Why did I bunk
yesterday? The soreness of the soles was not a good enough reason, there was
more to it. The Sunday’s run turning out to be more a socializing event than
for serious running (more photo breaks than run!) had me in a depressed state.
I won’t say I did not like meeting so many runners, however, we should have had
more of running together and exchange of thoughts to justify the breaks. Even
precious rain time was wasted. The enthusiasm of the group and sincere effort
to make us welcome was infectious. Hope we can a good run sometimes soon! It
turned out that not only did I bunk, I caused Sundar to bunk as well!
Biscuit had a
bad night with some ear infection and did not get up with me. He walked in
leisurely at 3:48 AM, when I had almost given up on him and demanded his pound
of flesh (read walk!), I gave him lip service and just a few grams of flesh!
Even then by the time I dropped Biscuit back and reached the gates, Sundar was
already there and waiting (I don’t know how long!). We started at 4:07 AM
(maybe, Sundar was eager to start after a day’s break and reached earlier than
usual!).
Discussions
during the initial part of the run were on the KK Nagar run with @Raj. Then it
turned to commercialization in the various running events. The conclusion was
the gadgets and gizmos initially and then the group recognition and timings
take hold of a runner and beyond that comes the stage when running for running
sake happens. The trick is to enjoy the running as one progresses through these
various stages. I see @Santosh having successfully graduated to the last stage
where he has found a higher purpose linked with his joy of running. Hope I get
to some higher purpose before age/injury interferes with my joy of running!
We reached
Lighthouse at 4:53 AM. I stopped over for cow feeding (I had only one banana peel
with me, as our Man Friday decided to empty the garbage can y’day evening!) She
gave me a look as if to say ‘Issse Mera Kya Hogaa’. She accepted it gracefully
though! Maybe, I should have kept it for the Ram Shyam duo (I don’t refer to
their colour!), only they are together always, a pair of calves. Today they
were sitting in silent communion facing away from each other, but, touching
each other at the sides, watching the passerby. There is a beggar who wishes me
and gets wished every day when I cross him, today he tried to slip in the
business angle by showing his floor demand by wagging two fingers at me. I
silently turned my empty shorts pocket out and he said ok smilingly (we decided
to part as friends, no hard feelings!).
Sundar
commented about M S Amma still giving us the cold ones, but, his diagnosis is
she must be having a cold and must be making her appearance later in the day. I
have decided not to drag her into my posts henceforth and see if she decides to
perform again for us!
Today I was
running strong and fine sand on the walk way was giving my soles good grip,
but, it was bad from Sundar, as his shoe soles have gone bald and he is
extracting the last few miles from them. He says this new found love for
economy is due to the influence yours truly! The timing at RBI, 5:23 AM, was
not exactly superfast, but, the feeling was good and I was not breathless. Now
Sundar does not need to take stretching breaks (am I spoiling his good habits!)
in between, and we immediately turned back. Lighthouse was reached at 5:53 AM. Today
some runners have started exchanging waves and responding to smiles. I think I will
start liking this route. We have decided to run a marathon on full moon day by
suitably advancing the start time from this month onwards. When we were coming
for our second loop we met @Ram Rajagopalan and met his friend and him near the
Labour statue. We reached RBI at 6:24 AM (1 hour 1 minute for the loop, quite
good!). Gandhi statue signal was reached at 6:52 AM.
Now that the
good part is done, the return on the traffic laden road and Sun on the back is
the necessary payback. However, the good part was that when I waved to two
school kids who were waiting with their grandfather waved back after his
prompting (city bred kids are not so trusting of strangers and that too half
naked ones!). Reached home at 7:29 AM (3:22 hours for 32+ kilometer!), a very
satisfying run today.
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