Slept in a bit. In fact slept after ages it seems. Went out for a short and most pleasant run in beautiful new Nike shoes.

Parul got them for me from London. The salesperson is running the Boston marathon himself. He recommended this training model that I hadn’t tried before. Runner to runner recommendation – what could be better. Certainly better than restaurant recommendations or travel destinations that are often treated with a measure of hmmm I wonder. I hope I don’t do that but if I am writing about it perhaps I am speaking to myself to be aware of such reaction.

At any rate – I would take a shoe recommendation from a Boston runner any day.

This is definitely now a pattern for the next two months. Have to adjust the routine a bit and get Friday going.

Finally it was off to a good start at Nehru Park. Many 400s and followed by a tempo run. I didn’t feel particularly strong but at the same time I managed to cover the paces required.

I divided up the morning into sets on the treadmill. Toggled with the incline and off I went counting down the workout.

I finished with a light core workout and rounded up for a new morning.

I woke up early and started the day off almost immediately with work. Day off from training. Feeling great after yesterday’s long run.

And that’s the way to do it.

Slept late. Woke up late. A clear dilemma. Should I go to Nehru Park and run in ever increasing morning traffic or should I just stomach it and run up and down in the driveway?

Even as I was putting my shoes on, I was undecided. Finally, saving an hours worth of driving and dodging traffic made the decision for me.

And so it was. Up and down for thirty six rounds. At least I have the luxury of this driveway.

Nearing the last 7-8k, the young girl joined me in nearly every round running anywhere between 20m and 100m with me. Pure joy. First run with her.

Her brothers were on the swings but she stood in the middle of the driveway waiting for me, running with me, holding my finger, tongue out, keeping up. Pure joy.

Woke up today feeling quite bombed. But hit the driveway. Soon the young boy and his cousin joined me. We did a fartlek type run and then a solid core workout afterwards.

Good start to the weekend.

Even though I did not sleep late last night, I was exhausted when I woke up. Skipped today but will make up tomorrow.

Because of early morning class, I continued to study. I decided to instead run tomorrow.

I got a surprise message last evening. Maneesh was in town and was checking to run this morning. Of course, yes !

We met early at our usual spot on Golf Course Road. It was dark when we began and the hints of dawn wafted through on our return. We exchanged notes on each other’s training, work, holidays and life in general.

Amit and Maneesh have an exciting Pokhara to Mustang bike trip coming up in April. I am quite sure I could never quite do that kind of technical riding.

It was an easy, talkative hour. We missed our chai because a group of ten had just ordered at Chaayos beating us to any possibility of getting a tea together.

Back at home, I did a solid workout that will surely have its after effects felt tomorrow.