-- "Laqad Jaa akoum...", last verses of Surah Taubah --
The Month of Ramadhan -- 06/14/18
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Wednesday 05/16/18 -- in a Sleepy mood
Powai Police - Along the Lake - IIT E. Gate.
Mileage: 5.25 Miles - 8.45 Km
Time: 0:51:42
Pace: 9'51"/mile - 6'07"/km
Weather: 28C - 34C.
Weight: 70 kg - 154.3 lbs
In spite of much agitation with Nazia last night, I have slept uncharacteristically well, waking up unexpectedly around 6:00, still in a dreamy mood. And this continues through the run, a very pleasant, easy, somewhat sleepy mood, that wakes me up gently to the world. The start of Ramzaan is likely tomorrow, and I am learning "La Qad Jaa ......"
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Thursday 05/17/18 -- ROZA DAY 1
Weight: 70.2 kg - 154.7 lbs
Surah Yaseen in Namaaz. Reached the end of Juz 1 in reading.
This ends up being a succesful first day of Roza, the burden
of the fast not excessive, and the various Namaaz (including 'Asr)
well felt in spite of being at work. Rounds finish just in time
for Iftaar, and I call Ruksanna on the phone to open the fast.
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Friday 05/18/18 -- ROZA DAY 2
Weight: 70.2 kg - 154.7 lbs
Have read further into Surah Baqarah, reaching precisely the passage
that deals with Ramadhan fast.
Another of these nights full of worry, having woken up at 2:00am. I
try hard to not let daily worries take over. But after finally
falling back asleep, a multi-part difficult dream:
To get back home, we need to pass a rocky chasm. Having looked first,
I advise Ruksanna that the rocks look very slippery, but ignoring my
caution, she jumps! Sure enough, she slips and falls down the cliff,
so I jump too. Landing on some terrasse where I can see further into
the void, I see her disappear down, receding into the far distance.
I contemplate for a beat and quickly decide. I too jump after her,
knowing it is to our end.
But then a dinner, with some stupid Dreamworks people. One mentions
he drinks coffee, which causes me to abruptly respond that this is
what has given me Cancer! Taken aback myself by my unexpected
overly dramatic interjection,
I hasten to diminish its effect, "... but I am fine now ...", etc.
But later in the bathroom, my urine is also flowing from a long strand
of hair that has developped at the Pelvis. I will have to consult Dr.
Pranav about this.
Ruksanna waves these dreams aside. Yes, we would surely die together,
and the rest is just bagvas.
Friday -
That evening, we leave for Bangalore with Sofia to attend
the GAFX conference.
I have timed it perfectly I think: A late afternoon plane that
should leave me time to attend the airport after having attended
Masjid for Jumah. It all fits on paper.
But I am surprised at the increased crowd at the Masjid,
a break from the quiet routine of ordinary Fridays. Even the second
floor is full today, and we hear voices from the back that, even before
the prayer exhort people to pack the rows. I manage to focus on
the Namaaz, resisting the thoughts of the planning of the day.
Then the exit gets
congested, particularly in the narrow staircase where we all shuffle
cautiously, holding our chapals in our hands. I nevertheless reach
home on time, and the Ola ride is uneventful.
But at the airport commences an open-ended wait. The plane
seems to have some delay, in fact, all planes are delayed, apparently
a common occurrence at Mumbai Domestic Airport. The time keeps
pushing, one estimate after the other, and what started as amusing
ends up being painful. Unfortunately, one of those feared fast related
headaches has started to take hold, gradually developing into a full-on
migraine, debilitating. As the wait stretches, we change our plans for
how and where to open the fast. The headache is so strong that it
makes me dizzy, and provokes bursts of silly anger. Adding to the
frustration is the fact that we have stupidly packed the Advil in
the checked-in bag, so it won't even be available immediately
at the conclusion of the fast. (A helping hostess will give me
a couple pills though...)
In the end,
still stuck in the airport by Maghrib, we open the fast right there in
the waiting room on crummy airport food, before finally boarding. They
are actually distributing mini-meals to everyone as an apology for the
delay, but once seated, we wait for another good hour. We eventually
reach the Ashok Lalit in Bangalore past midnight, easily five hours
behind schedule. But there a pleasant surprise, which solves one
of my main worries on this trip: The kitchen is open 24/7, so I am
able to order a Biryani for 4am tomorrow morning, and therefore
will be able to observe the fast.
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Saturday 05/19/18 -- ROZA DAY 3
Bangalore GAFX
Saturday -
The Biryani has been delivered at 4am as planned.
This will be our routine for the next few days.
I catch up on all of yesterday's missed prayers, then
am fortunately able to sleep.
During the day, Ruksanna leaves me to the
convention to go to KRPuram. I teach her in the
morning how to use OLA, then send her off, not
sure how she'll do by herself. In the evening, she
barely manages to return by Iftaar, but she has
mistakenly called about 10 Ola cars !!
We spend Iftaar with Ashraf. I feel distant
as ever - too distant. This raises to a sinking
feeling of inadequacy, under which I'm not sure
I can muster the impetus for the presentation.
We take Ashraf to dinner (stupidly missing a
dinner offered to the participants), which is
over-abundant and expensive. I watch powerless
Ruksanna waste her great diet, binging
on the buffet. This meal has taken it
completely out of me, exhausted, I do not find the
strength to pray Ishaa, and collapse to sleep.
But then a very uncomfortable wake-up at 2.
The hotel is rhythmed in loud music
from downstairs, caused by a political gathering it
seems, for which we've seen odd
characters gather last night. I wake up suffocating
in heat, and seized by the night demons,
painting a particularly dark picture. Sick of my own
thoughts, who will want to listen to
my voice if I myself cannot listen? I squirm till
Ruksanna tries to put me back to sleep,
patient with these crises. They scare me, yet I
do not know how to forestall them.
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Sunday 05/20/18 -- ROZA DAY 4
Bangalore GAFX
The day passes fine, as often brushing away the
night demons, as the sunny
clear waters after the storm. The presentation went fine.
We stop in Vartur on the way back to the airport,
to attempt to close Ruksanna's
old Canara Bank account, which has been de-activated
due to prolonged inactivity. We
get tossed around a bit, asked to get xerox and ID photos
outside, till we finally end up
with a woman clerk who simply instructs me to send email
to a particular mail address, waving aside photos and all.
I will send the mail, get no response at all, but
miraculously, the balance will eventually get transferred
to our ICICI account. I presume the account was closed?
A little further along the road, we stop again to meet
Banou and Abba, Ruksanna's
father, by Muni Singh's. Ruksanna has brought a bag of clothes
for them, her father
has come expressly from Tiruppattur to meet his favorite child.
They talk briefly on
the side of the road, but then it's time to call the car to the
airport. We don't know then
that this is the last time that Ruksanna will see her father alive.
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Monday 05/21/18 -- ROZA DAY 5
Back Bangalore to Mumbai
Uneventful return.
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Tuesday 05/22/18 -- ROZA DAY 6
Weight: 69.1 kg - 152.3 lbs
Ruksanna: 57.7 kg - 127.2 lbs
Thought I would have gained weight eating at the Lalit Ashok, but no. And luckily, neither has Ruksanna, in spite of overeating there.
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Wednesday 05/23/18 -- ROZA DAY 7
Weight: 69.2 kg - 152.5 lbs
Ruksanna: 57.2 kg
I have hesitated back and forth, but finally decided
to go to France for Mireille's wedding,
in spite of the Ramadhan. In a characteristic
shuffle, I have changed the dates in spite of the cost,
shortening the trip to 5 days, which seems the maximum
acceptable to break the fast without
losing the spirit of it. I very much fear that the fast
may not recover from this interruption.
But in the meantime, we need a visa, and there is
very little time. Contacting the consulate
I have managed to accelerate the process, but now things
seemed stalled, and no information.
(The French Consulate in Mumbai, much much bigger than in
Bangalore, rather resembles
the US consulate in Chennai, a huge impersonal organisation).
So today, in doubt, I finally
decide to go back to the Consulate (even though we don't have an
appointment). After another
long wait, we get the visa! It turns out it was ready, but
we hadn't been notified...
Last night though, I've fallen to another mini-panic
in the middle of the darkness,
partially fueled by eating too much chocolate at Iftaar,
and again being stuck till 9pm at work
(a recurring problem that frustrates me to no end).
At night, the regrets of this "foolish" French
trip, interrupting Ramzaan, overwhelm again. I have
shortened the trip, but keep brooding
over whether it should have been cancelled. Very happy
to meet my aunt whom I haven't
seen in about 10 years, but is this last minute
trip like a caprice? The night offers no
answers.
But this time at least, I know what these nocturne
crises feel like, and I somehow
manage to go back to sleep by conjuring the deeper parts
of the mind to a somnolent
reverie. The Ishaa prayer was bad last night, too late
for me, and distracted by the
many events. I wake up at 4:00, not hungry in the least,
but able to gather a particularly
intense Fajr ki Namaaz (all Surah Baqarah Ayaas in Sunnat,
then all of Surah Yaseen
in Farz), after which I insist on going back to reading
Surah Baqarah which I have not
been able for few days, cursing the many distractions
that are depriving me of the holy
month. The morning has brought new resolve.
And finally that day, I am blessed with this
extraordinary Étât
de grâce that only the fast provides,
a superior acuity of the mind and energy.
But this just before interrupting the fast
for the travel to France ...
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Thursday 05/24/18 -- ROZA DAY 8 - SKIPPED DAY 1
Weight: 69.4 kg - 153 lbs
Yesterday, état de grâce, Energy!
Have read about Roza while traveling, concluded that it is better
to interrupt till we return, and catch up after Ramadhan.
Wanted to finish reading Surah Baqarah but reached passed Ayatul
Qursi leaving the last long verses for after return.
TRIP TO FRANCE -
We reached CDG at 20:00, and slept nearby in Roissy. On the plane,
I rapidly lost interest in the many films, so mostly listened to the
Qur'an (we are flying Emirates again). Ruksanna seeing me listens to,
emotionally reconnecting with CD 17, the last CD of the Sudays
Qur'an recitation, which she used to listen to often at Citilights, but
unfortunately lost it there. These are the few Surah's that she knows.
We are determined to find it in Dubai, but unfortunately no one sells
CDs any longer these days!
-- Uzès, Place aux Herbes --
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Friday 05/25/18 -- ROZA DAY 9 - SKIPPED DAY 2
FRANCE.
It is the first time I rent a car in France actually (I had just
learned driving when I left to Amercica), and the first time I
drive the famous Autoroute du Soleil myself. Even though I would
have liked to show Ruksanna the TGV, the multiple strike threats,
and my desire for independance, has made me opt for the drive, even
though I have booked non-refundable tickets to Uzes. At some point,
one such train passes us, streaming through the landscape, I wake
up Ruksanna rather abruptly at the sight, she doesn't really care.
The Autoroute gets somewhat scenic approaching Beaune, then
slips back into somewhat nondescript landscape. There are frequent
signs to monuments or old villages, after a while, we don't point
them out any more. We stop at an aire d'autoroute in small
woods, walk along a short forest trail that fascinates Ruksanna,
debusquant a deer which disappears into the brush. Ruksanna loves
the place, it's the first time she sees the West in the summer,
surprised by the mild temperature.
We eventually leave the freeway to turn towards Uzes, as the
road gets more charming, paysage de guarrige, arbres bordant la route.
We reach Uzes, and soon the small village of Aubussargues where
we meet Mireille. She makes us visit the house, a charming orange
house overlooking the vineyards, Ruksanna takes photos of each room,
where lie many of my childhood memories.
-- Marriage de Mireille, Aubussargues --
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Saturday 05/26/18 -- ROZA DAY 10 - SKIPPED DAY 3
FRANCE.
Mireille's wedding happens in the tiny village mairie. We meet some of my family which I hadn't seen in many years, Anne, Yonathan, Solal, Lily et Bernard. I translate vaguely to Ruksanna the speeches, a charming and moving small ceremony. We are so happy we came. Later, all depart for the reception. But we having stopped to help one older couple who struggles to operate their car, we lost the caravan of vehicles. The GPS does not give us the exact location of the restaurant, and we embark on a small road in the hills, very pretty, but in the opposite direction of where everyone else went it seems. It then instructs to turn into a dirt road, which I do after a brief hesitation, thinking it will be a quick shortcut. But from there we are led deeper and deeper into a maze of trails, till we start to fear we could get lost or stuck in the mud. We finally decide to revert back, but the numerous trails are confusing in this direction, and we have a sinking oh-shit feeling that we might have gotten lost, and who knows how far these go and how seldom traveled! Finally, after a few circuits, we come out on a paved road, eventually reaching the village of Le Baron, where surprisingly we find the old couple from earlier, lost too. Yonathan comes to lead us to the restaurant, which was actually simply located on the main road. Strange little adventure -
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Sunday 05/27/18 -- ROZA DAY 11 - SKIPPED DAY 4
FRANCE.
We have gone in the morning to Uzes, an old town with various
monuments. But it also happens to be Jour de Marche, a
colorful brocante invading the old alleys, which fascinates
Ruksanna more than the monuments (as it turns out, we are told
that they are over-priced and not worth visiting inside). We meet
a woman who is delighted to hear our Hindi: She herself is learning
the language (for no particular reason) and was hoping we'd be locals
with whom she could practice. Ruksanna loves the brocante. For some
time after returning to Mumbai, as I point out some nice clothes on her,
she will beam back "Uzès!", practicing how to properly
pronounce the "U".
From Mireille's house, at Jean-Paul's advice, we walk up the village
pass the Mairie, and onto a trail leading to the Guarrigue, where
we might reach the site of prehistoric footprints. Ruksanna keeps pointing
at small holes in the rock slabs which she believes to be the prints of
prehistoric deers of sorts, but I am skeptical. We eventually sit in
a orchard, just like she would have in India, we are completely alone.
