Remember last week we broke all records of attendance in our Sunday morning Bengali run? 7 people for the first time and 2 ladies? (which was 2 ladies more than ever before?). Well, in further proof that women are gatherers, we had 6 Bengali women show up today!! Thankfully, Manas showed up in the last minute to even the playing field on the menfolk’s behalf. So we had a perfect dozen today!!!
That was a marvelous day for a run for the group. Cloudy, cool, a little foggy, albeit a trifle humid. We had a marvelous time with each other in the Big Creek Trail and then the mandatory Starbucks coffee-adda thereafter!! Every morning should start like this – great friends, some physical activity, a good cup of coffee and some hearty laughter!
We, being Bengalis, of course, are now going to devour some food that should undo most of those calorie burns – “luchi-mangsho”, “luchi-aloor-dom” or some Mexican equivalents like “loaded tacos”, “chalupas” and such. Speaking of that last item, our wizard-of-words Samaresh suggested that we should call our group “Chalu-pa” (in Bengali, that would translate to “active legs” or something like that). Clever!
Now time for some thanks….
Thank you Manas for showing up and letting us not be outnumbered…
Thank you Sharmila for letting me speed you up during the last half mile…
Thank you Puja, for joining us as the youngster speedster. Your perseverance to finish the course was inspiring…
Thank you Atashi for pushing yourself to run the whole distance without ever stopping…
Thank you Samaresh for being the rock solid leader of the group and setting an example for the rest of us…
Thank you Amitesh for showing us what speed is all about and the coffee at the end. (you know we are going to have a fight over that later)…
Thank you Malobika and Ashok for taking the pains of joining us after being so busy with your performances in Fobana last night…
Thank you Mohana for the temporary interruption in your sleep continuum 🙂 …
Thank you Sudakshina and Anindya for keeping your word from last night to join us “no matter what”…
Above all, “Chalu-pa”s, thank you for SHOWING UP!!

Ran 5 miles from a Starbucks that I have not visited in a long time. After the run and stretch, went in to get my coffee. The barista immediately recognized me and she promptly wrote down my name on my cup!!!

5 mile run (in my prisoner jump-suit like shoes and clothes 🙂 ) in Milton. It was nice and cool. Enjoying Starbucks now. Before the day seizes me again 🙂

Last night my Bengali friends in Atlanta must have seen the Bengali version of Jurassic Park – “khaaisey, daino aaisey” 🙂 As a result an unprecedented seven of them showed up for the Sunday morning Bengali run. Including two ladies. First time ever!!
As we were getting started, we ran into my speedster friends – Tom and Greg. After introducing my Bengali friends to them, we talked about how they do 5K in 17 minutes and we take nearly 30. Greg had a few words of wisdom – “the difference is not in a few minutes – the difference is that unlike 3.2 million people still in bed, you decided to get up and show up”!
Thank you Malobika, Sharmila, Arup, Ashok, Samaresh and Amitesh for SHOWING UP!!!

5 mile run in the winding hilly roads of North Milton and then tried to merge in with the environment 🙂
The shoe color was chosen solely to take the excuse out of any driver that hits me saying they did not notice me or something!