Meeting of the spirits

I had completed my speed workout on Wednesday and felt the desire to take a break over the next two days. This was even more imperative considering that I have a Marathon coming up next Sunday and need to ensure that I rest up enough. While, I did go to Aarey riding on my pet ("Bullet") and soaked myself in the drizzle that came down from an overcast sky pregnant with clouds, I stretched languidly at leisure. Today was different; I rode my bike in a downpour that drenched me thoroughly and I got a few smiles from walkers that were huddled together under a tree, waiting for the rain to ease.

I arrived at our rendezvous; New Zealand Hostel and met up with Mahesh, Pankaj, his wife and Sohanlal. We pumped hands, touched base on our training, resolved to ramp it up in preparation for SCMM and planned on meeting at a restaurant in Goregaon at the invitation of Pankaj. Mahesh' father had a fall and was in critical condition. I felt sorry for Mahesh as he had to return from his touring job (with a leisure tour operator) and was now scheduled to go back to Manali on Sunday. However, my dear friend is blessed with good endurance genes; he comes back after months of inactivity and within weeks reaches the level of doing a 20 miler at 5 mins/km pace! Well, we all said our "see ya" and I returned home getting drenched all over again and a lingering fear that I might catch a chill. My mind was at peace as it usually is when I meet these uplifting "spirits":-)

Running with exhaustion and a bad stomach

After a hectic week of travel (on Friday I was on the road for 18 hrs!) with a stomach infection that I picked up somewhere in "Pollachi", I mulled the prospect of putting in at least a one hour run. I woke up at 5am on Sunday with a desire to dash to the Loo. When I'd settled down with a black coffee, I took stock. I found that my heart rate was Ok and I wasn't really feeling "under the weather". I pulled on my socks and shoes and set off on my 'Bullet'. The smell of rain and an overcast sky was enough to cheer me up.

I started hesistantly with a jog and watched my heart rate and breathing. All was Ok and I even managed to feel a spring in my stride. I knew however, that the dehydration from the visits to the Loo would catch soon. I met up with Diwakar, Priyankar, Aravind, Santosh, Sunil and Sohanlal; all fellow runners, most coming out of hibernation to gear up for SCMM:-) All in all a decent run considering that my physiological state was rotten.