An update, a profound question, and a secret answer.

Here's what's new with our physical program: Our schedule has changed a bit. While we still awaken at 0500h, as usual, we have reduced our running distance. We do extensive (and very vigorous) warm-ups now (50 reps x 1m squat jumps, 50 x 30m sprints, and one-legged jumps/langdi, lunges, duck-walk, basket-ball jumps, and bunny hops each over a 30m distance, 60-second squat holds, and lots and lots of extension and distension stretching, lasting up 30-35 minutes) at the running track before running/jogging only 5km at an easy pace (35-40 minutes), followed by extensive (assisted) stretching again (10-15 minutes) before returning home for core strengthening (3 reps x arch, 100-second plank+push up+ 5 reps x 5-second plank+push ups, handstand, headstand, monkey bars, 25 reps full standing sit-ups, 25 reps cycling sit-ups, superhero, cat-camel, halaasan, dhanuraasan, and stretching again, including our favourite: the split, taking up about 30 minutes), ending with a 3-5-minutes guided meditation. Add the time taken to get to the running track and back and so on, and it is a tight 2-hour schedule like before (0530 to 0730h), but with changes in the order in which we do things as well as the new notched-up intensity and focus on strengthening the body and on flexibility while relaxing on the running distance and pace.

Why is this? Because for one, we are racing on Sundays now, and so the body needs a different type of training. Also, our 'long distance' running will cease from sometime early next year when we start our journey with two new sports (ideally), wrestling and football. These need upper body strength, speed, agility, and bursts of energy, which we need to start building in so that when we actually start training for them, we should not be tired or injured or bored. So, right now, there is some tapering on the running that has started and will end sometime early next year.

Of course, while Baba bear enjoys training Baby bear and sometimes, training with her, what he really looks forward to is the conversations we have to and from the running track, and through the 1km jog-back we have to do at the end of her 5km timed run because we find ourself at the other end of the linear 1km-long track and have to come back to the start where the car is parked, and we spend our 6th km jogging and chatting with Baba bear about life, stars, plants, relationships, friends, food, racing, winning, losing, or whatever we feel like speaking of.

Today, the subject was siblings. We wanted to know why we have no brother(s) or sister(s) to play with. Baba explained to us that while both, Baba and Mamma bears would have been happy to have had another child, it isn't possible anymore and that we just have to learn to make more friends, and also make do with our cousins, who are like our brothers and sisters at the end of the day. No, we said. We want a brother or sister that stays in the same house! Unfortunately, Baba bear told us that he was sure it was too late for that. He also said that there are some things that cannot be undone and that time moves in one direction only: forward.

There was absolute silence from there on till we reached home, parked the car, called the lift, and entered it, on our way to the top floor, where we have lived since our birth. We were thinking furiously about what Baba bear just said.

So, after the long silence, we asked, 'What if you could travel back in time, Baba bear? What would you do? Would you change things?'

Now, usually, Baba bear is a clever bear and has quick answers to our questions. But sometimes, he too takes time to come up with an answer. This seemed to be one of those times. He didn't say anything till we reached home, finished our post-run workout, had our breakfast and bath, and were waiting for our chess teacher to log in. Then, he called us and said, 'If you had asked me this when I was 20 years younger, I'd have said without hesitation that I wouldn't change a thing, that I don't regret a single thing I did, that I have a perfect life. But now that I am older, honestly, I don't really know. What would you do if you could go back in time?'

Ah, now, that's a question we already know the answer to. And it is this...

On second thoughts, we'd rather not say here. It's a secret between us two bears, and we'd like to keep it that way. Some day, if you are my friend when I am all grown up, maybe I will share it with you.

Tell us: What would YOU change if you could go back in time?