During Covid, I ran a virtual half marathon around Nehru Park and submitted my “official” timing and a link to the run.
While I was cooling down, a runner ran by asking for help. So off I went again and paced Shantanu to achieve his personal best. That day we exchanged introductions, numbers and a smile.
Shantanu and I cross each other once a while on Sunday. There is a manner in which he shouts out my name that lights me up.
Today, this with Shantanu, while running with Shikha.
Running with her, silently, increasing the pace gently, curving through the quieter, leafier parts of Niti and Nyaya Marg, the sound of our feet, a steady metronome against the tarmac.
We ran ninety odd minutes together. She finished and I took off to complete the rest of my run.
Later, the young boy took the treadmill blasting Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, and a host of other rappers I hadn’t heard before. This only helped in increasing the speed dial while the music boomed through house.
A good start to the morning.
Writing about Running 