Control at the Track

Because it had rained, not proper rain but a careless smattering, the track glistened and the air was noticeably better.

My sister Roshini and I went to track together. We ran separately – she with AirPods and me with some of the track gang.

It was an easy time on feet effort. Intervals counts down differently from time on feet – to say the obvious. Especially at a track.

I asked Suryansh if he found running lane nine, round after round, tedious.

Beech me thoda boring ho jata hai.

I nodded.

Magar countdown kar ne mein bhi maza aata hai, he continued.

When we reached the single digits, estimating how many rounds were balance, we began counting them down. It’s fascinating that one can calculate each round, and the total within a range of a few seconds.

I love this sense of control at the track. Perhaps that’s what can be said about running in itself, this purest of sport and being.