But I receive a call that Matthieu Grospiron has arrived in the village
to meet us, time to go back down. We meet after many years.
In the evening, I decide on the way back for a detour to Pont-du-Gard,
a roman bridge which seems to be the main attraction here. This is quite
a touristy place, complete with museum, theater, etc., and we've been
warned that it too is over-priced. But luckily, it is almost deserted
at this hour, and we're able to park and visit completely free. It's a nice
walk to the beautiful old structure.
-- Pont-du-Gard --
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Monday 05/28/18 -- ROZA DAY 12 - SKIPPED DAY 5
FRANCE.
We drive back to Paris. On the road, one car drives a little erratically, which I honk as I pass. This causes the driver - a young man with long unkempt blonde hair - to swerve rodeo style and pass me with insults. I can't help but think that in all about 1,500 kilometers driven on this trip, this was the only incident, whereas in Mumbai, there would have been ten over a single kilometer! We eventually make it to St Louis where we meet my mother, before driving to the airport. The GPS has taken us through city streets that go through the northern banlieues (places that I don't know). We pass by many poor, refugees, Muslims, which makes a strong impression on RUksanna. At an intersection, she wants to give something to a couple women clad in black, but I have to depart with the trafic, and she waves her hand too late at the window. She will refer back to this incident a few times, impressed by poverty here as she had been in San Francisco.
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Tuesday 05/29/18 -- ROZA DAY 13 (OBSERVED 8)
Weight: 68.8 kg - 151.7 lbs
In spite of storm delay in Paris, we make our connection in Dubai,
escorted to the new gate.
I have decided to observe fast today in the plane. As it turns out,
the delay helps that, as the late meal ends up being served around
when I was planning to start fast, in the air conservatively following
Dubai timing (where the sun has risen earlier). This works well, and
the much dreaded headache stays under control. I pray seated but cannot
muster any concentration, so will replay the day's Namaaz once at home.
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Wednesday 05/30/18 -- ROZA DAY 14 (OBSERVED 9)
Weight: 69.4 kg - 153 lbs
Ruksanna's weight has shot back up to 58kg, not surprising after the
various trips.
Woke up well at 4:00. Finished reading Surah Baqarah.
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Thursday 05/31/18 -- ROZA DAY 15 (OBSERVED 10)
Ruksanna Roza Day 1
Weight: 69.2 kg - 152.5 lbs
Ruksanna observes her first Roza with me today. After a shorter Namaaz with her, started reading Surah Al-i-Imraan.
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Friday 06/01/18 -- ROZA DAY 16 (OBSERVED 11)
Ruksanna Roza Day 2
Weight: 69.2 kg - 152.5 lbs
Ruksanna observes Roza again today.
In Namaaz, I pray my traditional long Surah Yaseen on Jummah,
but with a highly unusual memory lapse at the beginning of the
Surah. Fast gives a laser sharp focus, but does not encourage
memory or vast conceptual thinking. That, and the absence of
running, explains that my learning is on hold during the month,
this year deliberately.
So many people in Masjid today!
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Saturday 06/02/18 -- ROZA DAY 17 (OBSERVED 12)
Ruksanna Roza Day 3
Weight: 69.2 kg - 152.5 lbs
Ruksanna observes Roza again today. But she funnily struggles
throughout the day, making her very giggly. The heat poses a
problem, which eventually explodes into an evening storm, the
first in months. We have not used the air conditionning, as if
to experience the entirety of the climate, getting only a brief
reprieve in the car.
Before Maghrib, finished reading Surah Al-e-Imraan.
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Sunday 06/03/18 -- ROZA DAY 18 (OBSERVED 13)
Ruksanna Roza Day 4
Weight: 69.7 kg - 153.7 lbs
It is best for us to pray together but independantly, rather than me
leading the prayer. We've started this since last night's Ishaa, and
Namaaz has been excellent. She has seen on Youtube to pray slowly
(as she says herself, the phone has become her new "guthka"), so her
Namaaz ends up being no shorter than mine!
Last night, a very strange coughing fit assaulted me repeatedly from
very deep in the throat, preventing sleep! Really bad, and Ruksanna
covers me with balm and offers me hot water. This morning, following
her idea, we fall sound asleep with many dreams on the hard but cool
floor of the Namaaz ka Kamra.
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Monday 06/04/18 -- ROZA DAY 19 (OBSERVED 14)
Ruksanna Roza Day 5
Weight: 69.9 kg - 154.1 lbs
The culture of instant gratification is a human disaster.
We are accelerating everything, but then what? What do we do with ourselves?
What may have taken a lifetime of achievement is met in a matter of days,
hardly an exaggeration. And so what to do? To touch the frontiers of reality,
to experiment with the sensation of life, we go and massacre, hoping the
extreme emotion will finally shock us into awakening to some form of
reality. How desperate can such a society be. Our mind constantly beautifies
our circumstance, a strategy of survival, but even that no longer can
withstand the assaults of our despair. We scorn the former people, the
barbaric, but have we not thought that others will see us with equal
scorn? The western world is an epitome of hypocrisy, built on a lie.
It fashions for itself the highest moral ground while it was
established on the worst hypocritical savagery. The democracies are
now shifting to where they can no longer handle freedom. As before,
the West restricts and oppresses "for people's own good", "le bien
des gens malgre eux". What a haughty posture, that propels them over
civilisations, present and ancient.
Finished reading Surah Nisaah.
Evening, the first huge Monsoon storm! Brief but torrential rains,
flooding the streets, felling trees and debris, creating renewed
traffic clogs! I've waited a little but finally venture out into
this exhilerating chaos!
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Tuesday 06/05/18 -- ROZA DAY 20 (OBSERVED 15)
Ruksanna Roza Day 6
Weight: 69.4 kg - 153 lbs
After vacillation yesterday morning, feeling weak and unmotivated,
a great rebound during Zohar ki Namaaz. The question remains, why
is it not possible to bend the mind to ones will? I am convinced
that salvation resides in submission to Allah, but it is difficult
to achieve.
This morning, we pray better, side to side. I realize what a
distraction it is to pray out loud, and we have reverted to
praying silently side by side. Praying is every day's battle,
a struggle to rekindle the unique devotion of the early days.
Most important is to not give up, not slip into an imperfect
routine. Therein lies the way. (To what? Unknown...)
Read around first 50 verses of Surah Maidah, that too a very
successful reading. And feel better after a morning *short*
sleep.
This turns out to be a wonderful day - the best yet. Acute clear mind
and energy. Finishing work with around 40 minutes till Maghrib, take
the choice of returning home in time for Iftaar, ready with provisions
to end the fast while driving. But in spite of some traffic, just
barely make in time!
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Wednesday 06/06/18 -- ROZA DAY 21 (OBSERVED 16)
Ruksanna Roza Day 7
Weight: 68.7 kg - 151.4 lbs
Finished reading Surah Maidah.
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Thursday 06/07/18 -- ROZA DAY 22 (OBSERVED 17)
Ruksanna Roza Day 8
Weight: 68.7 kg - 151.4 lbs
Not a good wake-up at first, feeling weak and tired, made the mistake
of eating a few chocolate chip cookies before sleeping last night which
have made for an uncomfortable sleep and wake-up. The alarm rings at
3:40 as I am dreaming that I have mistakenly taken some chewing gum
during the Roza!
I force myself to eat with no apetite whatsoever, despondently get
ready for Namaaz. We have opened the window to hear the competing
Adhaans, and an unusual morning storm rolls in, growling through
the prayer.
Then, a long slow recitation of SUrah Al-e-Imraan
unexpectedly awakens me to a particularly deep stretched out Namaaz,
with Ruksanna at my side eventually in Zikr. I read little over 50
verses of Surah A'naam, then lay at her side on the floor.
But soon, the prickling pain in hand and feet from mosquito stings
does not allow to sleep. Get ready for a 7:30 morning meeting. Fortunately,
after this difficult start, mind is of a clarity that only Roza offers.
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Friday 06/08/18 -- ROZA DAY 23 (OBSERVED 18)
Ruksanna Roza Day 9
Weight: 68.4 kg - 150.8 lbs
Great day yesterday, energy and clear mind, but a strong access of tiredness after Iftaar, which makes for a difficult Ishaa ki Naamaz. I then wake up at 3:30 with a powerful headache, much in the same state as yesterday night, tired, and a strange weakness felt particularly in the shoulders. Nonetheless, muster focus for a particularly pointed Surah Yaseen ki Namaaz, then, changing the routine, we immediately go take rest, fortunately, I am able to sleep multiple times, with multiple dreams, till around 7:30, rested at last!
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Saturday 06/09/18 -- ROZA DAY 24 (OBSERVED 19)
Ruksanna Roza Day 10
IN PUNE.
We drove (were driven) to Pune yesterday afternoon, for the DSK Jury.
Torrential rain on the way up near Lonavala, which according to the
driver "hamesha rehta hai". We reach Pune in good time (2 hrs), but
from there, getting to the school in the city traffic takes another
two painful hours! We have to end the fast in the car, for which
Ruksanna has luckily prepared.
To my surprise, the driver takes us straight on Campus rather than
the fancy hotel from previous years. The school has run out of money
and so we're put up in the faculty appartments. This is all good, except
there's hardly anything in the kitchen, not even plates or pans. Luckily
RUksanna has brought our evening meal which we start eating in plastic
tupperware tops when the head of study, a young canadian guy, rings
at our door with plates, all apologetic. He would offer some wine,
except we don't drink, and calls us for tomorrow's breakfast, except
we don't eat. I reveal that we're fasting which makes him apologise
again, allthough it's not clear what he could have done about that,
and we end up laughing. Ruksanna and I laugh also at his surprise,
I was wearing my topi as we were talking at the door.
All is well and we go to sleep.
In the morning, I wake up particularly fresh, and we finish left
over meal from last night for Seheri, pray Namaaz, and go back
to sleep. A sticky verse ("Khoudhil 'Afwa Wa'mour bil
'ourfi ...") has taken hold of me, playing in a continuous
loop in some part of my brain, out of my control. I marvel at
this strange phenomenon, which sometimes happens with music,
a sort of separate band of the mind that can run in its own
layer. But then a nasty stomach ache takes hold of me and
progresses on and off throughout the day. This is a new "experience"
during Ramzaan, and I wonder how I'll deal with it, especially away
from home. Luckily, the schedule for the day gets delayed which just
allows us to pray Zohar ki Namaaz, although I'm distracted by
the pain. The day otherwise goes ok, the illness completely shutting down
any feeling of hunger, but gets quite a bit worse once things are
wrapped. The sympathetic faculty has sent some food for Iftaar from
the faculty, but I barely eat, frustrated to miss the feast of
breaking the fast. The pain has spread to what of those painful chest pains,
for which I know no other solution than a lot of warmth.
We have managed to borrow pots and stuff from the faculty, Ruksanna
has cooked pasta, but completely unable to eat dinner, I wrap myself
in clothes and bedsheets in pain, having skipped Ishaa ki Namaaz,
hoping to sleep it off.
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Sunday 06/10/18 -- ROZA DAY 25 (OBSERVED 20)
Ruksanna Roza Day 11
Weight: 68.8 kg - 151.7 lbs
On top of that, mosquitoes wake me up twice by painfully biting my
hands (in spite of having tried to conceal under sheets), the last
instance of which causes me to punch the bed angrily, waking up
Ruksanna and rekindling the stomach pain. Dismayed that sleeping
has not cured it, I nevertheless decide to eat a little bit,
some bare pasta with none of the seasoning that Ruksanna has cooked.
Miraculously, this seems to finally abate the pain, and we pray
Fajr ki Namaaz appropriately, before packing and setting off
at 6:00am. I am immensily relieved to discover that I am generally
fine (occasional echoes of stomach cramps). The drive, with no
trafic, takes this time only three hours.
Later, to the Mall, first Phoenix than R-City, in the search for
a "Sone ki Doukhan", where Ruksanna buys jewelry for Shazia's future.
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Monday 06/11/18 -- ROZA DAY 26 (OBSERVED 21)
Ruksanna Roza Day 12, but interrupted by her period.
Weight: 69.2 kg - 152.5 lbs
I once again missed the opportunity to make much of Laylatul Qadr last
night, but this time, without much of an attempt. I did try to read further
into the Qur'an after Asr and again after Ishaa, wanting to finish Surah
A'raaf, but struggling with sleep through the Musah narration went to
bed without much motivation.
And not a good wake-up either. I am very dissapointed by a continuing
loose motion but very little output, sort of a "constipated loose motion",
and feel no apetite for the spicy mutton that Ruksanna has cooked last
night. But through Namaaz, my spirits wake up, a convincing rendition
including Surah Muzzammil (which speaks to these struggles), and I
resume reading after all, finishing this morning what I could not
last night.
I am surprised that my weight hasn't dropped severely given how little
I've eaten over the last few days. Perhaps it is that my body no longer
evacuates food?
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Tuesday 06/12/18 -- ROZA DAY 27 (OBSERVED 22)
Weight: 68.9 kg - 151.9 lbs
Ruksanna Weight: 56 kg - 123.4 lbs
Ruksanna's period started yesterday (which she blames on "heat" from
the fast, along with my digestive troubles), so she has interrupted
the fast after 11 days, and vows to catch up.
Debate over when really is Laylatul Qadr?
A broken water pipe, dangling up in the street, has caused bad traffic
yesterday morning.
This morning, I wake up very well, alert and sharp. But still no
bowel movement. I read a little about it, decide to consult on
Saturday if not solved by then.
