I took leave from work on saturday because I wanted to teach math to Bryan. I went to the CP runners venue on saturday morning to find that Aalok and Madhu were diligently doing their long runs. The CP runners group is losing members as some are getting transfered and one of them is leaving the company.
I woke up on sunday morning feeling exhausted. How are you going to do your long run today? I dragged myself out of bed and decided that I'd find out for myself. I went to the run venue without an "plan" for the day, which is very unusual for me. I usually zip out on my RX 100 to a point about 1/2 km from my house because "foxie", Big show" and "Johnny" (street dogs ouside our society gate) ensure that I don't leave without get a large dose of their affection and I need to avoid this at 6:00am :-).
I meet the usual walkers and greet them. I also meet Sunil who has his head shaved because of the burial ritual for his father. I hug him and advise him to draw strength to tide over his mental state. He asks me for some used vests as the heat is troubling him nowadays. I am filled with emotion and reassure him that I will buy him 2 vests.
I am still running and the walkers have all left by now. It is 8:30 and I ask myself, "Dan, can you do another 8K?. Are you crazy?". I stare into the distance and tell myself that such an effort will provide "deliverance". I do 4K and am bent over due to heat exhaustion. I enter a buffalo shed and am greeted by the workers there who find me a familiar sight since years. They refer to me as "Fauji Bhaiya" as they think I am an army guy:-) I use their 2" hose that they use to cool down the buffaloes and turn it on myself - pure heaven!! I then step out on to the road looking like a "crow in a thunder storm". The return leg is a piece-a-cake. I am thru' now with a well achieved looooong run.
At 11am I go out to buy myself some beers and biscuits for the dogs. I give Dojo his bath with the newly gifted shampoo (on Easter) and then retire on a sofa with a well-deserved beer. I am at peace - at least for the moment.
