The US and A -- 11/06/14
San Francisco -- 11/08/14
-- Twin Peaks --
-- Sutro Baths --
Thursday 11/13/14 -- San Francisco --
Motel6 on Geary - Union Square - Grant through ChinaTown -
Broadway to Embarcadero - Fisherman's Wharf - North Beach -
Up Lombard - Hyde back to Motel
Time: 0:51:22
Mileage: 5.5 Miles
A very clean wake-up at 6 makes me want to run, and Ruksanna,
who's been a bit sick this whole time, lets me go. It's drizzling
outside. I haven't run in a long time and didn't feel the need to,
but this feels pretty good. Funnily, I run up by chance the touristy
section of Lombard street.
-- At the Aquarium at Pier 39 --
-- The scent of the Pine tree --
-- At the Laundromat --
-- Redwoods at Haydée's house, Butano --
Redwoods -- 11/11/14
New York -- 11/14/14
-- Times Square --
-- Central Park --
Los Angeles -- 11/21/14
-- Disneyland, "It's a Small World" --
Sequoias -- 11/23/14
-- Snow! --
-- Madeleine and Tyler, Sequoia National Park --
Pacific Coast (7.1 Miles) -- 11/26/14
-- Near Cambria --
Wednesday 11/26/14 -- Cambria, along the ocean
Time: 1:07:56
Mileage: 7.1 Miles
Run to Hwy1 from the hotel in Cambria, but immediately veer left following
the "Scenic Area" sign that we had ignored yesterday. I'm rewarded with
a wonderful path that weaves along the coast, offering beautiful views
of the beaches. I reach pretty much where we were yesterday before
turning back. Superb morning.
I have not run at all during this trip, and start cold with no stretching,
but still feel reasonably good. Breathing is great, and body holds
up in spite of various aches and pains.
-- Mavericks --
-- Farewell to the Pacific --
Return to India -- 12/03/14
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 12/03/14 --
Hagadur - Whitefield: 0:14:21
Whitefield Inner Circle, 3 Laps: 0:09:21
ECC Road to ITPL: 0:19:05
Time: 0:42:47
Mileage: 4.6 Miles
Wght: 73.8 kg / 162.7 lbs (Incredible weight gain in the US!)
First run after getting back yesterday night.
Feel ok at first, but struggling towards the end in Pattandur.
Wanted to test my speed a little at the Whitefield circle, with the
idea of checking it regularly.
I exchange a few words with Sonu Khan, who is taking his daughter to
school on the motorbike.
Beautiful cool sunny day. Ideal Bangalore winter weather.
The road in Pattandur is a mess, half of it has been dug up.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 12/04/14 --
Siddapura - Nellurahalli - Accenture - EPIP short way - Sai Baba.
Time: 0:49:54
Mileage: 5.3 Miles
Wght: 73.4 kg / 161.8 lbs
Jet lag wakes us up again at 4.
Ok run, in spite of short breath and various pains, especially tight
hamstrings. But getting back into it.
Also getting back into Parhai, which I seem to have somewhat forgotten
in this month of near total inactivity. I methodically attempt to revive
all I had learned. Today, the sequence goes like this:
Surah Alaq, Qadr, Bayyinah, Zilzala, and 1st Ruku of Yaseen.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 12/05/14 --
Imadihalli - Midway Temple - Vijay Nagar - Holy Cross - ECC - Lake Trail
Time: 0:52:03
Mileage: 5.6 Miles
Wght: 73.8 kg / 162.7 lbs
The worst night of jet lag, as is often, we got up at 2:30.
Not a bad run in spite of accrued stiffness in the Hamstrings. But it is
another superb morning, and this pleasant route plunges me back into
India. I do feel observed though, perhaps because I lost the habit of
being stared at like this. It makes me feel as if some viral video of
me has invaded the internet or what?! Strange feeling...