Ruksanna has prepared some sort of Puree, remembering my childhood
anecdotes. Good Namaaz (constituting of Surah Baqarah and Surah
Muzzammil) during which RUksanna, unable to pray, sits silently
at my side.
I have unfortunately used most of my Qur'an reading time to continue
to advance on f**Q!@ taxes!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 06/13/18 -- ROZA DAY 28 (OBSERVED 23)
Weight: 68.4 kg - 150.8 lbs
Ruksanna's weight: 56.8 kg - 125.2 lbs
Read Surah Anfal in one sitting.
Like yesterday, Ruksanna, not fasting, staid at my side during Namaaz,
which started good, but got a little distracted by the memory effort
of Surah A'raaf with her in the room. Still a good Namaaz, and yesterday's
Ishaa (Surah Waq'iah) was good.
Bowel movement has started returning, in "small packets". Ruksanna has
been feeding me these large bananas which she claims immediately
cause poop, and we laugh at that. But perhaps it has worked...
The wonders of the Fast! Unbelievable, I have achieved that state
of clear mind, hard to understand how that happens and how it could
be otherwise attained. No brain fog, clarity of mind, focus, and hardly
any weariness. If I properly handle the evening meals (basically not
eating excessively), then even then do I not tire.
Sleep is better too, in fact, I am easily able to take
brief recharging naps, from which I emerge clear without the help
of caffeine, and at night fall back asleep easily. In the morning, in
spite of the early wake-up, I soon achieve this same clarity of mind.
Yesterday, I noticed at work that I had even stopped my chronic
yawning! Amazing...
How could such blessed state be achieved by other means?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 06/14/18 -- ROZA DAY 29 (OBSERVED 24)
Weight: 68.3 kg - 150.6 lbs
The endless art of properly praying Namaaz ...
In a low measured voice ... Better to stick to a single "melody" for
each Aayat, in a low measured voice, each Surah having its own optimal
rhythm. When the voice is too loud, and too declamatory, then too
much attention goes into the shaping of the melody, distracting from
the inside resonnance of the verses. In a low measured voice ...
Yesterday was another quasi-miraculous day. Remarkable (and enviable)
clarity of mind, no weariness throughout the day, including into a
relatively late evening, energy and clarity. Unbelievable.
This year's Ramadhan is coming to a close. Not the intensity of the
first years, but perhaps its excesses were a little disenginious and
forced, so this relative moderation reaches perhaps deeper. Either
way, one can only try with all ones might, Sabr, seeking with
relentless patience the impossible meeting of Allah.
An Approximation of Jannat -- 06/15/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 06/15/18 -- ROZA DAY 30 (OBSERVED 25)
Weight: 68.4 kg - 150.8 lbs
Yesterday anxiety over last day, led to intense Zohar ki Namaaz (a'raaf).
Sadness, and I call Ruksanna.
Lekin at night, no moon sighting, in spite of neighboring countries,
I am granted my wish of another Roza, and that on Jumah.
And all that goes into Fajr ki Namaaz, Surah Yaseen, of near perfect
devotion, of those that leave you in space. Prayer is for human's sake,
not God's. But in its intensity lies its own danger, not make this into
a work of art. Declamation is good, but careful to not the melody of it
take over, do not perform!
Ruksanna sleeping at my side. She is so desirable
in her careless intimacy that it makes me smile. But
she must have left during Farz, gone to watch islamic videos on Youtube.
An idea, could she come to the US and fly back by herself? Can Emirates
support her to navigate Dubai airport? She rejects that idea unambiguously,
scared, me kho jaoungi she laughs.
And yet, I would so want her at my side. I reflect upon the dangers of
America, the stop in Santa Rosa. Either way, I will firmly not stop there,
will have to find another motel on the way.
Then complete the reading of Surah Taubah, ending on the
"laqad jaa..." verses.
This will determine the section for deeper studies after Ramadhan.
The first verse of Yaseen 4th ruku escapes me in Namaaz for some reason
(and comes back very naturally when I later recall it), but nonetheless,
this has been an exceptional Namaaz, a fitting way to bring the holy month
to a close. I understand those who lose their mind in Zikr, and in some ways
wish for the same. Would this spirit, a spirit of freedom through servitude,
of independence, never leave me now.
The morning is more tired than usual, as if the apex of the month had
happened yesterday (in fact I briefly sleep before leaving for Namaaz).
I think I no longer have it, but at the Masjid, the spirit seizes me again,
bringing tears to my eyes, and there follows another conscious afternoon,
the miraculous state of acuteness that goes with the fast. How again
could this be achieved in some other way, how much fulfillment would
lie therein? Perhaps this is it, the fast, it is an approximation
of Paradise.
Eid-ul-Fitr -- 06/16/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 06/16/18 -- EID-UL-FITR
Home Gym: 0:40:00
Sequence: Bench Press - Cycle Abs - Shoulder Flies - Biceps - Knees.
Weight: 68.2 kg - 150.3 lbs
Wake-up at 5. Reading Surah Yunus, followed by Baqarah Namaaz, then
Gym session, actually feeling good and natural, but
of course cautious low weights. As if my body knew that I am about
to break fast, my bowel movement finally returns to normal today!
It has been very low the whole week, since that mysterious pet dard.
Great reluctance to go out to Namaaz. But Ruksanna (thankfully) gives
me no choice. I end up going with Shabaaz (Shahid has consciously dropped
behind) to Khairani road, masha'allah, an impressive environment, a narrow
alley tunnel crowded with beggars opens to a large masjid, where probably
the Namaaz is being prayed in a loop since morning (have been hearing
distant voices). We find a place easily upstairs, but unlike the various
announcements or Du'ah, Namaaz is prayed silently without mic, to my
surprise. I distribute my 10 10 notes among the beggars, soon running
out, including in the street. Many men immaculate white in the rainy
mud. The Jain Mandir. Eid Mubarak, Shabaz and I talk on the way back,
sadly, we have hardly exchanged a word in the last few months, and
he smiles like in the first days.
This Ramadhan can be considered a success. In spite of the France trip
interruption, I recovered well (contrary to my fears) and enjoyed a
most successful second half, enjoying the peace and acuteness of the
fast, but without the almost theatrical excesses of the first years.
It was probably wise to not make any particular effort on Laylatul
Qadr, not repeating last year's fiasco, and the closing days of the
fast have been poignant.
Now, on to normal life, eager to start back the running routine,
yet feeding on this spiritual victory.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Eid Mubarak --
-- "Leopard", our dog in Elaruvi --
Difficult Recovery - The Death of the Father - Fever -- 06/21/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 06/17/18 -- Monsoon Rains
Powai Police - Lake - IIT Main Gate - Hiranandani - Galleria -
Orchard Rd. - Lake Homes - Chandivali rd.
Mileage: 5.16 Miles - 8.31 Km
Time: 0:57:19
Pace: 11'06"/mile - 6'54"/km
Weather: 27C - 31C, rains.
Weight: 68.9 kg - 151.9 lbs
Ruksanna: 56.4 kg - 124.3 lbs
Have started back from Surah Baqarah, reading the first 19 verses.
I then rehearse (and pray) the "classics", Surah A'ala and Ghashiyah,
which have started slipping away from my mind, and will continue this
on the run.
I have not taken anything for this first run other than my watch,
and I have done well.
This doesn't feel too bad. Our street is affected by the mega-opening
of the Jain Mandir, for which there were helicopters throwing flowers
yesterday! This has been going on for a good week.
But it's otherwise very quiet, and wet. Running feels ok breath-wise,
at a very slow pace, but the body is inevitably sore. I have yesterday
built a Marathon schedule for the Mumbai Marathon, which fortunately
makes me start in October, so there is plenty of time to cautiously
ramp up (I'm thinking I'll focus on 10ks till then). This is good,
putting most of the training after the monsoon rains, and for the
relatively cooler winter temperatures.
Speaking of monsoon rains, one such torrential outburst catches me
as I'm approaching Hiranandani, and then again near Shangarsh Nagar.
These are luckily short, and the effect of it is actually so
exhilerating that my breath becomes much easier.
Ruksanna is still asleep. Yesterday, my return to normal took all
energy out of me in the evening, involuntarily sleeping almost
unconscious. So this morning I wake her up so gently after having dried
up, all loving, and we spend time together.
Thoughts, the same thoughts, have come to me, which I hastily scribble
on my phone, without glasses:
Frrr lumiere
Remains to be prjven that they were wrong
Imdisteial?
Thise tou call onscure?
Better off?
That is because you believe in trith reality, to me irrelevant.
Ask what fulfill? )npt ise word happy, excess thereof, look ar permanent
smiles
Obscure will be
This makes no sense at all!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 06/19/18 --
Powai Police - Along the Lake - IIT E. Gate - Back same way.
Mileage: 5.26 Miles - 8.48 Km
Time: 0:53:41
Pace: 10'12"/mile - 6'20"/km
Weight: 68.7 kg - 151.4 lbs
Weather: 28C - 32C.
I'd like to control my weight following Ramzaan, but yesterday my
birthday obstinately gets in the way: I am treated to three chocolate
cakes throughout the day, which I cannot refuse!! This makes me a
little unwell. But nevertheless, we spend one of our best times,
Ruksanna has been desiring for a time, and loses herself like
rarely before.
And in the morning, after a few wake-ups including a dream where
an auto took us under the railway in Kadugodi (the "dangerous route"),
my weight is quite good after all. Rewinding a little, I read till
V. 71 of Surah Baqarah, followed by A'ala, Ghashiyah, Fajr & Balad.
The run is better than last. Cloudy weather but no rain, not hot
but enough for a good sweat. Last night has left me with a tenacious
neck pain, and the body is still sore, but better. Around an hour
on alternate days seems like the right ramp-up recipe for now.
An accident has happened near IIT, even though the JVLR is nearly
empty at this hour, broken car, blood on the pavement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 06/21/18 -- Very Bad Run
Powai Lake Platform - IIT Main Gate - Orchard Ave - IRB rd.
Mileage: 4.75 Miles - 7.64 Km
Time: 0:56:14
Pace: 11'50"/mile - 7'22"/km (one of my worst paces ever?)
Weight: 69.2 kg - 152.5 lbs
Weather: 29C - 32C.
Baqarah v. 130, Namaaz Surah-al-e-Imraan.
Not feeling well! Woke up at 4:30, not rested.
The run, far from waking me up,
feels disastrous, aggravated by the weather
that feels particularly hot and muggy.
The only thing that keeps me going is the
thought of going back to bed once done,
and perhaps even skip work in the morning,
but once there I can't sleep anyway.
Bad start to the day, the first such
occurrence after Ramzaan, feels like back
where we started (although Namaaz has continued to be excellent).
Later that afternoon, Ruksanna calls to book tickets for Bangalore, her
father has gone. We reach there by 2:30am, at Farida's house.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 06/22/18 -- La Mort du Pere
Day of the funeral.
We sleep in Elaruvi.
Extraordinary welcome by Leopard, the village dog.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 06/23/18 -- in Elaruvi.
That night, we sleep at Basha's house in Attikupam.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 06/24/18 -- Return to Mumbai.
Weight: 69.4 kg - 153 lbs
After morning Ziaarat at Farida's house, we return from Tiruppattur to Bangalore, thankfully with no traffic or obstacle at all, well in time for the plane to Mumbai.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 06/26/18 -- Fever
Weight: 68.7 lbs - 151.4 lbs
Temperature @ 4:00am: 101.6 F ie. 38.6 C.
Temperature @ 12:30pm: 100.4 F ie. 38.0 C.
Temperature @ 8:30pm: 99.2 F ie. 37.3 C
Me who thought I would effortlessly resume and surpass my running routine
right after Ramzaan, absolutely not! I felt fever through the night, not
terrible, but at 4am, confirm it, by sticking the thermometer in my ass
(which I haven't done in many many years!). I won't go to work, which actually
makes me very happy. I wouldn't mind this fever lasting for a few days,
let's see how it evolves.
Read Surah Baqarah to v. 167, then late Namaaz consisting of all four
Baqarah parts.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 06/27/18 --
Weight: 68.9 kg - 151.9 lbs
Temperature @ 5:00am: 97.6 F ie. 36.4 C.
Abundant sweat through the night, but temperature is gone. Some sort
of loose motion, similar to that in Pune.
I wake up unfortunately angry and frustrated, distracted by work from
a good Namaaz, and Ruksanna is still complaining of intense back pain.
Read till Surah Baqarah v. 196, which includes the Ramadhan prescription.
Will go to work, but decide to rest in the meantime. Another one of
those bad mood days.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 06/28/18 --
Home Gym: 0:38:30
Sequence: Bench Press - Knee Leg Raises - Weighted Punches.
Weight: 68.7 kg - 151.4 lbs
Read till Baqarah v. 221.
Overabundant sweat, but no fever. Late night yesterday, again a lot
of problems at work!! Thought of running to work this morning, but
reasonably renounced due to my iffy state, and some monsoon
showers. Accepting that recovery will be a much longer road
than anticipated!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 06/29/18 --
D-Mart - Lake Homes - Orchard Ave. - Overpass - JVLR -
Powai Police - Back.
Time: 0:41:19
Mileage: 3.83 Miles - 6.16 Km
Pace: 10'47"/mile - 6'42"/km
Weight: 68.4 kg - 150.8 lbs
Weather: 26C - 30C.
Read till Surah Baqarah v. 242.
Still very weak. This is as much as I can run for now, it will be
a long way back into training!! Patience, and reset expectations.
Rain in the last 10 minutes. Still abundant sweat. Very unhappy
with my nutrition yesterday. But still my weight remains low.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- "Allez les Bleus!" (in R-City Mall) --
Allez les Bleus! (6.8 Miles) -- 07/01/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 07/01/18 -- Allez les Bleus!
