A new poetry collection by Mumbai runner Nandini Somaya Sampat

Those who follow Nandini Somaya Sampatrsquos social media posts will mutually agree that itrsquos an inspiring mix of her achievements as a successful architect and urban planner as well as of a serious runner The latter is all about relatable goals and perseverance with Mumbairsquos vivid eclectic streetscapes acting as a silent companion Sampat who began serious running in 2022 has just released her first book Loop Knot Repeat Running Through Life Motherhood and Mumbai BookLeaf Publishing Itrsquos an insightful collection of poems based on her experiences and observations while running big races as well as reaching small milestonesExcerpts from an interviewWas there a trigger to write this book about runningDuring the course of running I found myself noting down thoughts learnings and experiences Many a journal and diary were half begun I came across the Writing Challenge by BookLeaf Publishing mdash a poem a day for 21 days The challenge functioned as a wonderful pathway to putting these experiences and thoughts together Since my school days I have enjoyed poetry mdash for recitation and as a writer It is a succinct and meaningful approach to convey multiple thoughts and narrativesNandini Somaya Sampat during a race in MumbaiWhat goes through your mind when you runEvery race in my journey so far has been its own experience each is distinct with its identity On some days all the stars align and the run is a joyful and exhilarating one while on another it has been brutal on the mind and body Within each run there are periods of discomfort that can find its way into moments of experiencing the runners high The goal is to reach the finish line but the path to the line is always changing which is what keeps it exciting and challengingand what have been some of the key pennydrop momentsI have tried to cover those moments in different ways through the poem The Teacher The breath of emotions that one experiences the simple and complex lessons one learns about oneself and the world we live in the humbling experience of what the body and mind are capable of the beauty of the city I live in As I have said ldquoRunning is a continuous teacher of liferdquoWhat was the experience of writing your thoughts as poetrySince I had been writing what I had put down over the years I had ideas of the topics I wanted to explore One challenge was translating those thoughts and ideas into honest and meaningful poetry The other challenge was to actually get published This is my first book and the fear of putting all your thoughts out into the world is in many ways to put yourself out there and to be vulnerableA big part of this book is about observations What were your favourite observations especially in MumbaiAs a runner there is observation absorption and execution There is a rhythm and a pace The book was an attempt to share what I see experience and interpret in the same beat as the run which the rhythm of poetry assisted greatly In Mumbai one can sit in a location and watch an incredible world go by As a runner to share that world through its streets and architecture through its people and its weather through its markers and monuments and so much more mdash this is always a privilege and joyDoes this passion impactinspire your profession Is there an organic spillover or are the two separate pursuitsThe profession and passion are deeply intertwined Both are constantly evolving as I am They both demand discipline and commitment they lie in the intersection of movement and storytelling and they provide my life with clarity and balance I am a better architect because I am a runner I am a better mother because I am an architect I am a better runner because I am a mother mdashthey are interconnected in many ways and organically support learn and grow togetherThe three big lessons from running that you will cherish for the rest of your lifehellipDiscipline humility and joyAdvice to beginnersAs I write in the book ldquo the distance doesnrsquot matter the pace doesnrsquot matter and not every run will give you peace What matters is that you just start to run The rest mdashthe struggle the rhythm the release mdash will find you on the roadrdquoAvailable storebookleafpubcom and other estores