Early mornings around Baner Hill
Running and walking routes near the gym, for members who like to start the day outdoors before a 7 am class.
Training through Pune’s monsoon
Wet roads, damp kit and lower energy from June to September: how our members keep training through the rains.
Pune’s monsoon brings beautiful green hills and a lot of reasons to stay home. From June to September, attendance at Khadak drops by about a fifth, and the members who keep coming tend to have a few habits in common.
Getting here is the first hurdle. The Baner–Pashan Link Road floods at a couple of low points after heavy rain, and evening traffic slows badly. Many members switch to the 6 am or 7 am classes, when roads are clearer and the rain is often lighter. Keep a set of training clothes and shoes in your locker, so you are never stopped by a wet commute.
Damp is the second problem. Gloves and wraps that never dry fully start to smell and grow mould. Wash wraps after every session and hang them indoors under a fan. Stuff gloves with newspaper as soon as you get home, change it the next morning, and leave them near a window, not in your bag. Our gym runs dehumidifiers through the season and we wipe all lending gloves with disinfectant after each use.
Finally, the body. Humid weather makes training feel harder at the same effort, and many people sweat more without noticing. Drink water before, during and after class. If you miss a week, come back to a fundamentals or kettlebell class rather than going straight to sparring. Members can also pause up to 30 days a year if the monsoon coincides with travel.
