The journey began with a quick pickup—my wife had just finished her lectures at Gateway Graduate School, and we were officially Galle-bound. Before hitting the road, we finally stopped at a place we’d driven past countless times: Seven Waves Food Lounge, right by the Makumbura Multimodal Center. The “Seven Waves” represent their diverse counters—from Sri Lankan and Italian to a dedicated Juice Bar—but we opted for a classic Chicken Set Menu from the Chinese counter to fuel up.

The drive down the Southern Expressway included the mandatory pitstop at the Welipenna Service Area before we arrived at our home for the weekend: The Dutch Boutique Hotel on Church Street. But before we could settle in, there was business to attend to: bib collection at the Galle Football Ground.

Once the logistics were sorted and we’d relaxed for a moment, I headed out to meet the CNR/CCR gang for a shakeout run before the race. It was my first time running at the Galle Fort, and the excitement was high. We met at the Clock Tower for a quick stretch before taking a 2.25km loop around the ramparts. I kept the pace easy, purely soaking in the views, though the humidity was relentless! By the time we finished, I was absolutely drenched.

To cap off the evening, my wife and I headed to one of our all-time favorites: Dumplings Cafe. Being there always makes us sentimental; we first discovered it 7-8 years ago as a tiny hole-in-the-wall with just a few bar stools while wandering the Fort near midnight. Over plates of chicken and prawn dumplings, we reminisced about how much has changed since then. A huge shout-out to the staff there, too—they gave me a massive bag of ice for a slight tingle in my thigh, which turned into a full-blown recovery session for my legs! We ended up staying longer than planned due to a sudden downpour, eventually sprinting the 50 meters back to the hotel once the rain let up.

I woke up at 4:00 AM on February 1st to every runner’s favorite sight: my Garmin watch face reading “Race Day!” The morning was a familiar blur of routine—prep work, electrolytes, laying out the kits, and waking up my wife—before we finally headed to the start line. By 6:00 AM, the Galle Football Ground was electric. With over 500 runners gathered for the various distances, the energy was peaking as the pre-race Zumba session got everyone moving.

My buddy Vathsan and I had a clear strategy: start at a 6:10 pace, hold a steady 6:00 through the middle, and push hard for the final 3km. But as the countdown hit zero and we crossed the start line, the adrenaline took over. Helped by the cool air left over from the previous night’s rain, we skipped the warm-up pace and went straight to 6:00. Our consistency was clockwork: 5km in 30 minutes, 10km in 59, and 15km in 1:29.

The wall hit me at the 17km mark. Vathsan was still motoring ahead, but I had to dig deep. After two tough kilometers at a 6:10 pace, I checked my watch at the 20km mark: 1 hour and 59 minutes. A new Personal Best was within reach. That realization was the only fuel I needed. I surged through the final 1.1km at a 5:30 pace, clocking in at 2:05:27. Because the official course ended slightly short, I found myself running laps around the football ground to ensure my watch hit the full 21.1km. It was a quiet, private celebration with just my wife there to witness it, but it was a moment of pure triumph.

Crossing that line felt like more than just a new personal record; it felt like a comeback. Just a few months ago, at the ICA Half Marathon in December, I was in a completely different place. I struggled through every kilometer and ended up clocking my slowest half marathon to date. To go from that low point to standing on the Galle Football Ground with a PB just two months later is a reminder of why we keep showing up. It wasn’t just about the legs today; it was about proving to myself that I could bounce back.

The walk back to the hotel turned into an impromptu “history and photo” tour. Vathsan joined us, and since it was his first time in Galle, we showed him the iconic Old Gate. We told him how it’s a legendary spot for wedding photos—including our own pre-wedding photoshoot a decade ago. Vathsan kindly turned into our personal photographer, capturing shots of us posing in the exact same spots where we stood 10 years ago.

The adrenaline faded as we headed back for a much-needed shower and a short nap. Once we felt human again, we checked out of the hotel and hit the streets one last time in search of lunch. We found ourselves drawn back to another old favorite: Indian Hut. We secured a table on the upper floor, which offered a stunning view overlooking the ramparts and the vast Indian Ocean. I celebrated my new PB with a hearty Mutton Biriyani and a refreshing Sweet Lassi, while my wife opted for the Seafood Nasi Goreng and a zesty Lime and Passion juice. It was the perfect, quiet moment to reflect on the weekend before heading home.

Before I wrap this up, I have to give a massive shout-out to the organizing committee. This race was the first of three events in the Run for Sri Lanka Half Marathon League, and the bar has been set high. From the well-stocked aid stations to the dedicated Sri Lanka Police officers ensuring our safety along the coned-off route, the logistics were handled with care. The medals are truly beautiful, and the post-race refreshments and goodie bags were top-notch. The only minor wrinkle was the course distance, which clocked in about 400–500m short of a full half marathon. However, that didn’t take away from what was an overall awesome event and a deeply memorable weekend in Galle!