SPORTS
Outrun your
A lesson in dedication , determination and discipline , that the runners at Petroleum House imbibed while preparing for the Annual Sports Meet .
W ith the first ray of the rising sun , we , the runners at Petroleum House , woke up to embrace our daily tryst with vigorous training . With determination on our mind , dedication in our heart and discipline in our soul , we began this memorable journey towards victory . We were welcomed with bruised arms , cramped legs and an aching tummy , to name a few . Was it difficult ? Yes ! Worth it ? Absolutely !
At HPCL , we are blessed with numerous opportunities to participate in a number of cultural and sporting events . Therefore , we decided to put in that extra effort and participate in the Annual Sports Meet , 2018 . We knew it wouldn ’ t be easy and it wasn ’ t . Specially , for people who spend most of their waking hours with their heads buried in their laptops and feet , motionless , on the ground , running was not an easy task .
For two months , every day , we were sweating it out on the ground , before the big day , to do justice to the task at hand . A typical session would last for one and a half hours , and involved jogging , stretching and warm-up exercises followed by 8-10 sprints of 30 , 60 , 90 and 120 metres on the tracks . Most of us were either new to professional running or had never participated in any sporting event of this sort . Therefore , our coaches , Mr . Sudheer Bhilare and Mr . Vijay Zad , taught us about the various styles and techniques involved in running , and the nitty gritty of enhancing our performance , while staying away from injuries .
Running is not merely an activity of moving from point A to point B . It is about blending science and skills in athletic running . In those two months , we also managed to create some priceless memories and lasting friendships .
On 6th January , 2018 , we reached the ground with an unusual confidence . We knew that we had given it our blood and sweat , quite literally , and that our success was not going to be measured merely by our win that day . Our success was a culmination of those early winter mornings where we chose to sprint instead of sleep , fight instead of flight and conquer instead of falter .
Despite of immense competition from all zones and refineries , the women ’ s and men ’ s team , from Petroleum House , competed fiercely in all races . Apart from a few injuries during the event , no one gave up .
The women ’ s team , representing Petroleum House , emerged as the second runners up in the relay race . Not only relay , but the team also had an illustrious performance in 1500m , 200m and 100m races . The combined efforts of the mentors and runners added one more feather in the crown of Petroleum House .
Lungs pang gasping for air , Muscles strained in despair . Our mind set on the finish line , Our bodies geared up to beat the time . With single thought echoing in our mind , “ We are the warriors of today and an example for tomorrow .”
Maitreyee Mohokar , Audit Officer , PH Navneet Raj , Executive-Industrial Engineering , Manpower Planning
16 ISSUE 1 2018