Powai Police - Saki Vihar - Aarey Junction - Marol Maroshi - Back via JVLR.
Mileage: 6.81 Miles - 10.96 Km
Time: 1:14:42
Pace: 10'58"/mile - 6'48"/Km
Weather: 26C - 30C.
Weight: 68.4 kg - 150.8 lbs
Finally, a better run!
Yesterday evening, after hesitation watched France - Argentina,
encouraged by Ruksanna who says that I cannot leave everything.
Turns out to be the quintessential great match, full of drama,
turns, and heroism. She watches at my side and yells with me,
although doesn't fully understand what's going on. But I have
foregone Maghrib and Ishaa ki Namaaz, which gives me a sense
of culpability, and wonder whether this is right or should indeed
be abandonned - I spend too much time replaying the match in my
head. Also, yesterday, we weren't able to obtain Modula tablets
without a new prescription, and debate whether we really need
them or not. RUksanna thinks we do at first.
But in the morning, good reading (Surah Baqarah till V. 281)
followed by excellent Namaaz (Surah Al-i-Imraan) including
catch-up for last night's Ishaa. I feel well awake at last,
the sun is crisp outside, so here we go, before Ruksanna
wakes up, around 6:00.
I imagine I still need to be cautious, but decide for the classic
Aarey road, where I haven't been seen since before Ramadhan. I
indeed feel much better, at a slow pace, but sensations coming
back. I am methodically rehearsing SUrah Al-A'raaf along the way,
which I had dropped since end of Ramadhan (luckily, it has stayed
in memory). Someone salutes me.
At the junction, I opt for a "middle road": Come back via the
JVLR itself, which early Sunday morning is fine (in fact offers
interesting views). I pass on the side at a glimpse a young
couple in a car who seems to have made love there, a little
"titanic" scene reminscent of a long ago ascent of Mt
Hamilton, the windows glazed with condensation. I finish the
run in relative comforat, stiffening up slightly,
but a renaissance of sorts, at last.
Ruksanna is still asleep and I massage her back pain. I have
decided on the run to visit a doctor to get the pills.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- In Monsoon Gear --
Monsoon Rains (8.1 Miles) -- 07/08/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 07/03/18 -- Monsoon Rains
Powai Police - Powai Lake - IIT - Down to LBS, cross under JVLR -
Back via Padmavati Devi Marg - Vidya - Hiranandani Hospital -
Orchard Av. - Shetty College - IRB Rd - Chandivali Rd.
Mileage: 6.62 miles - 10.65 Km
Time: 1:09:39
Pace: 10'31"/mile
Weight: 69.1 kg - 152.3 lbs
Weather: 27C - 30C.
Feeling very good!!
Read Surah Ali-Imraan till v. 30. Yesterday, I've "in weakness"
listened to Ballades and Scherzi from Chopin in the car, which
after a few minutes makes me almost sick, like after eating too
much sweet, and I regret this interlude which as often has stuck
underground melodies in the hidden band of the brain. On the run,
I rehearse Surah al-A'raaf, which hopefully will replace those
annoying melodies from the past.
I hear the rain, but feeling sharp, do not get discouraged, go out
wearing my Seattle Mariners Cap, in memory of my awesome Gilman Burke
Trail marathon pre-run years ago, last long run before the marathon.
The rain is moderate at first, but soon turns into a series of downpours,
which are actually exhilerating! These assaults make running easy,
enthusiastic, and fun splashing around obstacles. I decide to push
down to the LBS, an impressive waterfall rushes down from the overpass
above, but I've left the mobile home (as is now commonly the custom).
Return through Vidya where rain intensifies again, small rivers in
the streets, but still feeling great!
Seems like I might have recovered after all...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 07/04/18 -- Bad Wake Up.
Home Gym: 0:49:00
Sequence: Dumbbell Press - Abs - Combo Punches - Seated Biceps - Squats.
Weight: 69.1 kg - 152.3 lbs
I've woken up around 4am, and in spite of my best efforts, no fucking
way to fall back asleep!!!
One reason is that suddenly grow obsessed with the fact that i've
given my access code to the Iphone repairvalli Saturday. Not sure
why it hits me now, but I can't chase the thought, one of those
moments I wished to undo, over and over again. Finally, I get up
very frustrated, tired and fearing the day, trying to settle down
by the daily reading of the Qur'an (to Al-Imraan v. 54) and Namaaz,
but as I might start to regain footing, Ruksanna enters the room,
weighs herself, than sits there to drink her tea, interrupting
my Namaaz. I cannot suppress my anger, but I love her, and that
in turns exarcebates my anger for being angry at her! Luckily, I
do not scold her, nor will I. I rather try to
push all that aside and resume a now entirely silent Namaaz, finally,
Ruksanna, probably feeling this stupid turmoil, gets up and leaves.
I resume out loud, confused, so mad that I succumb to a fit of
"punch in the face"! Bad start to the day.
This then leads to this angry gym session, desperately trying
to wake up properly. Harder than usual, and will properly leave
me very sore in a few days!
Sharp contrast with yesterday's excellence...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 07/05/18 --
Aarey - JVLR route (same as Sunday)
Mileage: 6.82 Miles - 10.97 Km
Time: 1:12:43
Pace: 10'40"/mile - 6'38"/km
Weight: 69.3 kg - 152.8 lbs
Weather: 26C - 29C.
Woke up at 4:40, but this time feeling refreshed.
Reading Surah Imraan till v.80, then Namaaz Surah ali-Imraan.
I go out in spite of the rain. This is somewhat heavy at first, but
soon diminishes, to later completely stop. The run is comfortable,
repeating exactly Sunday's route.
I want to go get gas on the way to work, which creates minor
tension. I do reach the gas station with time so spare, to find
exactly what I feared: a line of 20 or so cars. I do not wait.
The roads under monsoon are like a minefield. The shortcut
"over the bridge" leading to Military road has been shut,
today, the sign being gone, I and others venture there again,
only to find the bridge still shut! U-turn ...
Luckily, arrive to work comfortably, with good mood and
energy.
I have decided that my weight range should be 69 - 70,
not below, or above.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 07/06/18 -- Aarey Commute - "Allez les Bleus" Part II
Mileage: 5 Miles - 8 km
Time: 0:51:13
Pace: 10'14"/mile - 6'24"/km
Weight: 69.3 kg - 152.8 lbs (Note: Same Yesterday)
Weather: 26C - 30C.
Because of scarce petrol in the car, I've decided to run to work
this morning, first time since Ramadhan. But the various aches
and pains I suffer from after yesterday's run (and the previous
gym session) make me hesitate, particularly an unusual pain in
the outer right knee. Perhaps rest is advised, and I'm taking my
ramp-up too aggressively ...
But in the morning, after Surah Yaseen Namaaz, I decide to
carry through the plan after all, in spite of a sleepy wake-up, and
heavy rain outside. Ruksanna has cooked pasta for me which
makes me regretful, but understanding the petrol situation she
actually pushes me out the door. Armed with my now traiditional
Seattle cap, I set out. The rain actually stops just in
time for the run, downgrading to a slight drizzle, before resuming
strongly just prior to reaching 88. Overall, a good, slow, relaxed
run, no particular pain, and pleasantly rehearsing again Surah
al-A'raaf.
Today (Jumah), I am determined to go to Masjid in spite of a client visit,
and leave at 6:00pm to watch France Uruguay (even if I have
to return walking!).
Later, this all comes true. The client departs by 1:00, and I am
able to go the Masjid, like most Fridays. This satisfies me greatly,
a good Namaaz today, which provides some sense of Sakinah.
And later still, after fighting to leave work on time, I ask Milind's
driver to take me home. The imbecile takes the Military Road way,
which partially closed is COMPLETELY stuck! Decision has to be made:
I leave the car, finish the road running, in running shoes but
full clothes, carrying a plastic bag (this may have resulted in
an addtional 20 minute run, but I did not time it). My pants are
falling so I tie
my handkerchief as a makeshift belt, and weave through the atrocious
traffic like a madman - and make it home, drenched but on time,
for the awesome France - Uruguay Game!
Ruksanna is amused by
my unstoppability.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 07/07/18 --
Weight: 68.3 kg - 150.6 lbs
I have made the somewhat dramatic decision to further distance
myself from the IPhone.
Last week's repair has caused the camera
to go dead, so this is a perfect opportunity to clear things.
I am deleting mail accounts from it, will only resume as needed.
I refuse to be plugged to it 24/7!
Like not owning a TV in the old days, separating from the damn
thing provides relief.
-- Flooding near R City Mall --
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 07/08/18 -- Monsoon Downpour
Lake Homes - Lake Powai - IIT - down to LBS - South on LBS,
past R City Mall - Andheri Ghatkopar - Khairani Rd.
Mileage: 8.11 Miles - 13.05 Km
Time: 1:20:14
Pace: 9'53"/mile - 6'09"/km (inaccurate, does not deduct flooded
walk portions)
Weather: 26C - 29C, heavy rain.
Weight: No weight today, scale ran out of battery!
Read Surah Al-e-Imraan till v. 148. Namaaz consisting of Surah Al-e-Imraan
and A'raaf. I then timidly start to learn last 2 rukus of Surah An'aam. But
will get distracted from this endeavour by the flooding.
I wake up early and not too awake, laborious, but decide to
proceed nevertheless with the run. This starts in moderate run,
in spite of which there are a few runners in the Hiranandani
area. I've taken my phone, both to resume learning (starting
Surah An'aam) and take the picture I missed the other day:
under the overpass, with water pouring in. But the rain hasn't
been powerful enough, and it doesn't come to anything.
On an inspiration, I decide to return via the LBS. But just then,
the rain turns to a violent torrential downpour, amazing, which
will continue at this strength for the remaining half hour.
As usual, its effect is highly energizing. I soon hit areas where
the street is flooded, brown water pouring in from the neighboring
roads. I stop near R City Mall where the road has become hard
to ford, and in spite of the torrential rain, risk taking my
phone out for pictures. It's an amazing site (albeit common), people fording
the water, some vehicles able to cross while others (rickshaws
in particular) can't make it. I myself walk some portiong, about
knee deep in water, laughing along with some impromptu monsoon
companions, some painfully pushing there vehicle while wading
in the flow. I can resume running, cautiously shut the phone
worried that it might short circuit. Again at Khairani road,
almost home, the water is deeper still, even though I've run
some sections (with comical "high splashy feet" like a ballerina
of sorts), some areas are impossible, require very cautious walk.
I make it home exhilerated by the experience. Ruksanna
is reading her books in bed.
This week has seen a return to shape in terms of distance
(hope I'm not overdoing it though!),
not yet in terms of speed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Flooding in Ghatkopar --
Illness - Monsoon Rains - Demie Finale et Finale (7.5 Miles) -- 07/15/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 07/11/18 -- Demie-Finale.
D-Mart - Chandivali Rd. W. - Saki Vihar - Powai Lake - IIT Main Gate -
Back JVLR - Orchard Ave. - SM Shetty - IRB rd. - Chandivali rd.
Mileage: 6.46 Miles - 10.39 Km
Time: 1:07:01
Pace: 10'22"/mile - 06'27"/km
Weight: 69.3 kg - 152.8 lbs
Yesterday night was the French Belgium semi-final, for which I woke
up at 11:30, and didn't sleep back till about 2am, excited by
the awesome success! I still wake up around
4:40, read Surah Nisaah till v.23, completing Juz 4, followed by good
Surah Baqarah Namaaz. It has continued to rain for the past several
days, flooding parts of the city, bacche look anxiously at signs of wind
or rain as a pretext to stay home, but Ruksanna is inflexible.
I do go out to run, in spite of not having slept much, a persistent cold,
and this rain threat. I for the first time pack my Triple Crown jacket
in my pocket, but that is where it'll stay throughout. After a quick
downpour, the rain has stopped, and will stay mostly off for the run.
It is strangely hot actually, steamy and humid, like a sauna.
The sore throat has transformed into a runny nose, but the run is
generally ok.
Bad problems at work, endlessly recurring, but frankly, I don't give a damn.
Enough is enough.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 07/12/18 -- Tempo Fartlek
Lake Homes - Powai Lake, to IIT Far Gate -
Back via Powai Police stn.
6 moderate Fartlek intervals.
Mileage: 5.38 Miles - 8.5 Km
Time: 0:50:06
Pace: 9'19"/mile - 5'53"/km
Weight: 69.1 kg - 152.3 lbs
Weather: 26C - 29C.
Exhaustion, cold, but proceeded nevertheless. I unfortunately
woke up at 4:15 and just could not sleep again, in spite of
going to bed well after 10pm because of Farnaz calls!
The cold is quite bad today, but no fever, but in spite of
that, I press on. In some way, I'm trying to fall sicker still,
and to a large extent, I will succeed in that!
Finally, a dry day, but overcast.
Moderate speed effort, to get back into things.
Actually felt better than expected.
But after driving back and forth to Worli to meet Mr. Sach,
in the afternoon, cold and exhaustion gain the upper hand,
I ask for a pause in rounds during which I sleep deeply an unknown
amount of time, then manage to leave "early" before 6.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 07/13/18 -- Cold
Weight: 69.6 kg - 153.4 lbs
Still feeling very bad from cold (but no fever), decide
to stay home and work from there. Sleep several times
during the day, do not go out at all, but do take several
video calls.
Read Surah Nisaah till v. 60.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 07/15/18 -- Avant la Finale.
Powai Police - Saki Vihar - Aarey - Marol Maroshi - Military Rd. -
Saki Vihar - Khairani Rd.
Mileage: 7.52 Miles - 12.10 Km
Time: 1:19:35
Pace: 10'35"/mile - 6'35"/km
Weight: 69.5 kg - 153.2 lbs
Weather: 27C - 29C - Rainy, breezy.
