For Lloyd!

This run is for DJ Boring. Hit him up on Facebook. He donated mad ducats for my cause and you should too. Here's the link!

Although today's run was sponsored by DJ Boring, it was anything but. Here's why today's run was awesome.

1. Ran in the rain for the first time for real.
2. Ran to Old Delhi and back.
3. Ran farther than I ever have before.

This morning I woke up at 5:30am to get ready for my run. I took the dog out and realized it was raining. Typically, this would give me pause. Today though, I was determined and excited to run. I checked my email to see how many people were bailing. "Is anyone running?" one email read. "I have to." I replied.

I have to. 

When I wrote it, I thought I was just talking about staying true to my training program for the marathon. As the day progressed, I realized it was about much more. I don't feel good when I don't run. Running is my excuse to get out and see Delhi and today's run was the ultimate sight-seeing adventure. I headed downstairs, sure I'd be the only one, and lo and behold there were four people waiting to run along with me.

I rejoiced and headed out for today's 14 miler. 

The run through the rain was fun. I was wearing a raincoat, but not a running raincoat. Unsure if it was keeping me dry or causing me to sweat more, I kept it on as we headed away from school towards the Presidential Palace. The rain had cleared the air and it created the perfect conditions to see both the Presidential Palace and India Gate. Normally, the pollution hides one or the other, so today I employed the tennis match strategy as I turned my head right and left as I crossed the Raj Path, enjoying the view.

Our run continued past Jantar Mantar, one of my favorite places in Delhi. It's an observatory that's almost 300 years old.

From there, we circled around Connaught Place until we hit Minto Road and headed into Old Delhi. The transition from Delhi into Old Delhi is as stark as the names would suggest. Immediately, there are more people, the roads get narrower and a sense of change as tangible as flipping a light switch is apparent. After a quick consult with the map, we were off to Turkman Gate, one of the original entrances to the walled city of Shahjahanabad, the seventh city of Delhi. The impressive walled city of Shahjahanabad is considered by many to be Delhi's high point.

Turkman Gate

From the Turkman Gate, the run got really interesting. At this point, the route turns inward to the heart of Old Delhi. The streets were crowded with people, covered in puddles and offered a lot to do and see. Most people greeted us warmly and encouraged us as we pressed forward.

Finally, after two correct guesses in the confusing maze of Chawri Bazar, we reached the half-way point of the run, Jama Masjid. Jama Masjid was the center of Delhi's religious life in the late 1600s and continues to be today. It was built by Shah Jahan, the same Mughal emperor who ordered the building of the Taj Mahal (which coincidentally, I'll be visiting tomorrow)! Might be a good chance to sponsor a very special Agra run...(just sayin').

A loop around the mosque and we were on the way home. We ran past the Delhi institution, Karim's restaurant. Karim's is a must visit for Mugal food in Delhi. The street vendors were also hard at work. However, we had no desire to stop and taste this guy's offers.

Yes, this is a bowl full of goat heads.

After we circled back to the Turkman Gate, two of the crew jumped into an autorickshaw and headed home. That left three intrepid runners looking for the 14 miler. Lee, Tara and I kept at it, headed back toward the diplomatic area.

As we passed the Le Meridian hotel, we saw another runner stop to ask directions of the guards. We crossed the street and asked if he needed help. When he asked where we were going and we told him that we were headed back to the Diplomatic Area, he asked us if we knew of a guy called Jason Coleman. Surprised, I told him that I did in fact, know of the man. He told us that he was on our mailing list, but hadn't ever joined us for a run. He was trying to run the Kessel Run and wasn't sure of the next turn. We set him on his way, and I felt like my enduring legacy in New Delhi had been realized. At least one other person has run the streets that make a drawing of the Millennium Falcon. My work is done.

We kept pushing and made it back home. My farthest run ever was finished. Thanks Lloyd for the inspiration and thanks friends for the company. I'm truly blessed to have such good people around me. You make me better.

This run belongs to DJ Boring!

I'm dedicating runs to raise money for a campship in memory of our friend Ty Taylor at YMCA Camp Miller. Click here or here to donate. Please make sure you choose the Ty Taylor Campship option. And please let me know if you've made a donation so I can thank you!

RUN STATS:
Distance - 14.66 miles
Time - 2:08:31
Soundtrack - The White Stripes, Thin Lizzy, The Thrills and U2.