How i ran into Running...

January 1st( The year doesnt matter)
5:20 AM: I was angry, so very angry. and i wanted to take it out on someone or something... i tied my laces, walked down the Malad Hill( its the poor mans equivalent of Malabar and Pali Hill) and touched the Western express Highway... A deep breath.. Another one.. And then i started running... A blur of thoughts kept me occupied so much so that i couldnt hear the "in hibernation" heart pleading to stop. I must admit, i havent seen how Mumbai looks at that time ever. Well, to be honest i have but returning home at around 5 Am is not the same as getting up at 5 AM. Strange Na...

As i ran i alternated between phases of becoming obvious of my surroundings to being oblivious. i was aware of the darkness enveloping the Malad stretch, the pleasant cold air that hits you around the Arey Goregaon road, late night revellers drinking tea at Andheri and the Sun and the stench at Mahim but totally unaware about how i managed to miss the stretch at Jogeshwari, Vile parlet, Santacruz, Bandra etc

Just when i thought i might as well run till office at Worli, all pain came back to me in one instant and i stopped at Mahim... i took a cab back to malad.

14 kms stretch.. How did i do it.. I mean i have never run more than 3 kms in my entire life and that too because of a cross city race back in 8th grade. A day before i wouldnt have bet on myself to complete a 5 km non-stop and here i was doing a 14... So what was it that made me forget the pain on that day... a Freakish Forrest Gump kinda episode, extreme emotional upheaval.. Am still trying to figure out...

The feeling as i was returning in the cab was not describable. A feeling of relaxation, satisfaction, alertness... It was my first long run... And i knew i would run for life..