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Gaju joined me at Nehru Park this morning. It was his first run in this part of Delhi. We warmed up for a few rounds with an unexpected detour to the Leela for a call of nature at my end.

A quick mile back to the car and we were ready for the main set of the day – 3 x 5k interspersed within long run Sunday.

The sets were on, and within seconds in their total timing. It was hard going but didn’t feel impossible. It is daunting to think of these in relation to the upcoming marathon but I let the feeling slide. We’ll see. I’m simply training.

During our cool down, running on Shanti Path, Gaju commented on the flower beds and the hundreds of tulips, some were budding, showing hints of colour against the winter morning.

Kitne ache hai, he said.

Best part of the morning, I thought.

Later, driving back home the young boy called me and said he was jumping on the treadmill. When I was home, the chipmunks were upto all manner of antics on the TV, the boy was running, laughing, and blazing through his three sets of fifteen minutes each.

Best part of the morning all over again.

The city was shrouded in fog this morning. I had thought that after a couple of kilometres at the track, we would head out as has been the usual routine these days. But the fog only built up.

The fog turned milky at dawn but with no sign of sun or sky. Or perhaps it was the sky itself that had descended on the track.

A steady fourteen around lane nine and a quick workout later rounded up this Saturday morning.

After the double run yesterday today was total rest day as inputted by my coach.

A big plate of chole bhature at the legendary Bengali market rounded up the rest day perfectly well.

Perhaps the sun has started rising just a minute or two earlier. Shyly, slyly.

The bluish tinge of the sky in the eastern horizon, just about reveals the earth inching away from winter. At least in our part of the world.

The run in the morning saw Jeet, Gaju and I on the road, running quietly, the occasional sound of traffic, and the nonstop singing of Coach Ravi in the most besura voice.

I wanted to beg him to stop, but then again, the man was cycling along us for over an hour.

In the evening, because I wanted to just get on with it, I put on my running shoes and ran in my work clothes. It’s possibly the first time I have done this. Surprisingly, it was easy. Nothing officious about it.

I’ve written about Yasso 800s later and remember reading and then writing about these intervals being honest.

It was a good effort with Jeet and Gaju and as the intervals went by, the time reduced – by mere seconds – but I know how tough that was.

Towards the end of these twelve repeats, it took some digging into, to get into the zone, to feel that I can do it – Gaju egging me on, Coach Ravi shouting out splits, that’s track morning.

Gaju and I ran about five kilometres at the track and then with Coach Ravi on his scooter – a recurring theme these days – we took off towards Bakhtavar Chowk and straight on.

This neat line from the parking lot to the T point is exactly three kilometres. It never changes. It is just so. Sometimes I wonder if life should be like that too. Exactly predictable. But perhaps these are all the predictable waypoints that life needs.

A core workout rounded up the morning and prepared me for the day ahead.

I watched a movie last night, slept late and gleefully thought I was playing hooky since I didn’t have training today.

Today, Sunday was probably one my longest runs this past season. What is season though? I run and train year round.

But perhaps the time from July onward becomes about race possibilities. It’s a great challenge to do a PB or sometimes to just run a race without looking at the watch. But over time, the training, the track, the track folks, Nehru Park, regular running days, just the rhythm of running routine is what means everything to me.

As I exited the car, I saw Shikha race past. It was a 35k day and the company would be helpful to say the least. It took me nearly two kilometres to catch up to her. She was already on her seventeenth kilometre. Hers was a 40k run so that meant I could run the next couple of hours with her.

After a very short exchange, we ran quietly, alternating between Shanti Path and Vinay Marg around Nehru Park. We saw the pink blush of the sky come up and in the next loop the same horizon turned into a ghostly pale white.

For no reason it reminded me of the Galliano show for Maison Margiela. Or perhaps the sky within two rounds perfectly reflected the make up possibilities of a couture show.

On we went then towards the arc of Niti Marg to Nyaya Marg, past the usual dogs outside the American embassy and then around towards the parking for Shikha to complete her run with a quick high-five and bye.

I put on headphones, had a swig of electrolytes and started off again to complete my run. Picking up pace but keeping it comfortable, running the familiar loops, I finished the Republic Day very long effort.

Or so it felt after finishing these four mile repeats. Thank goodness, I did these on the road. Coach Ravi, Gaju and I stood around at track debating whether to them at track or road.

I’ve done all sorts of workouts on the track – including long efforts – but these were definitely better done on the road.

With Coach Ravi on his white scooter and by our side, Gaju and I set off for these long efforts. Ever grateful – a fantastic morning – blistering, rambunctious, mad running.

After the double run yesterday, took the day off.