Not a walk in the park

This morning as I was out for a morning run in a local park, some random guy walking in the opposite direction said to me, "Pant hakkondu odi... (...wear trousers and run...)" Since I processed this only after I passed him, I turned back and asked him who he was. He said his name was Anand and tried to shake hands. I kept away and asked him why I should do that. He said, "...hennu makkalu nimma thode nodidre work out aagalla.." (...if girls see your thighs, things will not be fine...). I told him that I hadn't asked him for any suggestions and then continued running.

In 11+ years of running, this is the first time someone (and that too a complete stranger) has commented on my running attire and that too, a guy!

It irritated me so much that I ended up running the rest of my run much faster than needed and this "Anand" continued to walk in the same park and I saw him a few more times and he kept to himself.

It is surely a sign of the times that people feel that they can comment on what you wear. And this is a guy saying this to another. I can only commiserate with the women of our country who have to deal with such dimwits everyday. Our country is doomed.

Dave Moorcroft

One of the most memorable dialogues in cinema is uttered by Marlon Brando's character in On the Waterfront, "...I could have been a contender. I could have been a star..."

On that note, anyone who aspires to be an elite athlete of sorts, must watch this video of Dave Moorcroft breaking the 5000m WR in Oslo in 1982 and then watch the 1984 Olympics 5000m final and a short biopic on Dave.

In about 13 mins, you get a primer on what athletics at the highest level feels like.

What an inspiring story!

Thanks to Marathon Talk which interviewed him over 2 episodes recently for this.

Sidenotes: When was the last time you saw an elite Kenyan getting lapped in a race? Also check out a beaten John Walker (a legend himself) in the race