Running blog: how was your weekend running?
Ever since taking up running a few years ago, I’ve used daily runs as a way of getting to know a new location – you can cover a lot of ground and see things you’d otherwise miss (plus I’m just a much easier person to be around after I’ve had my morning fix).
But that proved a real challenge when I found myself in the Indian megacity of Mumbai last week as a part of the Guardian Cities team. As well as being one of the world’s most densely populated areas, Mumbai has very little public space: there are virtually no open parks and no riverside, pavements are often full of market stalls, parked cars and potholes (if there is a pavement at all) and scary traffic means running at the side of the road really isn’t a sensible option.
Thankfully, I was in touch with local runner Latha Venkatraman – who’d written for us on how Mumbai joggers hit the streets as early as 5am to avoid the cars, crowds and heat – and she filled me in on the city’s limited options.
So at dawn the next day I hit the Mahalaxmi race track near the hotel, and the day after that I headed to Worli Sea Face – which became my regular route for the rest of the week. Running along the curving promenade with the shimmering expanse of the Arabian Sea on one side and the red sun rising above the waking city on the other was simply spectacular. The fresh breeze off the water rejuvenated me and once I’d found my running feet – and shared smiles and greetings with fellow runners – I felt far more at home in the city.
Latha told me of a couple of other venues further afield (Jogger’s Park in Bandra, and Marine Drive) but that’s really just about it – for a city of 20 million-plus people. The trip certainly made me appreciate the huge variation of routes at my disposal back home.
Did you try something new this weekend, or stick with a tried and trusted routine? As always, share your weekend tales below the line.
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