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Quick up and down when you wake up late is only possible because of the driveway.

So while it can be playing games on my mind – this up and down – it is a friend.

Landed late night, early morning. Monday so day off. Exhaustion seeping in my bones, sleep sitting in my furrows.

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.

I had to hit the track for a quick one because I had a flight to catch.

I called Coach Ravi en route. Within a few rounds into the run, he was there. As was Gaju who had done the intervals with me yesterday.

Coach Ravi joined for alternate rounds, Jeet came at some point, and Gaju ran throughout with me. Steady, slow, easy running. Grateful for their company and ready to catch the flight.

1 2 Ka 4, and so it went today in this pyramid mile work around the track. Relentless with short breaks between mile sets. I had a blast doing them although a four miler around the track – well – phew.

Jeet joined me for most of it, but it was another kid Gaju who gave me solid company throughout.

But the star of the show for these forty rounds was Coach Ravi with his stopwatch call outs, encouragement, admonishment and the seriousness that he brings to the game when work is to be done.

Coach Eilish, my light and guide, Coach Ravi, the on-ground, all-round companion.

When I woke up, it was miserably cold and raining and foggy. Great combination.

I drove to Nehru Park and I have scarcely seen it as eerie and quiet as I did today. Not a car, or a person in sight.

I sat there listening to cello music and debated for nearly ten minutes. I had a super hard interval session and I couldn’t quite fathom running those today. In this dark, cold and wet weather.

I went home, trying to remember the last time this may have happened. I couldn’t – which is probably a good thing. At any rate, I took the day off.

Exactly the same as yesterday. Perhaps ten seconds difference in timing. Started off twenty minutes earlier than yesterday. It was dark, foggy and cold. Reluctantly, the light started trickling through the misty air, glowing, pulsating, a ghostly white that gave way to a gloomy sky. January and all that.

Because I slept late last night, consumed by ChatGPT, I woke up slightly late and decided to run in the driveway. Simple up and down, but at least for me, no matter that I have run here dozens of times, it seems like a test for patience too.

No rest for the wicked ! Long endless day !

This week has all been about the training starting and ending well before dawn.

I love seeing the sky change colours and prepare for a new day, so today I went on the later side to Nehru Park.

It had been an intense Saturday at work and when I woke up, it was an aftermath of meeting notes spinning in my head.

The run turned out amazing. I felt light on my feet as I warmed up for the long run-interval combination. I got some hoots of encouragement and shabaash from Piyush (a very fast runner and all round good guy) – that felt great.

The sky did change colours just as it does everyday. To notice the shades above and around just for a brief moment or two, while keeping tempo and time, is a thought oasis.