The Doha Corniche reminded me of Marine Drive as I looked out my hotel window, sipping a Nespresso and watched the tinge of dawn seep above the horizon.
I made my way down and began the run right outside the hotel. One kilometre later and I was at the top of the Corniche start at the Sheraton. From here until the point I ran was five kilometres – intersecting ribbons of rubber track, bicycle lanes, and pavement by the crescent bay.
Wikipedia says that the corniche extends for seven kilometres, but my u-turn point at the beautiful Museum of Islamic Art (that I visited later) was the perfect five kilometre stretch for a back and forth long run Sunday.
I thought about the on-going Bombay marathon and that energised me only further.
Because the corniche is next to the main highway, the sounds of the whoosh of cars, and the wind is near constant. These sounds and a sudden silence of the early morning was only noticeable when I passed a red light with waiting cars and the wind dropped at the exact same time.
I don’t know quite what to make of new cities with their shiny impossible skylines but today Doha and the long run Sunday blended into wonderland.
Writing about Running 