : 1:28 Minutes

1 Kilometre : 4:12 Minutes

5 Kilometre: 22:15 Minutes

10 Kilometre : 50:19 Minutes

15 Kilometre : 1:19:37 Hours

20 Kilometre : 1:46:31 Hours

21.1 Kilometre : 1:52:51 Hours

30 Kilometre : 2:47:47 Hours

32.2 Kilometre : 2:58:27 Hours

41.195 Kilometre : 04:13:15 Hours

(As per STRAVA & Timed Event Record)

Porur Rolling Run (Flyover Run) 32.1 K

My First Full Marathon : Airtel Hyderabad Marathon 2018 (26.08.2018)

I felt extremely happy when I bowed and received a medal for completing my First Full Marathon 42.195 Km within 04:13:15 hours. I really got goosebumps at that moment. Even after running so many Marathons, I felt somewhat so shy to mark me as a Marathoner until I crossed my finishing line of Airtel Hyderabad Marathon. I felt myself overwhelmed with a satisfaction as if I have achieved at least 1%.

November 18^th2018 - GG – Kovai Pudur – 21Km.

Also finished....

January 6^th 2019 – Chennai Marathon – 32 Km.(20 Miler)

January 20^th 2019 – TATA Mumbai Marathon – 42.195Km.

March 27th 2019 -Valvil Ori Ultra Marathon - 52 K

August 27 th 2019 - TROT11 - 50 k

October 6th 2019- VCM2019 - 21 K

November 02 2019 - MALNAD ULTRAIL - 80 K

December 15th 2019 - RRMM 2019 - 21 K (Pacer)

January 5th 2020 - SPCM 2020 - 42 K

Below are the answers to some people who ask me often “What are the benefits you get from running like a hell?”

Learning lots of lessons.
Waking up early has become a habit.
High Sprits
Planning the whole day activities
Self Analysing
Self Confidence
Courage
Healthy
Bunch of good friends
Experience sharing with Co Runners.
Apart from these,“Feeling Young and Energetic”though I am getting older day by day.

What else do you expect?

Some of my Inputs & Ideas for the New Beginners of Running from my past experiences:

Be prepared / determined in mind.
Start with a slow running / jogging.
Let it be a short distance of running during beginning stage.
Get trained at least for about 3 or 4 days a week.
When you begin watch your pain on legs & knees. Pain will reduce within 2 to 3 days. If the pain continues then get it treated properly, medically.
If injuries occur during trainings, please STOP the training immediately. Do not increase your injuries by ignoring.
Choose the right shoes.
Warm-up & Warm-down exercises are mandatory before and after running.
Get well hydrated during run with water and energy drinks.
It is recommended to use Dry Fit Dresses instead of Cotton clothes.
Intake sufficient of Protein and Carbohydrates in your regular diet.
Take part in a short distance Marathon at least once, and you will automatically be ready to run more.
Our willingness to run & Proper training are mandatory.
Please don’t think about your disability in your body and don’t restrict yourself from initiating a run. You will definitely feel sorry for those negative decision and barrier someday.
Running will surely give you a CHANGE.

Important Request To All :

Please don’t believe in advices from inexperienced people/ doctors closing your eyes. I regret that I have wasted these many years because I trusted those advices. Each of us will have different kind of metabolic structure.
Try with a self analysis.
Everything will fall in place when you concentrate your mind.

I found the inner soul of mine because of the “Ullathanaiya Udal-U2 Group in Fb”.

There are plenty of people who encourage me in this group. I will be pleased if any of you get motivated by this post.

Can I too run like others? was my question and I found myself as an answer to that by becoming a Marathoner..

I read once ...

“Somewhere Someone Is Daring To Do The Things Which We Are Refusing To Do Saying We Cannot”

Being a one man army from a tiny village,

If I can run, Why Can’t You?

Don’t know why..Even if Don’t run a day, I feel like something is missing – has become my usual dialogue.

Friends, these are not just for words. I have crossed many obstacles in my life and I have never expected that I can wonder myself seeing from a different angle as a Marathoner. This is absolutely because of the Ullathaniaya Udal - U2 team. I wish to Thank and pay my gratitude to U2’s founder our Guruji Mr.Shan, Mr.Kathir - Erode Vaasal Whastapp Group who encouraged me to write this, My family, and each one of you who made me who I am today.

I thank you for reading this with utmost patience.

I wish to cross many more miles if life and time permits.

If you wish to follow me, here below is my STRAVA link..

https://www.strava.com/athletes/21249980

If you wish to follow me, here below is my Facebook link..

https://www.facebook.com/realimage.vpy

See You Soon. Good Luck. Happy Running..

Lion. Balamurali.P

Vaazhapaadi, Salem, Tamilnadu..

+91 98434 75675 / +91 94432 75675