Tag Archives: Sikh

12.05.13
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What is Paleo and What is not ?

From Wikipedia

The paleolithic diet (abbreviated paleo diet or paleodiet), also popularly referred to as the caveman diet, Stone Age diet and hunter-gatherer diet, is a modern nutritional plan based on the presumed ancient diet of wild plants and animals that various hominid species habitually consumed during thePaleolithic era—a period of about 2.5 million years which ended around 10,000 years ago with the development of agriculture and grain-based diets. In common usage, the term “paleolithic diet” can also refer to actual ancestral human diets

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10.21.12
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Swimming as a Sikh

My blog says I am a ‘Sikh‘. A sikh guy who is poised to swim, bike and run.

I have been swimming for a while, at the various swim centers in and around Santa Clara / San Jose. I like them all, but the one in Campbell works out great for me.

So today, an acquaintance at the campbell swimming pool walks over to share the lane with me. And we have this conversation-

acquaintance : “Can I join you ?”

me: “yes”

acquaintance: “Are you a Sikh ?”

me: smiling “yes I am”

acquaintance: “Great, first time I am seeing a sikh swimmer. This is what I have been telling to the others in the pool, that, he is a Sikh guy, and is doing pretty good. I have travelled all over the world, and have never seen a sikh guy swimming”

me: smiling and laughing “yes, infact, even I have not seen one, but surely there might be people “. (while writing this blog, it just striked me that my best friend Gagan learnt swimming)

Honestly, I was so happy, being called a sikh, and a swimmer (anyone who swims is a swimmer, isn’t it ?). On the same lines, it also made me think, that I need to do google look-up to find Sikh swimmers. There will definitely be Sikh women in the sport, but difficult to spot a sikh guy.

Few reasons, I think of that we do not see too many sikhs swimming:

  1. Swim centers are expensive infrastructure to build, so not easily available to people in every other country. This is generally speaking.
  2. Other reason, I can think of, but lot of Sikhs may tell me wrong, ‘sikh men find wetting their hair, and beard just too big a deal, and difficult to handle, and open beard after a swim.’
  3. Lot many sikh adults, do not know swimming, for the above two reasons.
  4. People think and spend more time thinking on how and what 5K’s to carry while swimming. Do we carry the kirpan when boarding the flight ? Its not that you are ditching the K’s. Lets just first get ourselves into the pool, and there will be workarounds, each one of us can figure out.
  5. We ponder over the protocols, if any, for the sikhs taking to swimming as a sport. Over the centuries, sports activities, and the competitiveness, in them have changed. So as per me, it is absolutely OK to untie your turban and put the swimming cap, because you do this anyways when taking a shower.

For those having really long hairs, here is a little innovation by sikhswim.com 

Few posts on SikhSwimming-

1) People discussing on what to wear, and how to carry the 5-Ks during the swims: http://www.sikhnet.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2251

2) SwimBana (Burqini:  Burqa + Bikini) is a dream come true for many Sikh women. They can feel free from the moral judges that also act like “fashion police”, who are trying to shackle Sikhi with Abrahamic and Vedantic chains, while sitting cross-legged on their high chairs.

3) http://sikhswim.com/2008/07/17/sikh-swim-community-center/

4) To swim or not to swim (for women) – http://www.sikhchic.com/roundtable/to_swim_or_not_to_swim_the_roundtable_open_forum_63

09.18.11
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Sikh strides with Pride

So it was my first 5K. Running for one’s own identity and own pride is such an awesome feeling. The race was organized by SikhCoalition, a non-profit organisation who fights for the legal rights of the minority groups in US.

Since 9/11, there have been lot of hate crimes, and discrimination against the Sikhs, because of their identity. This was a fund-raising 5K race. Money raised through the effort, goes into running the SikhCoalition.

Now to the race part. This was a flat quick race. Challenged strongly by a bunch of high school kids, and freshmen, I believe I ran my fastest and strongest 5K ever. The kids were awesomely good, and paced hard throughout the distance. Coming back from a 13 mile run the previous day, and lot of icing, I maintained a constant speed throughout the run. Keeping a close tab on my strides, ensuring that the landing happens on the foot / mid-foot and the turnover remains quick.

Honestly, it was so exciting to be in the lead pack for around 4K, till I slowed down a bit, and two runners passed me. I enjoyed every moment of the crowd cheer, as I ran my way back from the half mark, being the fourth runner in the lead, rest all being high school kids and freshmen.

But it was so much fun to run a fast race. Overall, this was one of the best runs I ever experienced.

For details on SikhCoalition visit their website at SikhCoalition

08.09.11
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The tricky trails

Less strain on the heels yesterday, and good amount of icing on the heels, helped my morning run at Rancho San Antonio. The Hill run was awesome today, and I covered the steep rise with just two small breathers, nearing the peak.

Trail winding back down the hill

 

The hilly, windy trail is always tricky. When it seems to you that you are nearing the peak, it surprises you with another climb :(. And then if you motivate yourself to run till the next turn, hoping this is the end of it, it surprises you again … 🙂 …I reflect on my uphill run, while running downhill, and try to motivate for another gentle uphill, if I can find.

My running partner John, who pulled out of today’s run because of a splinter in his foot, never likes the tricky trails. They are steep, and as soon as they seem to end, you find the route further up. These trails are good for split runs on the hills. May be today’s trail can be one of my training tracks, for leg strengthening, and speed. Sprint for a minute upwards, walk for sometime downwards, and then sprint up again for a minute. Repeating this for 5-6 times.

Hikers have their own way to explore the trails, and runners their own. I find that we can explore a park quicker than a hiker can … lolz!!

08.08.11
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My weekend runs

Friday late night, and then early morning Saturday, geared up for the unknown trail and hill at Rancho San Antonio Park. John, my running partner had mapped out a trail path, for the run. A 6 mile run turned out to be a 7 mile one, when we got confused with the turns on the trail. After a 2 mile climb, and without water, we were anxious to get down, and

back to the parking lot. We selected the same route back, and after asking another runner, took a diversion. We again got lost with the trail :), but we got some of the best views of the city.

 

Getting lost on the hilly trails is as painful, as it is fun. For me whenever I reflect on my run, I feel excited on the achievement, and try to ponder over the run up the hill. How and when I could have pushed myself harder, and things like that.

Sunday morning had another 8 mile flat run on the Los Gatos trail. It’s a paved trail, and the run was with the American Cancer Society Determination team members and Road Runners group. Being with other runners who are faster than you, you tend to run fast, clocking few secs above 8 min/mile for first 4 miles was an achievement for me. Though I did not push very hard, but something that I never tried. For the remaining 4 miles, I was too happy to clock my timing.

Today is Monday, and am not running, will be biking in the evening.