Still recovering, yesterday, while not perfect, felt a lot better,
and I'm very motivated to run today.
Wake up at 5, read Surah Nisaah till v. 112, then Namaaz
Burooj-Tariq-A'ala-Ghashiyah. But the increasing clamour
of the rain discourages me. Whatever, I will proceed, hoping
that this won't set me back. I learn a little further into
Surah An'aam during stretching. Note that I am not taking
my phone on the runs, having to commit to memory alone, and
that I have not restablished email access on the device,
feeling all the better for it! I am myself surprised how
much I do not miss it.
It has stopped raining by the time I get out, but only for
a short time. A steady drizzle soon re-appears, discouraging
me again, and I wonder whether I should change plans and
shorten the run along IIT. It's also surprisingly windy,
blustery, which at least keeps the temperature cooler
than normal. But no, I stick to Aarey road,
at a slow pleasant pace, which gradually takes hold of
me, to a point of comfort. In fact, as often, the rain
makes the effort almost unnoticed. I slow down to a brief
walk in front of the impressive cows who's hour it is
to cross the road, but let me go by seemingly unheeded.
By the time I reach the junction, I feel wonderful,
peacefully sipping on Gatorade, and learning Surah
An'aam in a loop.
In Marol, the rain augments to a steady (but not crazy)
downfall, further energizing the run. Here in this half deluge
the somewhat surreal glimpse of a girl in a scant
erotic red dress being helped out of a Rickshaw by a young man.
Finally, in
the last stretch on Khairani road, the rain precipitates
into the usual maelstrom toofan, but by then, I am close
enough to home, exhilarated, but hoping this will not trigger
another bout of cold.
Tonight is the France Final. And Shabaz's birthday.
After playing a calamitous first half, France wins the World Cup.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monsoon Rains (9.85 Miles) -- 07/22/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 07/17/18 -- Tempo Run
Warmup: Powai Police Station to Lake Homes Overpass [1.26m-2.03k]
Tempo: Overpass to IIT Main Gate & back [2.12m-3.42k]
Cooldown: Back same way.
Tempo Time: 0:18:52
Tempo Mileage: 2.12 Miles - 3.42 Km
Tempo Pace: 8'54"/mile - 5'31"/km
Overall Time: 0:44:58
Overall Mileage: 4.64 Miles - 7.48 Km
Overall Pace: 9'41"/mile - 6'00"/km
Weight: 69.5 kg - 153.2 kg
Cold is not completely over, still somewhat tired yesterday.
Morning meeting today, but I refrain from running to work, still worried
how to return in the evening in Monsoon weather and ever worsening
traffic. I manage to squeeze time for this moderate tempo run.
This feels pretty good, sustainable effort, ramping back up gently.
Most of the rain is dry, except for a brief strong downpour on the
way back near Powai Police Station.
Advanced reading Surah Nisaah, Namaaz Surah Baqarah. And
still learning Al-A'naam.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 07/18/18 -- Raheja Vihar Exploration
To Khairani rd and back (too much traffic) - Mahara -
Around inside Raheja Vihar - Back via Chandivali rd.
Time: 0:43:01
Estimated Pace: 10'00"/mile
Estimated Mileage: 4.3 Miles - 6.9 Km
Weight: 69.5 kg - 153.2 lbs
Finished reading Surah Nisaah. Namaaz Surah Al-Imraan.
Hesitate to run, haven't slept enough and an early left knee pain,
and hearing a shower outside during Namaaz, but finally decide
to go for it. Well inspired, this is a perfect small traning run, easy,
and exploring new territory: From Chandivali road, I try out the
road on the right, which opens to a whole nice residential area,
and the location of Bombay Scottish School. Good little find.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 07/20/18 -- Monsoon Commute
Aarey Commute - Old Lakshmi Studio and Back - 88 Pictures.
Time: 1:05:00
Mileage: 6.39 Miles - 10.29 Km
Pace: 10'10"/mile - 6'19"/km
Weight: 69.9 kg - 154.1 lbs
Weather: 25C - 30C.
Read Surah Maidah till v. 43, followed by Surah Yaseen Namaaz.
I wake up very well rested, as often after a tired day. How could one master
the quality of sleep? Some nights, even a short sleep completely cleans
up the mind, a small miracle.
I unexpectedly decide to run to work this morning, although I'm not completely
certain that I have clothes there. I am encouraged by the drier weather, and the
presence of Rickshaws in the evening by office. But no sooner have I told
Ruksanna that it's dry this morning that rain starts pouring!! Whatever, I
go anyway.
The rain continues through Aarey, but then stops. The occasional sidewalks
("footpaths") are stupidly paved with smooth tiles that have become
really slippery under the rain, so like any good Indian, I prefer running
on the road itself, in spite of potholes and traffic. A bus speeds by me so
fast that its wind throws me to the side, laking me curse in
English and French! Then, on the quiet Aarey Picnic
Road, two dogs start running with me, although probably more playful
then aggressive, but I admonish them nonetheless, and even revert back
to the old habit of carrying a rock (it's been a long time!). I continue
to learn Surah An'aam along the way, feeling very good, and reach
work comfortably in time for my meeting. Fortunately, all the clothes
are there, and I call Ruksanna to laugh about that.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 07/22/18 -- Eastern Expressway
Powai Lake - IIT - JVLR, to Mumbai Agra Hwy: 0:40:00 [4.03m - 6.48k]
Eastern Express Hwy - to Ghatkopar Link rd: 1:11:00 [7.02m - 11.29k]
Andheri Ghatkopar - Khairani rd. - Jain Mandir: 1:41:01 [9.84m - 15.84k]
Time: 1:41:01
Mileage: 9.84 Miles - 15.84 Km
Pace: 10'16"/mile - 6'23"/km
Intermediate Pace: 9'55"/mile (JVLR/EEH) - 10'07"/mile (EEH/Link)
Weight: 69.6 kg - 153.4 lbs
Weather: 25C - 30C.
A night of many wake-ups, and much sleep yesterday.
But wake up strangely angry, perhaps fueled by the antisemitic verses
of Surah Maidah (read till v. 78), and the sound (again!) of battering
rain outside, which could compromise my running plan. Namaaz is an
unusual series of extracts from Surah Yaseen, but that too is mixed.
I set out nonetheless on the run, in spite of a strong steady rain
(but not crazy rain), which will last without abating for a good
2/3 of the run. I am actually mostly worried by a strange pain in
one toe, probably from rubbing against the wet shoe in the rain,
which really bothered me after Friday's run.
But this feels good. I feel quite comfortable, relaxed and loose, the
effort cleaning mind and body. I am learning two more sub-verses of
Surah An'aam along the way, which I'll repeat throughout. Tired of
Aarey, I've decided to run the other way towards Easter Express Highway,
and perhaps something new from there. Well, I decide to head south,
a run that I've done once but in the other direction, whose exact
length I do not remember. It continues to rain steadily, but the
run is pleasant, strangely nicer on the highway (where there is
a comfortable side road away from the trafic) which traverses
mostly barren fields, and small slums. There aren't much people,
except for a surprising number of cyclists, under the rain.
The sight of dogs suddenly
reminds one of last night's dreams: A pack of dog has chased me,
one of them, strangely a small poodle, has taken the lead and
confronts me, I pick up some round rocks on the ground but these
are strangely as heavy as lead, and I can barely throw them
in their direction.
I reach the Ghatkopar junction, which I fortunately recognize
without doubt. Here once again, the occasional sidewalk is covered
with slippery green moss, forcing to run on the roads instead,
in spite of potholes, water and traffic. From a small alley
springs a youth on a motorbike in front of me, "dekho", I tell
him calmly as our eyes cross, but this seems to anger him
as he blabbers something out, fortunately without stopping.
This spurs a small ridiculous anger with him where I dream
myself projecting someone on the ground. Could it be that me,
who has never fought, could someday kill someone on the streets?
I pass the impressive Ghatkopar Hill Slum
where is the big broken head statue of
Lord Siva, now partially covered with a board. I've thought of
photographing it, but not sure if this is appropriate, as I've
been scolded before for photographing the gods in an unfavorable
state. Besides, as is the case lately, I am not carrying my phone.
I struggle a bit in the last part, but push the pace a little
till Jain Mandir, finishing wll. This has been a great run, the longest since
Ramzaan.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Four Days (8 Miles) -- 07/26/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday 07/23/18 -- Rest.
Weight: 69.3 kg - 152.8 lbs
Surah Maidah, Juz 7 on v. 83, then v. 100, and comments till v. 57.
After seeing Sanju yesterday, and a few things, slept a little late and
started declining after wake-up. I at first considered the odd idea of
a short recovery run, but luckily changed plans. Instead, I go back
to bed, finish reading Salammbo, and coax myself to half-sleep.
This is done by exploring the deeper areas of the brain, which done
correctly, is greatly successful. The way I see it, it's as if there is
a sphere of attention that one can push in various areas of the
brain, and one should try to reach the "areas in the back", where
lie dreams and unconscious thoughts. It is difficult, as any slight
noise, any distraction, bring back the sphere abruptly back to
the front (with a sort of "pop"), and sometimes even the thoughts
themselves trick the mind in thinking that they are conscious, causing
the unwanted break. But when possible, there is no better way
to bring relief to the mind, drift into dream or downright into slumber.
He who could master this fully would no doubt attain amirable rest.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 07/24/18 -- Taxes.
Aarey Commute + Old Laxmi Studio, to the Turn.
Mileage: 6.74 Miles - 10.85 Km
Time: 1:10:45
Pace: 10'30"/mile - 6'31"/km
Weight: 70.2 kg - 154.76 lbs
Weather: 27C - 30C.
Finished reading Surah Maidah.
Yesterday, I learned the difficult news that my 401k IRA conversion
will be taxable in India. Complete surprise!! It could amount to
$30 - 40k, payable before July 31st! This is all the more upsetting
that it is money I cannot touch, not to mention what the hell they
might be doing here with tax money!
I try my best to digest, and somehow most worry about
telling it to Ruksanna, which I do only after having completed all
the day's Namaaz, and she takes it in stride. Not sure why I worry
more about her than about myself.
Nevertheless, this leads to another sleepless night. I cannot sleep
again after 3 or so, finally relent to eating a little cereal (feeling
quite hungry), reading
the Salammbo preface, manage to doze off till 5. Get up with
some energy, finish reading Surah Maidah, and some effort into
Surah Yaseen in Namaaz.
I then resolve to run to work. It's finally dry today, no rain, although
roads are still muddy. This is one of those "run till I die" runs,
but little by little warming up in Aarey, I come to an acceptable rhythm,
rehearsing Surah Mulk (which has failed me in Namaaz yesterday)
and finishing one verse in Surah A'naam. When I reach, Ruksanna
calls me: She's satisfied to announce that she too has run 18
minutes, in spite of her back pain. "I'll tell you when I can run 80,
she adds, so we can register for races again".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 07/25/18 -- 5 1K Intervals
Warm-up (Lake via Police Station): 0:12:51 [1.26M - 2.02Km]
1K Intervals, Lake Home Overpass to IIT 3rd Gate Overpass.
Distance: 1.01 Km - 0.63 Miles
Interval I: 5'07".81 [8'11"/mile - 5'05"/km]
Interval II: 5'18".75 [8'28"/mile - 5'16"/km]
Interval III: 5'03".17 [8'03"/mile - 5'00"/km]
Interval IV: 5'19".23 [8'28"/mile - 5'16"/km]
Interval V: 4'55".87 [7'51"/mile - 4'53"/km]
Interval Totals: 5.05 Km - 3.15 Miles - 0:25:44 - 8'10"/mile - 5'06"/km
Cooldown (via Orchard - Lake Homes): 0:19:28 - [1.9M - 3.06Km]
Overall Time: 0:58:03
Overall Mileage: 6.31 Miles - 10.13 Km
Weather: 27C - 30C.
Weight: 69.9 kg - 154.1 lbs
Another dry day! Good session, although speed a little
slow given the effort involved.
Very abundant sweat!
Yesterday evening, I was so tired that I fell asleep
sitting with a cup in my hand,
dropping the water on the ground! (Thankfully a metal cup...)
Continue to struggle with life, and the constant assault of
various demands and constraints.
Read Surah An'aam first 20 verses, but struggle to really muster the effort.
Later though, a most excellent Zohar ki Namaaz, centered around
Surah al-A'raaf.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 07/26/18 -- Ghatokopar
Chandivali Rd. - IRB rd. - Orchard Av. - JVLR -
Padmavati Devi Marg, via Vidhya - JVLR -
LBS Marg - Past Vikhroli, R-City - Andheri Ghatkopar -
Khairani rd. - Shangarsh Nagar Shortcut.
Mileage: 8 Miles - 12.86 Km
Time: 1:23:52
Pace: 10'29"/mile - 6'31"/km
Weight: 70 kg - 154.3 lbs
Ruksanna's weight: 58.4 kg
Weather: 27C - 30C.
Read till Surah An'aam v. 50. Namaaz Surah Mulk.
Another dry day, except for a brief shower.
Nothing much, a brief dog confrontation on Khairani Road, which I handle
with poise, and the shopkeeper's help. One of those "gradual wake-up" runs.
Ruksanna's back has deteriorated again, and I fear the trip to Elaruvi.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 07/27/18 --
Aarey Commute, via Old Laxmi Studio.
Mileage: 6.4 Miles - 10.30 Km
Time: 1:06:38
Pace: 10'25"/mile - 6'28"/km
Weight: 70 kg - 154.3 lbs
Weather: 27C - 31C.
-- Elaruvi --
Elaruvi to Kilanur -- 08/01/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 08/01/18 --
Hike from Elaruvi to Kilanur.
With Shahid, Shabaz, Zoia & Sofia.