I continue my reacquaintance with the Surah's, adding to yesterday's
cycle Surah Adiyaah and progressing to Mouh'tadoun in Yasseen.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wanderer Fantaisie (7.9 Miles) -- 12/09/14
Hagadur - Whitefield - Borewell Rd - Nellurahalli - Accenture -
EPIP - Back road to Basavananagar - Hoodi: 0:51:42
To ITPL along rail tracks and Shantiniketan: 0:21:58
Time: 1:13:40
Mileage: 7.9 Miles
Wght: 73.7 kg / 162.5 lbs
I thought jet lag was over, but I will wake up at 4, ready to
start. This energy is short lived though, and by the time to go,
I feel tired and unmotivated. I still stick with the plan. I am
exhausted of being tired, fearing going back to that foggy state
of constant exertion. I hope this is only a passage. I long for
those rare miraculous days where I feel my mind is clear.
I thought I was doing well in stretching this morning, but the run
immediately reveals very stiff hamstrings. I relax into the run though,
and into the morning air, prolonging this gently, finding a pleasant
rhythm.
I continue my revisions of the Qur'an. I am rehearsing from Alaq to
Humaza now, and to the end of the 2nd Ruku of Yaseen. Fortunately,
it's coming back quickly and in a better form than where I left off.
I knew the parenthesis of the US was temporary, and would lead to
better form.
Wednesday 12/10/14 --
Home Gym: 0:30:00 -- Abs/Push-ups/Shadow boxing -- Pushed more...
Run: Imadihalli - Midway Temple - VijayNagar - Holy Cross - Dog Alley.
Time: 0:45:23
Mileage: 4.9 Miles
Wght: 73.7 kg / 162.5 lbs
Feeling good today, after a better night sleep till 5:30. My Namaaz
is definitely back on track, with two full Rukus of Yaseen. Followed
by a good session at home that leaves me sweaty and breathless. After
having woken Ruksanna, I am even able to play the 1st mvt of the Wanderer
Fantaisie. Pretty good...
Great weather, a little warmer than previous days. I was going to run
chhota rasta given the late hour, but opt for this instead, inspired
by the morning. Feeling better than yesterday, hamstring a little
less tense. In Imadihalli, I run into Raman (from Ajgondanahalli)
who shakes my hand. This act of friendship seems to set the tone
for today, as I get saluted at various points along the way, occasionally
shake hands, etc.
I have rehearsed today Surah's Fil to Naas, which means I can now move
on to the bigger Surahs. This break and reaquaintance have been really
healthy, I feel my knowledge has improved.
Thursday 12/11/14 --
Siddapura - Dunmore house - Accenture - Epip - Sai Baba
Time: 0:47:00
Mileage: 5.2 Miles (clocked on a 9'00"/mile pace)
Wght: 73.7 kg / 162.5 lbs
Not particularly eager to run this morning, yet cannot stick to my
plan to run Chhota Rasta, so do this instead, and end up pushing
the pace a little. At first, even in daylight, negociating the obstacles
near Kodi, trafic, holes to the gutter, branches and wires in the face,
is too much, I get hit in the face by a branch, which furthers my
bad mood. I typically leave later, in fact too late, to
the point where even on these roads pollution is a problem. I wore
the kapra through sections, but found breathing difficult.
-- New road in Siddapura --
Rasta Nahi Hai (12.1 Miles) -- 12/12/14
Home Gym: 0:22:00 -- Abs/Push-ups/Shadow boxing
Run:
Siddapura - 1st detour to the side of Nellurahalli road - Back to Main
Road - BEML Layout - To the right, dead-end in Apt Complex - Kundalahalli
Gate - Along Marathalli Over pass - Road along the rail tracks - Near
Channapannahalli Lake - Through Ashwarya Layout? - To Main Road near
the Fork - Another detour towards Basavananagar at Euro School - Passage
by the lake - Back to Hoodi Main Road - Hoodi - Main rd to ITPL
Time: 1:53:13
Mileage: 12.1 Miles
Wght: 73.9 kg / 162.9 lbs
This is a run of many detours - all unsucessful.
I got up at 4:30, to an excellent Namaaz, including 2 rukus of Surah
Yaseen. But at the end, I realize that I have forgotten to wear my Topi!
In spite of a relatively late start, I decide to explore a few of the
remaining questions, ie., roads that I've mentally earmarked as
possibilities. This starts along Siddapura road, where I turn right, towards
what I used to be a small trail ending at the lake. It is now a wide flat
alley, obliterating much of the farm lands, flanked with worker's settlements.
