Today's run was sponsored by Heidi! Thanks so much for continuing to help fund the Ty Taylor Memorial Campship Endowment. We're getting so close to fully funding the endowment, I appreciate your help! Soon, YMCA Camp Miller will be able to send a deserving camper to camp for free every year in honor of an amazing man.
I'm so excited to write about this run! In most ways, it sums up exactly what running in Delhi has been all about for me over the past several years.
Heidi was kind enough to donate for the write up, thank you so much. It has been truly an honor getting to know her over the years. I'll confess though, when I first met her, I was a little intimidated and unsure about what it would be like hanging out with a parent and not just other teachers. I was bridging an unknown gap, going out of my comfort zone. Luckily, it was exceedingly easy to chat with her on runs and we've been doing it ever since. In fact, she's outlasted several teachers in our running group. If I'm not wrong, she holds the most seniority in the group! And she's by far the biggest recruiter of new runners. Due to her hard work, friendliness and ability to do what I can't, I've been able to meet several great people that didn't actually work with me. Chalk it up to another benefit of running. Thanks, friend.
Saturday's run had to have a theme, of course. Heidi has been along for all of the themed runs, the drawing routes, the (probably) dangerous runs and more. Always with a smile. So, it had to be the Round Buildings Run I put together in 2013.
Circles seem to be a theme in Delhi. Traffic circles are everywhere, markets are designed in circles, and several buildings in the heart of Lutyens' Delhi share the shape. To clarify, Edwin Lutyens along with Sir Hebert Baker, was the chief architect of the British Raj in the 1920s and 30s. He was responsible for shaping much of what is now known as New Delhi, the nerve center of the capital's government.
This eight mile route passes nearby to what is perhaps the most iconic round building in the capital - The Sansad Bhawan, or Parliament House. Lutyens' signature was combining local and traditional elements in his works. The Parliament is inspired by the Chakra Wheel, the symbol in the center of India's flag.
New Delhi's round post office, the Gole Dak Khanna, was built in 1934 by R.T. Russel, the same architect who later finished Connaught Place, Delhi's iconic round market. For an incredible glimpse into what the area was like, take the time to read this wonderful recounting of Lalit Nirula's growing up in CP.
The final round building inspired a bit of controversy during our excursion. Tempted to play tour guide, I talked about the main building of Gole Market. I mentioned its octagonal shape, making it in fact, not a round building. Quickly, Tim (a scientist!) piped up, "Are you sure? There seem to be more sides than that." Given that we could see four of them from our vantage point, I knew he was right.
It was also designed by Lutyens and was the principal market area that served his Delhi. It was also the precursor to the more grandiose Connaught Place. Saturday's controversy isn't the only one surrounding this dodecagonal building, though. Over the years, tenants have fought and lost to keep their shops open as the building crumbled around them. A wonderful monument to the past it was supposed to be redone in 2009 as part of the build-up to the Commonwealth Games, but for now, it stands in ruins, victim to time and the political machine that Lutyens buildings call home.
RUN STATS:
Distance - 8.09 miles
Time - 1:12:54
I'm so excited to write about this run! In most ways, it sums up exactly what running in Delhi has been all about for me over the past several years.
Heidi was kind enough to donate for the write up, thank you so much. It has been truly an honor getting to know her over the years. I'll confess though, when I first met her, I was a little intimidated and unsure about what it would be like hanging out with a parent and not just other teachers. I was bridging an unknown gap, going out of my comfort zone. Luckily, it was exceedingly easy to chat with her on runs and we've been doing it ever since. In fact, she's outlasted several teachers in our running group. If I'm not wrong, she holds the most seniority in the group! And she's by far the biggest recruiter of new runners. Due to her hard work, friendliness and ability to do what I can't, I've been able to meet several great people that didn't actually work with me. Chalk it up to another benefit of running. Thanks, friend.
Saturday's run had to have a theme, of course. Heidi has been along for all of the themed runs, the drawing routes, the (probably) dangerous runs and more. Always with a smile. So, it had to be the Round Buildings Run I put together in 2013.
Circles seem to be a theme in Delhi. Traffic circles are everywhere, markets are designed in circles, and several buildings in the heart of Lutyens' Delhi share the shape. To clarify, Edwin Lutyens along with Sir Hebert Baker, was the chief architect of the British Raj in the 1920s and 30s. He was responsible for shaping much of what is now known as New Delhi, the nerve center of the capital's government.
This eight mile route passes nearby to what is perhaps the most iconic round building in the capital - The Sansad Bhawan, or Parliament House. Lutyens' signature was combining local and traditional elements in his works. The Parliament is inspired by the Chakra Wheel, the symbol in the center of India's flag.
New Delhi's round post office, the Gole Dak Khanna, was built in 1934 by R.T. Russel, the same architect who later finished Connaught Place, Delhi's iconic round market. For an incredible glimpse into what the area was like, take the time to read this wonderful recounting of Lalit Nirula's growing up in CP.
The final round building inspired a bit of controversy during our excursion. Tempted to play tour guide, I talked about the main building of Gole Market. I mentioned its octagonal shape, making it in fact, not a round building. Quickly, Tim (a scientist!) piped up, "Are you sure? There seem to be more sides than that." Given that we could see four of them from our vantage point, I knew he was right.
 |
   slyronit via Flickr |
It was also designed by Lutyens and was the principal market area that served his Delhi. It was also the precursor to the more grandiose Connaught Place. Saturday's controversy isn't the only one surrounding this dodecagonal building, though. Over the years, tenants have fought and lost to keep their shops open as the building crumbled around them. A wonderful monument to the past it was supposed to be redone in 2009 as part of the build-up to the Commonwealth Games, but for now, it stands in ruins, victim to time and the political machine that Lutyens buildings call home.
Distance - 8.09 miles
Time - 1:12:54