Time: 3:15:00 (Approx.)
In Tiruppattur for the Chehellam ceremony. It is the children's first plane trip, which is followed by a long multiple bus drive to Elaruvi. There, Leopard greets us triumphantly, and we will feed a lot (too much?) left-over mutton biryani. Salaam stays with us the whole time, at Ruksanna's insistence, painfully manages to obtain death certificates for the old man (after multiple trips to Tiruppattur). The Chehellam ceremony has lasted all night in Arif Nagar, as is custom, following which we decorate the old's man tomb.
-- Up there near the hamlet of Kilanur --
Back in Elaruvi, Shahid, Shabaz, Zoia, Sofia and I set out for
the classic hike up to Kilanur, the trail that starts steep and
difficult through the jungle, eventually leads to peaceful farmlands,
a sort of Wizard of Oz feeling. In spite of monsoon season (and heavy
rains in Mumbai), it has been mostly dry here, no water (or waterfalls)
in the stream. I ends up being quite hot and exposed, I will be somewhat
burned on hands and face, in spite of wearing full sleeves and pants.
On the way down, Shabaz stops and lets a cry. He has found a
Cameleon slowly crossing the trail in a strange "back and forth" dance.
The animal is vivid green against the dirt, strangely will become
brownish once it reaches the foliage.
-- Found on the Descent --
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 08/03/18 -- A New Era
Powai Police - Lake Platform - IIT far gate - back same way.
Mileage: 6.36 Miles - 10.24 km
Time: 1:03:55
Pace: 10'03"/mile - 6'14"/km
Weight: 70.4 kg - 155.2 lbs
Weather: 26C - 30C.
Back from Elaruvi yesterday (left @ 6am, reached @ 8pm).
Back home, my sleep is right away impaired, compared to the incomparable
peace of the village, among the sounds of nature. I have strangely dropped
Namaaz there entirely, so resume this morning with reading Surah An'aam
till v. 110 (complete Juz 7) and Friday Surah Yaseen Namaaz. Tired,
Ruksanna has decided to not send the bacche to school.
This run ends up being very good. I am somewhat sore from the village
hike, burnt by the sun and with a white beard, but fall into a good rhythm,
in spite of pollution and heavy climate. I am not sure where this trip leaves
me (us), whether its contemplations will finally dawn a new era.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Leaving Elaruvi --
New Zealand Hostel (10.4 Miles) -- 08/05/18
Aarey - New Zealand Hostel - Back same way.
Mileage: 10.4 Miles - 16.74 Km
Time: 1:50:04
Pace: 10'35"/mile - 6'34"/km
Weight: 69.9 kg - 154.1 lbs
Weather: 27C - 30C.
Read Surah An'aam till start of last Ruku.
Semi long run today, longest since Ramzaan.
Slow start, feeling strangely short of breath
and heavy, but ok at a slow pace, and then feeling better in the
second half. Wet ground, cloudy, but no rain.
Pipeline (8 Miles) -- 08/12/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 08/07/18 --
Powai Lake - IIT Far Gate.
Mileage: 5.26 Miles - 8.46 Km
Time: 0:52:30
Pace: 9'59"/mile - 6'12"/km
Weight: 69.8 kg - 153.9 lbs
Weather: 27C - 30C.
Another horrible day at work yesterday. We have come under renewed
criticism from Dreamworks, threatened to pull away the work. I am
failing entirely.
Today is the offsite, for which I haven't prepared enough. Luckily
this morning, after waking up at 3:20 I do manage to fall asleep in
spite of all till about 4:30, waking again fresh. Read Surah A'raaf
till v. 53, then Namaaz all Baqarah and all Ali-Imraan Rukus, after
which ideas for my speech luckily pour in.
The run itself is mediocre, feeling hot and dizzy at first, helped
in the second half by a mild head-wind.
Yesterday evening as well, I called Fidelity again, strangely, this
time, they say the will provide 401k statements for the last 10 years,
only it will go by mail to Apurva. I have no idea why they had refused
last time. Waste of time -
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 08/08/18 -- Tempo Run
Warmup: Powai Police, to Maritime Overpass [1.28M - 2.06K]
Tempo Run: From Maritime Overpass to IIT Far Gate & back.
Mileage: 3.52 Miles - 5.68 Km
Time: 0:31:04 [Splits: 0:15:40 - 0:15:24]
Pace: 8'48"/mile - 5'28"/km
Cooldown: Same [1.28M - 2.06K]
Overall Mileage: 6.08 Miles - 9.8 Km
Overall Time: 0:59:24
Weather: 27C - 30C.
Weight: 70.4 kg - 155.2 lbs
Read Surah A'raaf till v. 87 (end of Juz 8).
As usual these days, start slow and "heavy", laborious, and feeling
hot (it continues to be overcast and humid, but no actual rain.)
But the tempo itself is a relative success: sub-9'00" pace, and
negative splits. Not fast, but on track.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 08/09/18 -- Bandh
Aarey Commute, through Lake Homes - Heera Panna.
Time: 1:01:21
Mileage: 5.78 Miles - 9.3 Km
Pace: 10'37"/mile - 6'36"/km
Weight: 70.4 kg - 155.2 lbs
Weather: 27C - 30C.
Read Surah a'raaf till v. 129.
Yesterday, office party for 2 year anniversary, as well as Ruksanna
and Siddhie's birthdays ...... and ..... my 10 year anniversary in India!
(I've just found that out by going through old emails).
Today is a threat of a disruptive bandh (like the last Dalit Bandh which
had created some damage), and work is on and off, and then on
(most schools have closed). The run is then pretty quiet early in
the morning, we'll see how the day evolves. I am however very
tired, and as is the norm these days, take a good half hour to
feel comfortable into the run.
Not happy about this slight weight gain! Two days in a row that
I eat improperly, yesterday because of the various cakes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 08/12/18 -- Pipeline
D-Mart - Lake Homes - Orchard Av. - Hiranandani Main St. -
Up & Over the Hill - Vikhroli Park Alleys Shortcut - R-City Mall -
LBS Marg - Andheri Ghatkopar - Pipeline Rd. - Saki Vihar -
Chandivali Rd. - Mahara - back.
Mileage: 7.96 Miles - 12.81 Km
Time: 1:20:17
Pace: 10'05"/mile - 6'16"/km
Weight: 70 kg - 154.3 lbs
Weather: 27C - 30C.
Slept uncharacteristically till 6:00am. Finished reading Surah A'raaf,
then Surah Baqarah Namaaz. Since yesterday, Namaaz has been particularly
intense, capturing this sense of abandonment to Allah's will, a state
of bliss which I hope could remain. I am ready for anything.
I am very hesitant where to run. Something tells me I should push myself
to resume exploration, rather than always retreading the same roads. I've
somewhat abandonned the way of the slums, I feel it's time to push again.
But I am so hesitant that even outside, I feel I won't be able to go!
Right or left??!! Left or right!!!????
I finally settle for heading through Hiranandani then up and over the
hill, where I have innovative plans. I first take a quick shortcut through
the slum-like back alleys that lead to R-City Mall. I almost take another
turn later up the slum hill, but decide to reserve that for some
other day. Mostly, after
yesterday evening, we have walked the whole Pipeline Road with Nazia
and Shazia, solving a curiosity I've long held. I decide to repeat
this in the much quieter morning. It is a fascinating environment,
the road divided in two by the pipe, cutting through the slum which
climbs the hill to the right, fascinating activity. Running here with
slight apprehension turns out fine, except for two brief surprise dog
alerts, handled with poise and a smile. In fact, I feel surprisingly
good on this run, easy and flowing, better than I've felt in a long
time, perhaps liberated by the looming work crisis which has energized
me since yesterday. None of that heaviness that has plagued
me all week. I feel ready for anything, and hope this state
will last.
The run has been free of rain till the last ten minutes, where I am
suddenly caught by a violent downpour, further exhilerating my mood.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Independance Hills (9.1 Miles) -- 08/15/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 08/15/18 -- Independance Hills
Aarey, to Royal Palms Jct: 2.94 Miles - 4.74 Km
Hill Repeats, W. Side to Royal Palms Jct: 0:15:09
3'41" - 3'48" [7'29"] - 3'57" [11'26"] - 4'03" [15'09"]
Hill Mileage: 663.5 Meters - 2,177 ft == 2.65 Km - 1.65 Miles
Pace: 9'12"/mile - 5'43"/km (Fastest Interval: 8'56"/mile)
Back, Land Side of JVLR: 2.89 Miles - 4.65 Km
Total Time: 1:31:56
Total Mileage: 2.94 + 2.89 + (1.65x2) = 9.13 Miles - 14.69 Km
Overall Pace: 10'04"/mile - 6'15"/km
Weather: 27C - 30C.
Weight: 70 kg - 154.3 lbs
Finally, realize this plan to do hill repeats in Aarey, that
I have long postponed.
In fact, I am about to postpone it yet again today: Ruksanna
has woken up, and for some time, I consider shortening the run
or even cancelling it altogether, so we can go walk together.
But she chooses not to, and actually sends me out to run. So
here we go.
Overcast and a little cooler, and some sporadic rain during
the workout. I have read Surah An'aam till v. 100, and back
to "classic" Buruj - Tariq - A'ala - Ghashiyah Namaaz. It's
quiet out there on Independance day, except for the many
school children going to attend school functions. For some
reason, this has made everybody much friendlier too, and in
many places, people talk to me, in English or Hindi, and
even some children run with me for a bit. I reach the
bottom of the Aarey hill well relaxed.
The workout actually feels great. It's not quite hard as
I thought, but provides a really good effort. People see
me go by amused, increasingly smiling at every lap, and
at the top, a small dog befriending me follows me down.
I feel I'm running stronger at every lap, but will later
find out that I'm actually slowing down (very surprised).
This is a great workout, if I judge by the pleasant soreness
of my legs. Satisfied.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Near the Hollywood Sign --
Los Angeles: Hollywood Reservoir (12.3 Miles) -- 08/23/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 08/21/18 -- LA Horse Trails.
Read Surah Anfal: 28 (ruku 3) - 38 (ruku 4).
Hotel Amarano - Towards the LA Zoo - Back along Horse trails,
along the river.
Time: 1:40:12
Estimated Pace: 10'30"/mile
Estimated Mileage: 9.54 Miles
NEW SHOES --
My luggage was lost in Dubai, following an unfortunate booking
through Fly Dubai rather than Emirates, which I didn't know
about. Won't do that again!
Yesterday, after getting conflicting information, I had given
up on the promise of getting the luggage that day, but it arrive
almost by surprise past 9pm. Great, I can start running!!
So I set out along the Forest Drive route towards Griffith Park,
planning for a flat start to my LA running week. Once there,
I follow the horse trails in the direction of the Zoo (and alas
along the Freeway), not very happy about the constant noise of
traffic. I have stupidly not taken water, but occasionally found
water fountains.
But I get creative on the way back: I continue to follow the horse
trail, occasionally asking my way to horses, which leads me to a
quaint bridge, after which the trail comes right in the back of
the Disney Animation Building, where a young woman struggles to
control her horse. It's increasingly deserted actually, and I
wonder if I'll eventually hit a dead-end, dramatically lengthening
the run. I eventually ask a lady walking her dog, who reassures me
that this will go through Burbank, although at some point I'll have
to turn into the city streets. The trail now follows the river,
with curious birds and unexpected trash, then as predicted dead-ends,
but a small passage accesses the streets, from where it's a straight
shot into Burbank.
Well, here at least was something new...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 08/23/18 -- Hollywood Reservoir.
Surah Anfaal: v. 70 (Ruku) - v. 75 (End).
Barham - Hollywood Lake Drive - Hollywood Reservoir - Trail up to
under the Hollywood Sign - Back, then continued trail around the
reservoir - Back to Hotel.
Time: 2:09:32
Estimated Pace: 10'30"/mile
Estimated Mileage: 12.34 Miles
I head up through Hollywood Lake Dr towards the Hollywood sign area,
as I had discovered last time, but not sure where I'll go from there
(not wanting to repeat the same hike). Once on the other side, decide
to descend towards the Reservoir, where I'm pleased to discover a trail
that circumvents it. On the other side, I decide to explore another
trail that heads up into the hills, in direction of scattered beautiful
mansions, underneath the Hollywood sign. This eventually gets me closer
to it, but with constant signs warning that it is strictly forbidden
to hike any further up. The road eventually ends, this is as close as
I'll get to it, besides, time is running out.
I descend the same way, and once down complete the revolution around
the lake. By now morning fog has lifted, giving several good views
of the mountain. This has been a good new exploration.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 08/24/18 -- Griffith Park, to the Pass.
Surah Taubah: v. 7 (Ruku)- v. 17 (Ruku)
Up to the "pass", back via some trail loop.
Time: 1:20:33
Mileage: 7.67 Miles
Today, I run the "classic" route up Griffith Park, having taken the
car for the first time. This is meant to be a very easy recovery run
following yesterday's extravaganza, and mostly focused on studying,
although this route as usual offers a quiet gradual ascent always
pleasant. I cross several runners and cyclists, but mostly focus
on finishing another verse of Surah An'aam. Once reached the "pass",
I make a slight detour through the trails to the left (my old route),
but soon veer again to join the mellower road, again determined to
recover.
Pleasant run, and I think I've mastered this new verse finally.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Crescent City, long Pebble Beach --
Crescent City: Endert Beach to Damnation Creek (15.8 Miles) -- 08/27/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 08/26/18 -- Crescent City: "Classic" Pebble Beach Run.
Surah Taubah: v. 43 (Ruku) - v. 60 (Ruku).
Time: 1:02:36
Estimated Pace: 10'30"/mile
Estimated Mileage: 6 Miles
Beautiful crisp sunshine, no fog. Clear ocean, seals' voices.
