As I did my long run yesterday, I rested today – Sunday. Although I don’t like to switch around, it couldn’t be helped this time.

It was still, warm, and reasonably quiet this morning. Completed a few interesting loops to top off the long run of the week today, instead of Sunday.

Around the one kilometre mark – a made up mark – at the bus stand on Vinay Marg – that is exactly the aforementioned distance from the midpoint parking on Niti Marg, I was just about to a cross a fellow middle aged runner, albeit a heavyset man, and just as I was about to cross him, he picked up pace.

Normally, this can be a trifle annoying or exceedingly so, depending on the body language of the fellow runner, indeed that in running, you can puff like a peacock, even while breath should not allow you to, be exhibit macho body language that might be more useful in cage fighting than the sport of running.

But this was a harmless man who (probably) looked to pick up pace and keep with me as much as he could.

Truth be told he picked up such that in turn now I was in danger of falling off. But here we were together. Soon, very soon, he began to huff and puff more than he already was until his breath intakes were a series of near wheezes which caused a bit of alarm on my part while keeping a check on my own breath and ensuring that I was feeling easy.

By the time we reached the Hanuman temple on the same road, though it is on the opposite side, he looked on his right and for a split second I thought he looked at me, but he was looking at his God and he exhaled, Bajrang Bali ki Jai, with such exertion and force as to compound his present efforts and receive in turn from his God a few extra powers which he surely so deserved. And desired.

But now, by the second bus stand, and the second kilometre mark, he began to fall off or I should say perhaps return to a more comfortable pace and exertion.

I carried on around a long loop, keeping check on my breath and staying within an easy range.

At work but didn’t get a chance to run in the morning as I slept quite late after arriving back in Delhi.

And a long day of somewhat chaotic travel back.

The young boy and I ran in the evening after a bit of tennis. We were mucking about on the court with few successes but nonetheless it was fun.

After that I proposed to the young boy for a run – without a watch, no pace, just an easy few rounds.

In his words it turned out to be the best run ever or amongst the top tier along with the distances and the PBs. We spent the run chatting, watching the sky turn colours towards dusk and finished up at the bar area where staff were readying for a busy evening ahead.

Virgin mojito for him and a mojito for me, conversation and laughs rounded up the pre-dinner festivities ahead.

Save for a few staff members cycling to their posts, I had the paths to myself. The island lizards looked at me quizzically. I ran a slow and relaxed hour. The heat and humidity was still at bay. Combining two different loops, the run finished perfectly at the breakfast station for a shot of orange juice and cold water.

The way Padel and Pickle has become popular in recent times in India, certainly Delhi is quite interesting. Also interesting is that I had no idea that these games are fifty years on since their invention in Mexico and the US respectively. But then again, I had no idea what sushi was while growing up.

At any rate, the young boy and I played half hour of Padel under a blistering sun and then decided to run it off for another half hour with patches of shade providing respite through the meandering island path. At the end we were sweat soaked and spent.

The main path is nearly 1000m. The staff was making their way to their various posts. It was warm and humid. I ran up and down for about an hour.

Six years ago during Covid this island provided much repose and joy. Here we are again.

And so it goes while on vacation. But I hope to do a run tomorrow. Let’s see!