I ran to Chitlang this weekend. Technically, Chitlang is only 13.14 km from my home, I mean, aerial distance. The actual road distance is about 24 km , and the road goes straight over Chandragiri Hill, which is 2,551 meters high . (Yes, only.) It was a cold, stubbornly chilly morning. I had planned to run the whole route from my doorstep, but then I looked at my trail running shoes with genuine sympathy. They’re built for mud, rocks, and mischief—not 10 km of paved road punishment. So I hopped on a bus up to Naikab . The bus was packed with morning vegetable vendors. I squeezed myself between sacks of cauliflower and piles of leafy greens. It was still dark outside, but for them, the day was already late. I got off in Naikab , inhaled deeply, and started my run toward Matatirtha . The route welcomed me with a brutal uphill right from Matatirtha . As I trudged and jogged upward, the dawn slowly took pity on me and began lighting the trail. The Himalayas in the north were also waking ...
Monologue .......