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‘Beat the Lockdown’ Run/ Walk

My apologies to the civic minded and upright, law abiding citizens🙏

This post is neither a call to arms nor an instigation to break government-mandated lockdowns in this COVID19 pandemic. Rather it is kind of a survival guide for the running junkies (and indeed the hardcore morning walkers community too) who can't do without their daily fix 🤗. 


How best to get your fix without upsetting too many people or getting hauled up by the patrolling police. Here goes:

1.          Start real early in the morning🌃Preferably around 5 am, before dawn. Not many neighbors are up and about (and neither your family members!), so less people to castigate you😝. Running or walking incognito (hopefully!) in the receding darkness of the night lessens your guilt also😜. After the night's patrolling, the police waalas also tend to be at the nadir of their alertness and enthusiasm. What to say of the stray canines, they too deign that time of the day too uncivilized to make the effort of barking and snapping at you. 


2.          Look the part. It might be Lockdown, but that is no excuse for being sloppy or shabby. Put on your proper running gear and step out purposefully as if it is race day. Head up, shoulders pulled back, no slouched back, strong confident strides when you run/ walk. Let the sweat pour...look every bit the serious runner/ walker, so that nobody messes with you. And yes...do MASK UP. A surgical or a cloth mask through which you can breathe comfortably, covering nose and mouth, for the entire duration of the run/ walk. You might have to cut down on your pace or duration of the run/ walk, but there is NO excuse for NOT wearing a mask. 


3.          Stick to your colony roads or running tracks/ routes close to home that you are familiar with. On them the stray canines recognize you, so do the neighbors and probably the police waala too. They generally hold you in good regard and wouldn't mess up your run. If any unforeseen circumstance forces you to abort, then you know which gully to duck into and thereon it's just a short walk back home. 


4.          As always, Lockdown or not, run/ walk against the traffic so that you can be alert to any oncoming threat, be it a speeding vehicle or the police patrol. Do keep an ID and some cash also with you, to deal with any eventuality. 


5.          When crossing the police barriers, it is always a good idea to salute the police walla, smile and wish the guy: Jai Hind or Ram Ram. It has worked every single time for me. It gives the police walla some respect, brightens up his duty routine and also allows you to continue on your merry way without being hauled up.                           

 

There you go, those are the tips to survive the Lockdown and keep running and walking🏃‍. On your way🙌. Have a great run/ walk👍. 

Psssst....don't tell anyone that I gave you these bright ideas😅

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