THIRTYSFIED
Its pre - dawn and you’re awake before
cock’s crow
Lights on and you stretch from head to toe
Squeezing sleep out of blinking eyes
Stoking fuel into today’s fires
Layer upon layer of protective wear
And lastly you lace the rubbery pair
Head out under a guiding light
A white cone that improves your sight
unto the gathering, in the morn of spring
you stand with others watching, waiting
for the countdown, the flag , the cheers of
hurrah
no jostling, strict adherence to the
runners law
single file a steady outpouring of ants
leaving the hill in psychedelic t shirts
and sweatpants
Compression socks, nutri – nuggets,
GPS trackers, hydration belts,
Headbands, wristbands, shoes crushing
discarded garlands
Sunglasses, Hats, Music punctuated with
distance stats
Race course miles away the climb steady
fragrant botanical blooms aroma heady
Aid stations providing resource and repair
Jaggery, Salt, Oranges and Banana a lavish
fare
Water to quench the growing thirst
Checkpoint Eagle and the course reversed
Dodabetta, an expansive vista afforded
Thankfully before it got crowded
Pictures taken been there, seen that
15 kilometers, recorded on the mat
A long descent through verdant shola
Ancient bark with green-capped pergola
Left on to the path not taken and twenty
done
Then begins the winding tea garden
All the way down to base camp you reach
Breath ragged muscles on a screech
Another break at an aid station
before the last push to final destination
Its up, up, up and away
Supermen and women struggling today
Cramps, Volini, Spray and move on
Hair pin bends on adrenalin drawn
Meeting traffic gratifying after the climb
800 meters
to wash away the grime
Second wind lifts you through the final
mile
The finish line brings on a gratified smile
Photographs, Time check, Medal, Pongal
supplied
You ran for victory Now savor the pride
Today you made history on the mountainside
History indeed! So proud of you Morgues.
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