But in spite of the widening of the road, it still doesn't go anywhere, and
attempts at the side trails don't yield anything either. Funilly, I meet
Prithvi our new driver here, training near his home (although he doesn't seem
to have moved every time I pass by him.) I turn back.
Second is in BEML Layout, where I turn right (as if returning) instead
of proceeding directly to Brookefield. But this dead-ends in a residency, where
the guards politely turn me back. Here too, the surrounding dirt trails
yield nothing.
Back on the main road, I try one more experiment. Can I cut closer to
Maratahalli, through the back roads? I must of missed an alley, because I
soon end up at Kundanahalli gate on the main road, completely clogged with
morning traffic. In spite of this extraordinary pollution, bravely wearing
the scarf, I still head forward, to the side of the bridge, eventually running
along the rail track where things are a little quieter. This brings me back
to the now familiar Channapannahalli area, but here too, in spite of the
scarf, the pollution is probably too much.
One more experiment, near the Hoodi fork, where I cut straight into
a small road in the direction of BassavanaNagar. This ends up being a dead-end
as well, stopping at Euro School. I manage though through a small overture
to the Lake, but instead of proceeding towards familiar Basavanagar (which
seems like it would pass), veer left into a set of particularly gnarly
alleys, through small slum communities. A man on a bike has been riding
besides me, and informs me on the road. When we reach back a paved road,
I have to turn back left, and return not far from where I started, near
Hoodi. Another failure, although an interesting one.
When I finally reach ITPL, after what ends up being an unplanned bona-fide
long run, some guy looks at me almost in pity. "You should run earlier, it's
too polluted..." The friendly advice actually irritates me, in an access
of silly pride. I mumble that I usually don't come that way.
All in all a great run though, but how will I hold up after this sudden
spike in mileage?
-- Kolkota Bazaar (photos by Ruksanna) --
Kolkota -- 12/16/14
Elliot Park, Victoria Monument, Maidan.
Time: 0:49:33
Mileage: 5.3 Miles
I explore from the Park Hotel, the main road, thankfully not busy
at this hour, then a little Park which is actually not very fit for running,
too small and mostly devoted to walkers. After one revolution, I embark on
the road again, eventually landing at the Victoria Memorial, which I also
circle in the beautiful morning light. On the way back, I realize there
is a huge maidan, not far from the hotel, which would be perfectly
fit for running.
-- Victoria Memorial, early morning --
Along the Ganga (8 Miles) -- 12/18/14
Maidan - Cricket Stadium - Ganga River Bank - Bridge - Victoria Monument
- Maidan.
Time: 1:14:18
Mileage: 8 Miles
I start where I ended yesterday, but this time turning north from
the Maidan, towards the Cricket station, and soon exploring dirt trails
in the large park. Completely by surprise, I end up on the banks of the
Ganga river, a miraculous find! A very nice promenade along the river
has been created, past a rail track, which eventually leads me to the
bridge over the river. What a beautiful find, in the early morning, the
commerce of the boats slowly waking up, only a few walkers or people doing
execise, what peace.
On the way back, I lengthen the run with a detour to the Victoria
Monument again, and cross the large Maidan.
-- Along Ganga Nadi, Kolkota --
Mugalur / Sarjapur -- 12/22/14
Monday 12/22/14 -- Mugalur / Sarjapur (Bike)
Imadihalli - Harohalli - Muthsandra jct: 0:30:00 (??)
Left to Muthkur - Right to Mugalur: 0:30:00 [1:00:00] (??)
Sarjapur: 0:17:00 [1:17:00] (??)
Back to Mugalur: 0:15:20
Back to Muthkur: 0:22:07
To Chansandra: 0:18:09
Time: 2:12:37
Estimated Mileage: 31 Miles (50 km)
Wght: 72.7 kg / 160.3 lbs
It has been a long long time!
Partially fuelled by the nostalgy of the roads while in the US,
I had decided to resume cycling. This is my first attempt at that,
but it's a rather mixed bag!
I have neglected to prepare much, and in the morning, can't find
most things (no proper pants, water bottle, etc.). I still set out though,
later than I would have liked, around 9am.
