Today, just rested.

Easily the best surprise was when Coach Ravi wished me on the phone when the young boy and I were on the way to track.

We both looked at each other – I had no clue how he knew. When we met him a short ten minutes later at the parking lot, he was carrying a bag with presents for me. Later, I would find a mug with a personalised photo and birthday message and a framed photo of me, Coach Ravi and the kids that I so often write about.

Today, Friday, is my optional run day, but instead I chose the Saturday intervals. I wanted to do something and reaching track and making it a short run wasn’t on the cards. Instead, mile, 800s, 400s.

For the young boy, it was a few 600 efforts followed by four blistering 400s. It was tough as nails for him. But he did it, and I joined in for the last one – a bonus round for me.

Later, pull ups, leg raises and an all round workout finished up the morning for an early start to the rest of the day ahead.

Today, after yet another late night, I did a quick driveway run. I started off thinking I would keep it short, but then I simply didn’t want to get a yellow. Same thinking as the young boy yesterday. Done and out.

After a late evening and one too many old fashioned, I woke up debating whether to go to track. I halfheartedly tried to wake up the young boy.

Then I said, It’s okay, let’s sleep in today. But I will get a red, was his reply.

And that was that. The best decision of the week.

I reached track with the young boy with us listening and alternating between all manner of music – from soppy love songs to electronic. After the warm up there was no debating it, I had to do the intervals.

The young boy joined in for nearly every 200 for my 400 efforts. By the time I was mid way, I felt much better and was in training zone. All in all, it was an incredible workout.

As I wrote, best decision.

I woke up slightly late because I worked till past midnight. Putting on my Jabra headphones, it was a simple up and down effort. A short core workout rounded up the morning before rushing out the door.

I started the day off early with work and a quick haircut. A long day with multiple meetings and preparations.

This morning I started off immediately at tempo. I settled a few kilometres in and ran consistently for fifteen kilometres, listening to music, enjoying the perfect Sunday spring morning at Nehru Park. So many familiar faces, bonhomie and fun in the air.

The young boy arrived just as I was done. We were off. Talking about aircrafts and airlines, routes and travel, the kilometres and forty five minutes time on feet ticked by easily at a good pace.

Chorizo scrambled eggs and iced frappe at Fig rounded our morning perfectly before heading home.

Today, the day after Holi, the air continues to be slightly nippy. As I write sentences like these, I am always reminded of the Scots I met a triathlon camp years ago in 2016. For them, this would be positively balmy weather. They spoke to swimming in icy lochs in the winter. This would be a joke. But I kept my trusty north face on.

The young boy and I did five rounds in lane nine as warm up and I had an intention to carry on with time on feet. But on a whim, I decided to join him in his short spring training – 120s, 80s and 50s. He beat me squarely in all but he can be faster. Training is everything.

The young boy and I were running on Holi day, up and down the driveway. He said, Papa, isn’t this the best. The birds are chirping, the trees are rustling, what else could we want.

Nothing at all, I thought. What else could I want.

When I got to track today, I knew I had to do what I had to do. What my head and body wanted me to do.

Because I had nothing inputted in, I made my own interval sets. The track gang was doing four kilometers tempo on the faster side. I did a couple of 400s and then joined them for a kilometre. Then a 200. Then a reverse repeat.

I was panting. I was panting.

But I was coming back.

This felt like coming back.