A purposefully small relaxed run, in between giants. Feel ok.
Have "solidified" the 2nd Aayat, which I will now write.
This concludes a big week, as anticipated: 6h13 of running.
-- Terra and I, overlooking Endert Beach --
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday 08/27/18 -- Long Run: Endert Beach to Damnation Creek.
Surah Taubah: v. 67 (Ruku) - v. 73 (Ruku) - v. 81 (Ruku).
Time: 3:24:21
Estimated Pace: 11'00"/mile
Estimated Mileage: 18.6 Miles
According to trail signs: 15.8 Miles, Pace: 12'56"/mile
Horrible news, I now owe $60,000 to Indian taxes, following the
dreaful 401k IRA rollover!! In the early morning, I managed to
send the money, after asking Ruksanna to video film the relevant
pages of the note book at home. After great Namaaz, now determined
to run like no tomorrow, I have decided to attempt a 2 hour run
along the coast, continuing
south of Crescent City past Endert's beach, where Madeleine
Terra and I were yesterday.
I start early at 6:30, the parking lot empty. Along the
start of the trail, a cliff overlooking the ocean, the moon
is still up over the Pacific. Not a soul in sight.
After Endert beach starts climbing, deep forest, daunting, complete
solitude. Nervous at first, somewhat afraid of wildlife and isolation,
carry two puny short sticks as makeshift weapons, funny, and jump comically
at every rustle in the leaves. But the forest is eerily quiet. Warm
sunlight starting to filter through the tall organ-like foliage.
Rolling hills after that climb, along the coast hidden by the dense
foliage. Then the trail becomes wider and heads inland, surprisingly,
hear the occasional traffic from 101, making it feel less remote
but also less foreboding.
The trail also gets a little monotonous here, it's been long, exceeding
my 1 hour goal, but I can't bring myself to stop before reaching some
destination, a sign marked "Desolation Creek" at 6.5 Miles (or so I think,
Madeleine will later rightfully argue that it is "Damnation Creek"), but
the intersection doesn't come. Although it would seem too long, I had
earlier decided that I would run that to the ocean if it were less than
2 or 3 miles. It has been beyond 1h30 when I finally reach the sign,
which only indicates 1.4 Miles. I am clearly in long run territory,
but still decide to go for it, all be damned! This is starting to
feel like one of those "last day run no matter what" kind of runs.
The trail descends sometimes steeply to the Pacific, here too,
longer than I thought. Still not a single soul. I pass a Tsunami
sign which indicates that I must be approaching the coast, and soon,
a small bridge has been close. Luckily, I can descend down the gulch
and climb back up, and soon access the remote beach. Wow!
It has been 1h40. This will be my longest run in a long time, don't
know how the return will be. I patiently climb up the Damnation
Creek trail, feeling good, and soon settle back into the routine
of the coastal trail, rehearsing the Qur'an on the long way back.
With more light, and now knowing the route, the trail has lost some
of its foreboding quality from the morning, and I let go of my small
sticks. A little further though, I spot a longer stick which appeals
to me, take that, and will now hold it like a small paddle as I run.
This works surprisingly well, sort of pushing and pulling on it for
balance, which seems to help my posture, I wonder if I've invented
some new thing. Good thing I have packed some Gatorade in one
bottle, giving me some energy in the absence of food.
Surprisingly, I don't find the way too long, feeling
relaxed and easy. But then, Boom!, I fall flat on the ground!!
Feeling too comfortable and perhaps careless,
I must have stumbled on a stump, and hurt my right knee a bit. I'm
not sure this has ever happened to me. I resume hobbling at first,
but the pain soon settles enough to run. This will luckily prove
inconsequential.
The trail goes onto a moderate climb which I know is the prelude
to a long descent to Endert's beach. This proves steeper than
I had realized, but then here it is, back to Endert's beach, where
Terra Madeleine and I were yesterday. Here only, after over three
hours of solitude do I find a couple on the trail, and soon after
the parking lot. I am so elated that I yell in a hoarse mad voice
at the sight of my red rental car!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Majestic memorable run along the Coast --
Sunnyvale: Intervals at the Track (7.6 Miles) -- 08/30/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 08/29/18 -- Sunnyvale
Iberis Ct - Henderson - El Camino - Fremont -
Mary - Remington - El Camino - Back.
Mileage: 7.63 Miles - 12.27 Km
Time: 1:14:30
Pace: 9'46"/mile
From Jeremie's house, a "nostalgic" tour towards our old
neighbourhood, which has become completely Indian. I thought
I'd make it to our house on Manhattan Ct, but that proving
too long, I settle for the track on Mary Avenue, which gives
me a cool idea for tomorrow morning my last day in the US.
Well recovered from the Crescent City Giant Run.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 08/30/18 -- Intervals at Mary
Warmup 2 Miles: 0:20:44
1/4 Miles Intervals:
Interval I: 01:48 (7'12"/mile)
Interval II: 01:48 (7'12"/mile)
Interval III: 01:46 (7'04"/mile)
Interval IV: 01:43 (6'52"/mile)
Interval V: 01:43 (6'52"/mile)
Interval VI: 01:42 (6'48"/mile)
Total Intervals: 1.5 Miles - Time: 0:10:30 - Pace: 7'00"/mile
Cooldown, to Manhattan Ct & back (1.12 Miles): 0:10:24
Total Time: 0:41:38
Total Mileage: 4.62 Miles
Executing yesterday's "bright idea", I drive to Mary Avenue to
perform Intervals at the school track, just like in the old days.
It's a fun exercise in nostalgia, which works out surprisingly
well, I end up running faster than anticipated, and even manage
to pick up the pace interval after interval (the 1/4 format suits
me well, not too long for such an effort). This is all the more
surprising after the extraodinarly high mileage incurred during
this trip, but running fast seems to loosen up my body. Also it
amazes me how the cooler dryer temperature allows for a much
better effort, hard to measure how the Mumbai climate must be
impairing my ability. I conclude
this with a quick easy run to our former house in Manhattan Court,
it hasn't changed.
I drive back, leave Jeremie's house, meet Apurva in Burlingame,
drive early to the airport with no stops, leaving the country
unscathed and relieved. RUksanna, my love, here I come back.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 09/02/18 -- Back in Mumbai
Lake Homes - Through Hiranandani - JVLR - Lake Platform - Back
via Police Station.
Time: 0:52:43
Mileage: 5.26 Miles - 8.47 Km
Pace: 10'01"/mile - 6'13"/km
Weight: 71 kg - 156.5 lbs (got too optimistic yesterday, did
gain some weight after all, but this is fine).
An ok night, even though yesterday's afternoon "nap" turned into
a 2.5 hours deep slumber! I woke up as usual during the night,
but fell back asleep to rise at 4:30, feeling fresh! Back to
routine reading Qur'an upon awakening, where I decide to roll
back to Surah Anfal, reaching verse 37 (this will allow me to
catch up on commentaries of these two "War Surah's", which I've
stopped during the US trip).
This is meant as an easy recovery run, part antidote to jet lag,
part way to push this week beyond 6 hours of running, which I
do, even squeezing a close "victory" compared to last week,
6:13:12 of running to last week's 6:12:41. This concludes an
amazing running binge during this US trip, both in distance
and speed, which we'll see how it resolves.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- A Ruku from Surah An'aam --
-- Talab along the Way --
Airport Slums (8.8 Miles) -- 09/08/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 09/06/28 -- Mile Intervals on JVLR.
Warmup, to Lake Homes Overpass: 0:13:04 - 1.27M, 2.04K.
Intervals, Lake Homes Overpass to IIT Main Gate: 1.07M - 1.72K.
Interval I: 8'33".09 - Pace: 7'59"/mile - 4'58"/km
Interval II: 8'38".96 - Pace: 8'05"/mile - 5'02"/km
Interval III: 8'26".66 - Pace: 7'53"/mile - 4'54"/km
Interval IV: 8'46".45 - Pace: 8'11"/mile - 5'06"/km
Intervals Mileage: 4.28 Miles - 6.88 Km
Intervals Time: 0:34:24
Intervals Pace: 8'02"/mile - 5'00"/km
Cooldown (back): 0:12:21
Total Time: 0:59:49
Total Mileage: 6.82 Miles - 10.96 Km
Weight: 70.8 kg - 156.1 lbs
Weather: 26C - 30C.
Woke up at 4:00, and couldn't go back to sleep because of new
Trump outrageous News Story!!
Read Surah Taubah till v. 80, followed by Namaaz where I've reverted
to the Surah Buruj onwards scheme throughout the day, since yesterday.
Happy that these Surah's are for the most part intact in memory.
In spite of being tired, I decide to proceed with this plan of mile
intervals, which proceeds reasonably well. I fear that I'm running
slow (partially explained by the heat which drenches in sweat), but
I surprise myself eventually, more or less coming on target. Again,
the heat is phenomenal, much different from California, and must surely
affect performance (although by how much?).
I've then decided to skip work this morning, where the steady stream
of bad news continues to batter us. Bas! Besides, how much longer can
I participate in this entertainment society, which I blame for so
many contemporary woes? Have I the guts to leave it?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 09/08/18 -- Airport Slums
Khairani Rd. - Sakinaka - Andheri-Kurla - To LBS Marg -
Back - Past Talab - Side Detour and Back - Towards Airport -
Hasan Pada Rd. - Marol Naka - Vasant Oasis - Military rd. -
Back via Saki Vihar - Khairani rd.
Time: 1:23:14
Mileage: 8.84 Miles - 14.23 Km (Approx., probably higher than actual)
Pace: 9'25"/mile - 5'51"/km (So probably slower)
Weight: 70.9 kg - 156.3 lbs (Would like this to be the upper limit)
Finished reading Surah Taubah, Surah Yunus till v. 20, followed
by Surah Al-Imraan Namaaz.
Was really not planning on anything special, but up once again
at 4:30, I go out on a run. And I do fulfill my pledge to resume
adventurous explorations, open new courses, not wanting to
settle in a routine, in spite of the sometimes intimidating
nature of Mumbai. Today, after a little
hesitation, I put in practice a plan I had long contemplated:
running past Saki Naka towards the Kurla / Airport area.
I am feeling surprisingly great and relaxed, so I am
encouraged in this run which works out well,
luckily not too heavy in trafic around
6:00 / 7:00, but alive with morning activity.
I am passed by a truck loaded with a large
Ganesha idol, which stops right by the border wall of the
airport runways, where the planes come in for landing. I stop
for such planes, trying to take a few photos, but again only
with the Selfie camera, since the main camera is broken (I
will renounce to fix it later today, after going to an Apple
store...), and the photos will disappoint.
Then, I continue to the LBS intersection in Kurla,
where I wisely decide to come back same way, stopping this
time by a beautiful Talab which I've noticed on the way.
I stop again by the airport wall, waiting for a plane to
pass, which takes more time than I'd like. Finally an Indigo
flight passes overhead, I take a few photos, but with the
Selfie Camera, will only manage to photograph empty sky!!
Further, I turn to the right hoping to reach Phoenix Mall,
but head back as slums increase, probably the wrong road.
Further still, I turn this time to the left towards the
airport, from where I decide to explore a new road, it
too bordering the slums, which takes me straight to
Marol Naka, from where the road back home is familiar.
Very satisfied with this run, and there will be plenty
more to explore in this area.
-- Ganesha Idol on a Truck --
-- Ashoka Waterfall, near Igatpuri --
Ramachandra Marg (9.8 Miles) -- 09/10/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday 09/10/18 --
Kherani rd. E. - Ramchandra B Kadam Marg - Andheri Ghatkopar -
R-City Mall - Hiranandani Hill - Galleria - Big Basket - Lake -
Back via Police Station.
Mileage: 7.06 Miles - 11.36 Km
Time: 1:07:32
Pace: 9'34"/mile (this confirms my faster training pace)
Weight: 70.7 kg - 155.9 lbs
Weather: 25C - 30C.
Wake up at 4, resist panic, with patience and perseverance,
manage to find the deeper parts of the mind, just enough
to find rest. Get up at 5, decide to restart reading
Surah Yunus, unhappy with previous reading, till v. 30.
After little hesitation, I decide to adamantly pursue
the path of exploration, scouting a little road that
loops from Asalfa Station near the hill slums. This
serves me well! It turns out into a great relaxed
run, and the area is great, a little street that orbits
near the slums, passing great temples (one of which
resembles a medieval castle, although this could be
festival decoration like we saw yesterday in Mahara),
and meanders near the green hills. Peaceful morning
activity, many children in uniform for school.
From there, I see other roads heading for the hills,
but leave them aside for now, resolving to pace
myself through this new phase of explorations.
This has made my running particularly comfortable,
easily flowing, following yesterday afternoon's
strange drop in energy. My pace seems easy, even
up the hill, and once back, I'll confirm that it
has indeed increased. Saturday's measurement must
have been accurate then.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 09/11/18 -- Tempo Run
Warmup / Cooldown: 2.68 Miles - 4.32 Km
Tempo: Maritime Overpass to IIT Far Gate (1.76 Miles - 2.83 Km)
Laps: 0:15:00 (8'31"/mile) - 0:14:28 (8'13"/mile)
Tempo Time: 0:29:28
Tempo Mileage: 3.52 Miles - 5.66 Km
Tempo Pace: 8'22"/mile - 5'12"/km
Total Time: 0:57:13
Total Mileage: 6.2 Miles - 9.98 Km
Weight: 70.8 kg - 156.1 lbs
Woke up at 4:30, but feeling fine. Read Surah Yunus till v. 70.
Followed my plan of a tempo run for today, started a little
lethargic, but picked up as I went, finishing relatively
strong.