I figure the road through Imadihalli will be better than overcrowded
Vartur, so I go along that familiar running route to Harohalli. The roads
are in greater disrepair than I would notice running. Near Harohalli, I
get chased a few times by aggressive dogs, much like they run after cars.
It's much harder to push them away on the bike than it is running, all I
do is yell at them loudly, which mostly elicits laughs from the peasants.
Near Kotur, I feel my legs tiring, and realize that my saddle has been
slowly descending.
Cycling is definitely different from running. I don't feel the same
connection with the people or the landscape, and definitely not inclined
to stop. Kids must have taken the habit of high-fiving the riders, as
many prepare for the gesture - but I avoid them.
With no set plan after Muthsandra, I end up choosing left at the
junction towards Muthkur. From there, I take the open road to the right,
which I had earmarked for exploration during my long runs. From here on,
it's new territory, or so I think.
The road continues aimless for some time, traversing small villages,
and as usual in the unknown, seems to wander for long. I am keeping a high
cadence rather than a big gear, and occasionally stand up, soon feeling
the accumulation of lactic acid in my legs. The dogs are now quiet, and
I'm starting to enjoy the freedom, the wind, as I had hoped.
This small country road eventually reaches a bigger one, which
looks familiar. A bridge over the river... Could this be the little town
I had once reached on a long run a long time ago? Magalur...
As I look at my phone chronometer, I realize that, instead of logging
a first lap in Muthsandra, I've actually stopped the watch! Damn, and
I'm not completely sure when I left. I'm guessing this took me an hour...
The signs indicate Hosur to the left at 25 km, Sarjapur to the right
at 8km. It'll be Sarjapur for today...
The main road soon gets me there, but at the entrance of the town
comes the dreaded sound "Pffffff....", and soon my front wheel
is completely flat!
Following people's directions, I walk through the little
town in search of a puncture shop, lugging my bike. Sarjapur has a
surprisingly large Muslim community, and my Hindi/Urdu is well understood.
I have not planned for this, have stupidly not taken food
(it's approaching noon) or hardly any water. As often, people show no surprise
at my Hindi, which I like. A man on the street asks me the price of
the bike, convinced that I bought it at Decathlon, and for some reason,
I have a hard time persuading him that it's quite old.
I fear my whole day will be gone in this, wondering whether I should
give up and call Prithvi to meet me here. But following directions
I eventually find the
puncture shop where three men are sitting away from the Dhoup. One
of them repairs the faulty tube. I ask him whether his repair will hold,
sure, he says, aram se jao...
So I set back the same way, cautious at first, but soon picking
the same energy than before. But approaching Muthkur, I feel my bike
a little wobbly, as if it was sliding slightly. Sure enough, the front
tire is losing air again. So from Muthkur, I finally call Prithvi
to meet me near Chansandra, and head towards Samethanahalli rather
than back to Muthsandra, still able to ride on a half empty tyre.
We later meet on the main road.
This didn't quite turn out to be the magical reunion that I had hoped.
After such a long lay-off, I thought reconnecting with the powerful riding
sensations would transport me. But it's a mixed bag. Maybe this is too much
too soon, and I should have planned a little more carefully. A few times,
the old sensations came back, the position on the bike, like a cheetah,
with the body moving freely while the head stays locked, standing on the
machine with a flying sensation - although this isn't quite as fluid
on this stupid mountain bike. A road bike though doesn't seem possible
on such roads. I come out of this relatively tired, having probably
pushed too much, wondering how the various aches and pains will develop
over the next few days, and with a good list of to-do's before venturing
out again.
On a Quiet Day (8.1 Miles) -- 12/27/14
Vartur Kodi - Siddapura - Nellurahalli - Accenture - Sai Baba - ITPL: 0:35:58
Main Road - Prestige Langbein - ECC road - Outer Circle - Whitefield -
Main Road back: 0:42:45
Time: 1:18:43
Mileage: 8.1 Miles (estimating a 9'40" / mile pace)
Wght: 72.9 kg / 160.7 lbs
First run after having been sick for a few days. Nothing special,
felt ok. Streets are unusually quiet on this Christmas week.
