Track Twenty

Because of travel coming up, I switched my long run to midweek Wednesday.

I didn’t want to go to Nehru Park and run solo, so instead went to track. An hour before dawn, there were already many of the usual folks at the stadium.

At first, some of the track gang joined me on lane nine. Then all of them peeled off to do their interval workout. Except for Suryansh who stayed with me as the colours of the sky turned inky blue, then a pale grey, a faded blue wash, and finally a mix of the two. As runners and walkers came and went.

As the lady in the salwar kameez finished her intervals and did some marvellous stretches on the side of the track. At one point, as I passed her, she yelled out encouragement while she herself seemed to be in an impossible cobra type pose. Hats off, I say.

We went lap after lap. It was enjoyable to run long in the middle of the week. I made a mental note to ask my Coach to up the game for a middle of the week run. Thursday would suit best.

It was Suryansh’s longest run – perhaps he did a couple of kilometres lesser than I did – but it was all my privilege – and endless gratitude to have him right here at lane nine.