When Arvind, from Runners for Life (RFL), called me a few weeks back saying, "Dan, we'd like you to train runners at the Nike Run Club, being started in Mumbai", I felt a sense of exhilaration. I had finally made reasonable distance in my quest to make running a popular sport and to be able to coach. I felt honoured and when RFL asked me to recommend another coach, I lost no time in mentioning Savio D'souza, the guy who lived in my neighbourhood and who is India' only international marathoner, now retired and coaching.
My earliest memories of Savio were his lean build and his skimpy shorts, as he returned from his runs on Marine Drive. I used to know of 5000 and 10,000m distances in Athletics in my youth and was really proud to know years later, that Savio had outrun a Kenyan to win the Pune International Marathon in 1985 with an impressive time of 2:35 - in those years when distance running was not yet a boom even in USA!
The first Nike run began on Sunday, Oct 4 and I was very apprehensive. I was asked to be there at 5:30 to meet the Nike people and get introduced. Fortunately, my credentials were appreciated, especially RFL vouching for my technical knowledge and my ACE certification helped too. Besides, most of the runners that turned up showed they know and appreciate me, and Nike noticed this. In fact, they went out of their way to check if I was comfortable. I had a cheesy smile on my face when they handed over Nike merchandise worth 10,000/- rupees and asked me to change to everything Nike:-)) I changed to a Tee and their shoes but left my shorts on as I don't like track pants. They seemed apologetic and informed me they'd get me a pair of shorts next time.
The runners were registered and assembled and Savio had disappeared to meet his own runners at Nariman Point. We waited for him because I did not want to steal the show by starting the warm up without him, though Arvind kept asking me to. I was a wee bit non-plussed at the warm up initiated by Savio as it was a bit old world and had stretches incorporated, contrary to fitness recommendations. I went along with it and was relieved when we finally decided to run.
I accompanied Jyothi, Director - Communications, DHL and Monsoon' friend as she is 53 yrs old and had turned up just because I was conducting the run. She had covered my Berlin and Lausanne experiences in their in-house magazine "Velocity" and has always been hesitant to ask me for tips on fitness. We did a 4K walk-run together which really set her spirits soaring. At one point of time, she was frantically wiping sweat off her forehead and she asked me, "Don't you sweat?" and I matter-of-fact replied, "Sweating depends on fitness level and effort", to which she stopped and roared in laughter saying, "My God, I should have known than to ask something stupid like that to YOU, Daniel!".
We finished the run with a cool down, hi-5s and a promise to meet next sunday. Bryan, who was very content with his time in the 4K, and I, returned home feeling a sense of achievement. I handed over the track pants Nike had given me, to Bryan, who promptly tried them on for a perfect fit. Nike had got my size wrong!:-) Do I look that puny?:-))
