This morning when Coach Ravi called and asked if I am coming, I responded saying yes and that we would run outside.
After parking at the stadium, Gaju, another young man and I set off with Coach Ravi alongside on his usual trusty scooty.
They asked me about the Delhi half and I shared some stories. Ab ki bar alag si training karni hai sir, said Gaju. I nodded vigorously- whatever nodding vigorously can mean while running. But I meant it – I wanted to put in a different level of training over the winter.
Hill training bhi karo, said Coach Ravi from the scooty. I nodded again. By this time we were approaching Bhaktavar Chowk and the sky was turning colours, dawn fast approaching.
Usually we went left or straight. Is taraf said the Coach pointing to his right, flyover hai. Agle hafte.
And just like that, why next week, I thought. Let’s start. And we turned right.
It was up and down and up and down again and again till we were winded and full of exhilaration and exhaustion. The new young man fell off and climbed on the scooty. Gaju and I settled back into flat road running and a good tempo rhythm for the last mile back to the stadium.
Back home, a solid circuit workout earned me breakfast.
Writing about Running 