Because of travel yesterday, I thought I would make it up today. But I couldn’t wake up on time. I gave myself a hall pass. Does working on cello passages in the evening count?

But there was a butterfly flitting about the wing of the plane. It went up, down, here and there, as the aircraft taxied towards the arrival gate after landing in Chennai.

Flight dynamics of a butterfly. Someone got a workout.

Because of very early travel today, I didn’t do my morning run but carried my running gear just in case I could squeeze out a run in between commitments.

Some things fall into place just like this. A meeting call ended earlier than usual and I had an hour before the next commitment.

On the spanking new treadmill it was at the hotel gym. I was immediately reminded of this recent post by my coach Eilish. While of course my travel or routine is nowhere near hers, I too always ask about the gym and its timings. This one was open 24 hours.

Fortunately, I didn’t feel too tired although it was one of the rare times I felt sleepy on the treadmill. So, every kilometre, then 800, 600, 500 and so on, I kept increasing the pace and adding some elevation work in between.

By the end, I had worked out a decent sweat and done the work for the day.

Because I am travelling tomorrow and the flight is quite early, I don’t think I would have had a chance to do the intervals. So I switched it to today.

After long run Sunday, Tuesday intervals seems like a task. A glistening wet track from the overnight rain, Gaju, Coach Ravi and a relatively empty track greeted me this morning.

It was 400s at a pace I couldn’t maintain save for a couple here and there. But it didn’t bother me. I feel I am easing back into the training right now. The weather is playing a bit of havoc. The paces will come – it’s a matter of time – more training – a bit of losing weight – and perhaps improved weather.

Meanwhile, the track smiles this first day of July.

A rest day that always seems to have hectic overtones as the start of the week.

I got up relatively early, reached the office earlier than usual and got a few tasks done before anyone was in.

But I didn’t run or workout today. Rest day.

After a couple of rounds down the Shanti Path side, my friend Amit met up with me and we did a loop on the Vinay Marg side. Twice in a month now with Amit. Not bad at all considering we’ve barely run together in years.

After that it was me by my lonesome. One more round towards Vinay Marg and then I went up and down the familiar roads of Niti, Shanti Path, Nyaya and Vinay but combined them in unfamiliar patterns.

On the bars and deadlifts rounded up Sunday morning. Later, it rained cats and dogs.

When I reached track, good ol’ Gaju was already waiting for me. I had short intervals pyramid style. The first one was a bit of a disaster. The rest were spot on or faster. Fun. Humid.

Back home, circuit workout and out the door.

Just rest.

Aaj continuous? Coach Ravi’s question for any run short or long, hard or medium that doesn’t involve interval training. For me it was easy or time on feet. Continuous makes perfectly good sense too.

Gaju and I had had two days straight of Coach Ravi accompanying us on the trusty scooty so today it was the friendly Lane Nine for us.

Normally I don’t listen to music – especially not at the stadium – but today round after round felt like it could use some old school rock.

Rage Against the Machine isn’t exactly morning music but what the heck.

The track was full. By now, the kids were shirtless, abs gleaming, sprinting like their life depended on it. Others walked. Young kids played around following their parents or their coaching instruction. There was a boxing class in the infield. Me and Gaju in lane nine.

Round after round, I watched a young man in lane one. Moustached with a Rami Malek look, black sleeveless, red shorts. The kind of runner that makes running what it is. Beautiful stride, effortless running and laser focused seriousness.

Back home, it was on the bars and a quick circuit to round up the morning.

How can it feel so awful? And yet I have to do it, don’t I? It was a seemingly straightforward interval session on the road, Gaju giving me company, Coach Ravi on the scooter yelling splits.

The shimmering heat was frying us, baking us. Even the Coach looked sorrowful on our behalf. I’ve been writing so much about the heat these days, it seems like I’m trying to capture the essence and the way it feels and burns you up in training. Especially hard runs like today.

Relief when it was all done.