Horse with no name

It seemed an exhausting journey at the end of it all. Amit and Srinivas had discovered a new trail in the Aarey forest. Yes, believe you me, in the concrete jungle that is Bombay, we live close to a veritable treasure trove of flora and fauna. It was decided that we meet up today for our weekend saturday run and they would show us the trail.

We started out at 6am and as we hit the trail, it seemed to be a rutted track in parts with dense stones strewn around, making it difficult to stride without the risk of an ankle twisting. To be fair, in parts it was dusty with the red mud and sharp inclines that tested the strength of your quads and achilles tendon. After a while it opened out into a table top that offered a breathtaking panoramic view of the city sky line, making you want to throw up at the pigeon hole apartments and the dense concrete structures. Of course the panorama was of a green valley with the rutted trail track we had traversed and a mist hanging over it like a cloud.

The trail run was exhasuting and some of the steep inclines forced most of us to walk and proceed. It would no doubt be a beautiful route to take in the monsoon on a mild rainy day with dark clouds and a drizzle to give you that blissful sting to your face upturned to the sky, like that of a wonderstruck child. I would do that run with a song in my heart; however, today, it sapped us. The loop back to the start point was done and there was that unspoken question as to whether we would do the 30K we were scheduled to do today. The inclines had drained everyone and there was one person that bit the dust; Ashwin, who had an ankle twist.

After hydrating, we set out for the second loop and this told its own story by the time we were half way thru'; we had to stop at the Gaundevi temple and drench ourselves with water from the cooler. The return journey, thru extreme heat and humidity took its toll on most by the time we had finished the second loop. Most thru' the towel into the ring and there was just Srinivas and I, heroically wanting to finish what we started:) We set out once again and it was halfway thru' this that I became delirious with fatigue.

Srinivas too was speculating on the lunacy in not heeding the other people' decision. Every step brought wincing pain in the calves and a burn in the throat that was parched to tinder. I remembered the song by America entitled above and the words rang true in my mind; in the desert you can't remember your name. This was my state for we both had our chins buried and like brothers in arms, we knew how much suffering we were enduring. When we staggered home we gave ourselves away by the way we leaned against the car and swayed as if on the verge of collapse. I guess, if I had eaten even one of the gels that Aravindan so kindly and thoughtfully offered me (a whole bunch actually - I must repay him in kind) later, I would have been able to stave off such mind numbing fatigue. Aravindan' sister gifted him the gels and he was selfless in sharing it with me and some other friends. Running has brought to me the more beautiful facet of human nature and true friendship. And now, I must share with you the song (altered to suit) that somehow seems it was meant for the trail and my exhausting junket.

On the first part of the journey
I was looking at all the life
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
There was sand and hills and rings
The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz
And the sky with no clouds
The heat was hot and the ground was dry
But the air was full of sound

I've been through the trail on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
La, la ...