No internet at home since Sunday, aggravated by the fact that staying home,
I can't even access it at work (and even my Blackberry went blank for a few
days!). Perhaps because of the rabid construction outside? Streets feel like
a battlefield, open trenches, holes, etc. I am accumulating much material
for uploading...
Learned 3 Ayaats of Yaseen (4th Ruku). Copy them dutifully in my
notebook, as I progress.
-- Changing face of Nellurahalli --
4th Ruku (10.5 Miles) -- 12/29/14
Vartur - Left at Police Station - Nerige/Muthsandra Junction: 0:43:05
Muthsandra: 0:08:57
Back via Madhuranagar rd - Valepuram - Ajgondanahalli - Imadihalli: 0:49:52
Time: 1:41:54
Mileage: 10.5 Miles
Wght: 72.9 kg / 160.7 lbs
I did well to take a day off yesterday from running, allowing my various
back and hamstring to abate. But I had not planned for something this
long at all, thinking I'd run a small hour. But one thing leading to another,
carried by the wind so to speak, I end up in Muthsandra, feeling pretty
comfortable, peacefully rehearsing all my Surahs (22 in all, counting the
2/3rds of Yaseen...) I have started progressing into Yaseen, into the 4th
Ruku (of a total 5).
I have not brought anything, as I thought this would be short, no water,
no food. Luckily, it's an overcast morning, actually relatively warm,
with a slight drizzle, and I manage just fine, once accustomed to the
thirst and abundant passina. My small aches wake up in the later part
of the run, but still, I continue to feel better overall.
-- Near Muthsandra --
-- Railroad near Pattanur, at the other end
of Vartur Lake --
Rail tracks in the fog (10.4 Miles) -- 12/31/14
Vartur - Balagere Road - Pattanur: 0:44:34
Detour along the rail track, to a bridge over the river: 0:09:24
Pattanur - Back to Vartur via Eid-Ga: 0:46:44
Time: 1:40:42
Mileage: 10.4 Miles
Wght: 72.4 kg / 159.6 lbs
It's a foggy morning.
I head out on Balagere Road, not sure what the plan will be.
As I go, I form vague plans of coming back through Maratahalli /
Kundalahalli, but will let my form dictate. The road has been
repaved in places, where it used to be particularly disheveled.
As usual, new constructions in various degrees of completion
have sprouted like mushrooms.
This is all familiar territory though, and I peacefully continue
to rehearse those few new verses of Yaseen, in a way not particularly
engaged in the landscape. My running definitely feels different from
before, much more matter-of-fact, and more reluctant to explore. I catch
myself hesitant to really venture out, and certainly do not connect with
the people as I used to. Have I grown afraid of the environment, or is
it boredom? The thrill of discovery has been such a driving force, but
it seems to have thawed to some extent.
But in Pattanur, I still decide to explore a new variant: Could
I follow along the rail tracks to reach Maratahalli? A large dirt
trail looks promising, and for once, a man sitting there whom I ask
if "rasta jata?" seems encouraging. The trail becomes increasingly
bumpy, until it dissolves into a field, which itself ends at a river.
This must be the far end of the Vartur Lake. There is a bridge for
the railroad so I climb over, to join a mini-procession of people
who have just descended from the train and are walking on the tracks,
their line disappearing into the fog. I couldn't quite run on the tracks
themselves and can't see an obvious trail so decide to head back,
after having taken a few pictures. As I return down into the field,
a man is pooing there. As I am still manipulating my phone, actually
to re-start my chrono, I hear some guy shouting in Kannada from the
tracks above. Could he be warning the pooer that I might try to take his
picture as well? I would never do that, but how would they know? I might
have been imagining this, but in any case, put the phone away and
resume the run back.
The fog as entirely lifted now to a beautiful blue sky, and I'm
getting hot in my semi-warm clothes. Luckily, I finally brought water
today, and am getting better acquainted with this new belt.
The trafic on Balagere road, which used to be so quiet but has grown
heavier with all the construction, bothers me such that I opt through
the fields towards the Eid-Ga road, a much nicer way. But the unavoidable
trafic after Vartur is a real pain. I tie my kerchief across my face,
a petty protection against this unfortunate pollution.
-- Surah Yaseen (in progress) --