When I pulled up at the track just before five am, Ashwini was already warming up. I could see him in the distance. Lean, packed with muscles, a woolly pulled over his head, cheekbones shining, that easily recognisable gait.
We did a couple of rounds before some warm up exercises. Of course, I am as stiff as a plyboard, while Ashwini was bending and twisting and turning like a rubber band. How ridiculous I must look.
The session penned in was 5k x 3 sets. Scary. Even scarier to start/stop.
I decided to do it at one go and I discussed the option with Ashwini.
Ek bar mein sir, he said.
And so we went. 37.5 rounds of the 400m track, lane 1, counting the kilometres down, while Coach Ravi called out each split. Towards the end, faster and faster, the shouts of other runners with each pass.
Chale, Chale. CHALE!
At the last round, Ashwini took off, kicking up strides, racing and finishing just ahead. We finished strong, it felt so good.
We embraced just as the sky began to change its colours.
Writing about Running 