Ran in the driveway at a very decent pace. Hit the gym after for a solid workout.

Rest today. Felt like running but took a break.

Even though the roads around were full of the usual runners, it felt quiet this morning. I ran steadily, feeling better after weeks. First week of April and it’s still a bit cool in the morning for Delhi standards. I saw a few runners with jackets tied around their waists.

I called Gaju in the morning and asked him if he was up for a track workout. He was.

I hit the track after ages and we did time based intervals in lane nine. It was just perfect.

The light slanted across the track in beautiful springtime yellow.

Ran an easy run at home and rounded up with a solid core workout.

Easy today.

We reached Nehru Park when it was already teeming with runners. It was still dawn though, the spring light seeping through trees and sky.

As I was pulling up, I said that we hadn’t seen Gokul in a while. When we stepped out to begin, there he was. Wonderful providence.

We ran together for most of the run talking, catching up, three of us in step with each other.

At the end, the young boy and I did the last two kilometres and rounded up a beautiful spring morning together.

Coach Ravi called me early morning so I decided to head to track.

I parked at the stadium and we headed off. Monu, Kapil, Gaju, a new young man and Coach Ravi on his trusted scooty. Off it was down the usual L-shaped road although it must have been months since I came here.

This, evidenced by the increased construction activity around the Gurgaon metro in the median of the double road. Some time ago it was only barricades, now the spines of steel columns are visible. A year or so ago, there was nothing at all.

Running with the track kids always changes the pace game. What started off relatively easy, soon shifted to a moderate run eventually nearing tempo effort.

There was increasing Gurgaon traffic around us; early morning activity perking up. For one section though it was quiet and you could hear the sound of our shoes against tarmac.

A solid run rounded off later by a solid workout.

Took it easy.

We were both pulling up at Nehru Park at the same time. We both had an easy run.

We ran together chatting and catching up, doing Niti, Vinay, Shanti and Nyaya for almost a no repeat on any road to round it up to a solid ten.