Work hi to hai, said Ashwini in response to Suryansh’s comment.
Suryansh had laughingly bemoaned that there were many more intervals ahead. When I think about the number during training – and I do – it seems daunting – as if they will never finish – or that I won’t be able to keep the pace.
But in a huge part, thanks to this track gang, this lovely little group that we are today, the work goes by with a sense of team spirit, of that very literal shoulder to shoulder. Especially with Monu and Ashwini and Suryansh and seeing them run, our shoulders and elbows often knocking against each other, rounding the curves, going down the straights, pressing the lap button at the end of each repetition.
Coach Ravi yelled out the splits, Ashwini at the last repetition, shifted into what surely was a nitrous oxide burst. He raced ahead, Monu followed on with the pace challenge, until both of them were already a speck, their legs flying and yet their bodies seemingly still and serene.
As I ran and pushed myself to the final home stretch, I couldn’t help but shake my head in admiration and with endless gratitude for these incredible times at the track. Work.
Writing about Running 