We have found an apartment on Sunday, giving notice today.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 09/14/18 --
D-Mart - Lake Homes - Heera Pana - Lake Powai - IIT -
To Mumbai Agra Hwy & Back - LBS Marg - R-City Mall -
Andheri Ghatkopar - Khairani Rd.
Mileage: 9.79 Miles - 15.76 Km
Time: 1:35:57
Pace: 9'48"/mile - 6'05"/km
Weight: 70.7 kg - 155.9 lbs
Read Surah Hud till v. 50, then Surah Yaseen.
A mediocre run, which I was going to keep to an hour, but then
dragged myself into this. Surprise, it has rained, in contrast with
yesterday's summer-like skies, where Ruksanna and I went to
explore Chor Bazaar, somewhat reminescent of City Market.
My mood has been mixed for whatever reason.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Igatpuri --
Bhumi India Run Bandra 10K -- 09/16/18
Sunday 09/16/18 -- Bhumi India Run Bandra 10K
Time: 0:52:44 (Official: 0:52:55)
Mileage: 10 Km - 6.21 Miles
Pace: 8'29"/mile - 5'16"/km
Weight: 70.6 kg - 155.6 lbs
Classic Bandra 10K, although this time the route is slightly
different and includes a small hill at the halfway mark.
My own measurement of the course gives 10.23 K - 6.36 M, which would
make a pace of 8'18"/mile, ie. 0:51:33 for 10K. Not being sure how much to
trust this I am keeping to the official result.
My age adjusted time with a factor of 0.8762 would have been 0:46:12
(pace 7'26"/mile), which is still pretty slow.
Instead
of Zumba, I warm up gently running back and forth, which quickly
covers me in sweat in the night. Run starts at 5:30, on to the
familiar route, soon under an unexpected rain shower, and in
darkness, I have not realized I have reached the shoreline.
At the midway point, the run this time turns inland, up a small
hill (with Ganesha displays lit up), down an up again. But
my running seems to never change much, finishing roughly with
the same time, and roughly the same feeling, intent to relax
in spite of a feeling of discouragement in the last 4th. I push
the pace yelling to the finish, achieving basically the
same time as before Ramadhan. Funilly, Ruksanna
and I have exchanged bib numbers, so when I come in, it looks like
she has won the woman's category!
I turn back to greet her, and finish again the run with her.
The rain at the start has left beautiful clearing morning
skies, this after a wonder couple days we spent in Igatpuri
with Zoia and Sofia, on this long Ganesha Chaturti Weekend.
-- At the Finish Line --
Morning Storm (9.95 Miles) -- 09/23/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 09/19/18 -- 1/2 Miles Intervals on JVLR
Intervals, Lakehomes Overpass to "Partition in the Wall".
Mileage: 886.6 Meters - 0.55 Miles
Interval I: 04'10"45 - (7'34"/mile - 4'42"/km)
Interval II: 04'06"96 - (7'28"/mile - 4'39"/km)
Interval III: 03'59"24 - (7'14"/mile - 4'29"/km)
Interval IV: 04'13"57 - (7'39"/mile - 4'45"/km)
Interval V: 03'59"57 - (7'14"/mile - 4'29"/km)
Interval VI: 04'12"00 - (7'37"/mile - 4'44"/km)
Overall Intervals Mileage: 3.3 Miles - 5.32 Km
Overall Intervals Time: 0:24:40
Overall Intervals Pace: 7'28"/mile - 4'38"/km
Average 1/2 Miles in 03'44" (fastest 3'37", slowest 3'49")
Warmup/Cooldown: 0:28:23. Mileage: 2.93 Miles - 4.72 Km
Total Time: 0:53:03
Total Mileage: 6.23 Miles - 10.04 Km
Weight: 70.2 kg - 154.7 lbs
Weather: 26C - 31C.
Wake up at 3:00, scared at first that I might not be able to fall back
asleep, but do manage it. Pause on reading the Qur'an to catch up with
commentaries, using this time to rehearse Surah Baqarah for mistakes.
The run starts with a shower (which have become relatively unusual).
I feel I'm putting a strong effort, in spite of being dissappointed
and somewhat discouraged by my slow pace, but I still muster the courage
to complete the work-out, finding a second wind in the last mile.
And actually, as I verify measurements later, I realize that my pace
wasn't so bad after all (this is approximately my Marathon pace from
2001!!), well under 8'00"/mile at least, so this was
a good session after all.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 09/22/18 -- Morning Thunder
Lake Powai - IIT - Padmavati Marg - Back via Backside Hakone Center -
Back same way.
Mileage: 6.28 Miles - 10.11 Km
Time: 1:01:14
Pace: 9'45"/mile - 6'03"/km
Weight: 69.8 kg - 153.9 lbs
No Qur'an reading this morning, a surprise call from Madeleine
and Terra.
A strange knee pain during Namaaz, enough to prevent me from kneeling.
But things being kind of ok during stretching, I set out to run.
To my surprise, it's raining heavily outside, and I tie the kerchief
on my head. It's nearly deserted along the lake, lighting and thunder
not so far, and I start wondering whether I could get struck. But
running in these conditions actually relaxes me, and as the storm
abates, I feel particularly good and relaxed, easy.
This is my target weight, but I am surprised to have achieved it
so easily.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 09/23/18 -- Aarey
Aarey Colony - to New Zealand Hostel via Upper Road -
Back via JVLR.
Mileage: 9.96 Miles - 16.04 Km
Time: 1:41:23
Pace: 10'11"/mile - 6'19"/km
Weight: 69.9 kg - 154.1 lbs
Weather: 26C / 31C, humidity 74%.
Up at 4:30, happy to be up early to put my plan in practice,
read Surah Yusuf till v. 69 then Namaaz, honestly careful to
not wake up Ruksanna to not derail my plans.
Set out at 6:00 at bare daylight (exit via front), then on to
a relaxed pace, past the visarjan area of the lake, into Aarey.
Running is ok, but not great, a little weighed down by a slight
tiredness that took me yesterday. I have loosely decided to
commit to the Mumbai Marathon, for which training should start
in earnest next month. Also, having read about half marathon
training, I've realized that I haven't done sufficient long
runs, so this one could go a little long. Hence the early start.
I run to the second road past the Aarey intersection, take a left,
think I am venturing in new territory, but soon recognize the road
to the Hostel, which I reach before turning back via the regular
Lotus Lake. It's relatively peaceful here, many runners, as usual
on a Sunday. I decide to return via the JVLR for a change, thinking
it'll be a little longer, but to my great surprise, I discover on
arrival that I've only run 1:40, where I was expecting near 2 hours.
Anyway, this is roughly the targeted goal of 10 miles a week
before the race. An ok run, not great, finishing a little more
tired than I would have wished. In fact, the last part of the run
has revealed a predominant weariness in shoulders and arms, which
I should really focus on addressing. And to my surprise, the rest
of the day, as well as the next morning run hangover, makes
it feel like I've run long distance! This questions my commitment
to the Marathon...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Finish Line --
IDBI Mumbai Half Marathon (13.1 Miles) -- 09/30/18
Sunday 09/30/18 -- IDBI Half Marathon, Bandra-Kurla Complex.
Time: 1:59:05 (Official) [*India PR*]
Age Graded Time: 1:43:56
Mileage: 13.1 Miles - 21.1 Km
Pace: 9'05"/mile - 5'38"/km
Pace at splits: 7'40"m/m (1.5k) - 8'51"m/m (3.5k) - 8'58"m/m (6.5k) -
9'01"m/m (8.2k) - 8'55"m/m (9.2k) - 8'50"m/m (11k) - 8'57"m/m (13.5k) -
8'52"m/m (16.8k) - 9'05"m/m (18.2k) - 9'04"m/m (19.2k)
Weight: 70 kg - 154.3 lbs
Weather: 25C - 35C.
In some ways a success, in some ways a failure.
I have been feeling unexplicably weak and hazy all week, so not sure
what to expect here. I have struggled to fall back asleep in the night,
as often, but then am caught in a dream of majestic
elephants by the road seen from a bus which eventually starts, but then
I realize in great dismay I have left Ruksanna behind! The alarm takes
me out of this at 3:20, feeling better than in the last few days,
and we leave around 4:00, I drive myself.
This is held in an impressive complex called Jio Gardens in Bandra
Kurla, and has attracted huge numbers! I worry that the crowd will
be such as to not allow running. Runners are called near the stage
for warmup, but instead, line up in a compact pack by the entrance
to the start. This will be Ruksanna's first Half Marathon, we bought
new shoes for her last week (and I had to push her towards the somewhat
pricier ones), and for the very first time, she is wearing shorts,
following the advice of a saleswoman, in two layers. She looks
particularly beautiful in this new outfit. But also there are many
women like her, and in the same nice green race jerzey, and I already
start to worry how we're going to find
each other after the race.
The run starts at 5:15, waved by Sachin Tendulkar himself! (Which
creates further shuffling in the crowd). The large group gradually
comes into motion, heralded by groups of Mumbai drummers, whose rhythm
excites enough to push the pace a little too much.
The roads are wide enough that the crowd does not pose a problem
after all, in fact, the level is better than I would have expected
from such a large group. I stick to a good cautious pace, running
again by feel only, careful to not tire or overheat (it has been
very hot and humid since yesterday, the start of October Heat, in
fact, we have used a little AC last night first time since summer).
The run is pleasant, starting in darkness, at the chant of morning
Adhaan, gradually coming into light, meandering in this area of
governement buildings, consulates, and financial institutions.
I am practicing a change to my breathing, essentially keeping it
smooth and even throughout, rather than the strange habit that I've
caught of exhaling forcefully and noisily. I believe this will
further relax my gait.
The slower half-marathon pace allows me to rehearse those verses
of Surah An'aam, which actually have been faltering a bit, so
I've rewinded a little. The road feels a little longer than I would have
thought, I still reach the first half feeling good, but at the sight
of the clock worry that I've run slower than expected.
So the second half starts slightly discouraged, but I still press on.
This is where I need to hold pace, or perhaps push a little. I have
made the questionable choice to not drink at all, which perhaps is
ludicrous on such a hot humid day. And approaching the last third, I start
going through the habitual bouts of discouragement. At time this
feeling relapses, reigniting hope and energy as I hold the pace easier,
optimistic that this was just a rough patch,
but then falters again, harder. At some point, I gesture to a dog
who has started running with us, directing him humorously out of the
way, but I immediately realize that this small distraction has thrown
me off, better to stay well focused. For some time,
I am following the "2h00" pacer group, but eventually they pull away,
making me fall further into discouragement. The last few miles have become
terrible. As often, I am close to quitting, very close,
completely discouraged
that I will slip to a horrible time, convinced that I am falling
way behind. I slow down dramatically, but nevertheless somehow
keep running. Remembering the turns and detours of the first
loop, I am depressed by the road ahead, which feels longer
than I can now accomplish. I imagine I might finish in 2:15 or
2:30, if I finish at all! I pull to the side of the road, finding
in my mind a sort of slow corridor which allows me to
continue at my slow pace, trying to rehearse the verses now in vain,
choosing instead to suffer in silence,
and regularly passed by runners who don't appear that fast
themselves.
But then, in a small difference of the circuit, appears the last
turn to the finish line, liberating. I glance at my watch: Big Surprise,
I am just
ahead of the 2 hour mark!! This triggers a jolt of energy which unleashes
a good sprint, passing the line with effort and courage (and probably
too much noise), reveling in the form
of running, and getting a time of 1:59:10 at my watch (1:59:05 official).
What a completely unexpected relief!!
Running-wise, this is a mitigated success. I am angry after myself
for having flunked psychologically so bad (again), having so easily
abandonned all hope for the race. Where was the suffering,
combative spirit? Also, I imagine the 2:00 pacer was going too
fast, his passing me definitely contributed to my mid-race
spleen. Had I known my pace, or the distance left, and
realized I was actually doing well, it's likely that I would
have toughed it out much better, for a better performance.
Perhaps this exposes the limits of the running by feel
mantra, as romantic as it is, which renders me unable to accurately
monitor my pace along the way, a definite weakness. Still, this is
a PR for this come-back phase of running, which gives me some
encouragement. In fact, as is typical, the race is barely over
that I already resolve to do it again, with about as much
determination as I wanted to quit earlier.
I finally drink and eat, taking several bottles, then install
myself by the arrival chutes to wait for Ruksanna, who might
arrive in another hour. While waiting, a man has come by to grab
himself a medal from behind. He is spotted by a woman guard, but
then starts yelling and fighting with her, in typical Mumbai
style, pretending with overacted drama that he has just come
out of Medical. Three hours have elapsed since the start which is when
I estimate Ruksanna's arrival, but still she hasn't come, and
the crowd gets so dense at times that I fear that I might miss
her (and she is not carrying her phone). But finally, I spot her!
I am so profoundly happy at her sight,
she has succeeded in her accomplishment, and
looks so touching in her running gear. Probably in my unconscious
mind do I see her back there, in Kadugodi.
But she's tired. I've saved a bottle of water for her, although
she has been drinking along the way. She is very proud, but
can not walk well. Along the course, she has seen women trying
to run this in Burkha! Later one woman fell, perhaps victim
of cramps. We line up for fruit plates,
but by now, the crowd is so compact, and they are running out
of fruits, which starts another extraordinary fight, people yelling and
pushing from the four corners of the stall, the poor helpers
guarding it with their bodies like the last fort. Finally some small puny
metal bowls come, far insufficient for the mob, and it's like
feeding wild animals, a melee we partake in with amused glee.
We managed to snatch a few pieces of ananas in this mad feeding
frenzy.
We then go back to the Jio Garden for a more proper (and quieter)
breakfast. As I drive back, I lay my hand on Ruksanna's leg,
the soft contact of her skin making me realise that this is
the first time she has worn shorts.