"When you run on the earth and with the earth, you can run forever" - Raramuri proverb
Back again after last year. The course has changed. Its still my favorite race. This time, I bring Mom and Dad along.
I waited in the queue to deposit my drop-bags. Five minutes to go. I tell mom to leave me alone for a while. They will consider the chip time, not gun time due to the delay. I finally deposit my drop-bags as the gun goes off. Slight panic waves through my body. Not the ideal start. The elite athletes charge off. Especially Paul Giblin. He had a ripped physique - looks aptly world class. Hurriedly, I shoved my jacket towards mom and took start. No running till the summit, I repeated in my head. For the first few kilometers, I did some slow jogging just to get some blood flowing. No running, I ingrained in my head. Navin Thangiah and I caught-up and exchanged pleasantries. It was primarily roads for a while. Once I reached the coffee estates, the climbing started. Kathle Khan estate it was called (dark estate) and I started power hiking here. My arm movements are prodigious, exaggerated. I pass by Ashok Daniel who is pacing Monica. Ashok is one of the finest runners in the country. His running resume speaks for itself as he has run several races around including Tour de Geants and UTMB. I pose a silly question to him: "Do you need to carry your passport while running UTMB?" (UTMB route snakes through three countries - France, Italy and Switzerland). "No, a copy of the Visa should suffice" he replied something of that sort. Sheepishly, I go ahead. The climb to the summit beckoned. Very scenic, it felt familiar from 2016. But I was'nt looking here and there. An important phase of the race started for me. After the summit, I belted down the narrow trail to the summit. I was making tss tss sounds to warn/ alert the uphill bound runners. I played cat and mouse with Kieren and Kullu for a while after which these fast guns charged away. A certain calmness engulfs me as I reassure myself that I have a long way to go. I settle down to a conservative pace - my all-day running pace - as certain sections were technical. Overall, it was a wet and slushy course. Much worse than than the previous edition. Back then the ground was harder, one had better traction. This slippery course now, needed more attention and respect. I landed awkwardly sometimes but recovered. No major damage. I tried to keep my body loose/supple. I did not have company for a long long time. Perhaps I slowed down more than necessary. Then, Hari (80K) trots along. We chat along and I understood that he is in second place. I'm genuinely happy for him and I want him to finish first. "But dharma is ahead" he says worriedly. "No Dharma, no kurma", I urge him along. He offers me amla (gooseberries) to nibble claiming they are super helpful. I didn't want to experiment with Ascorbic acid in my belly so I accept that and tell him that I might try it later.
We reach the lake before noon. I felt that I'm running faster compared to last year. But no, this is a different course, I remind myself. The going slowed down on uphill roads. I was calorie depleted at this stage and cursed myself for my predicament. I start planning ahead for the 50K aid station which had my drop-bag. (This was the start point too where my mom would be waiting). I spot coach Santosh as he urged me on. At the 50K, Kieren was sitting by the road. "Where's your bib?" I asked. "I'm done. 50" he replied. Why just 50? I wonder. This dude has run the Spartathlon (246K). Regardless, I carry on. I approach my pit stop and am pleasantly surprised by the applause. Mom's there too. I keep my interaction minimal. Shoes off, shirt off, I change into fresh ones. Mom, like all moms, senses that I'm hungry and offers to get me food. Rice. But NO curd rice. I still have to emphasize this even after 2 years of going vegan. She heaped a plate full of bisi bele bath and lemon rice. I shove that down hurriedly. Oh! the BBB was so good, so tasty - near perfect spiciness. My taste buds perk up. I mention it to many as I proceed later on. As I depart, I tell her to return to the resort as I would take a long while to finish. However she insisted on staying throughout. Though I really wanted to spend some time there, I did the right thing and scooted. Sleeveless tee, food in my belly, felt jolly. I walked for a while allowing food to settle down. I did not want stomach cramps at this stage. I even made a mental note of this course section. I would need to charge here to finish later on.
The running is somewhat slower than expected. Why? I cant quite put a finger on it. I passed by a few policemen and ask them if they have eaten. Advised them to try the BBB as it was awesome. Now again, the course was unfamiliar. I dont know if I should belt it or stay conservative. Opt for the latter. I spot a dude banging away on a plastic jerry can. On inquiry, I wad told that it is to ward away birds/animals from the estate. Weird, I did not understand. I kept going. Joe from CTC joined me and we were together for a while. A nice dude, he had run in altitude (Ladakh region) recently along with Peter. These CTC guys were the upcoming guns, I realized thanks to their approach to training. Joe was a little negative at this stage. Struggling perhaps. I enliven him with some small talk and keep going. I approached drop-bag 2 at about 80K. I spotted Monica and Ashok again. On seeing she's doing 80K, I tell her to finish strong. "She's been leading from start to finish. That's strong" claimed Ashok. Such positive pep-talk really lifts a runner, I realized. I bade them goodbye and head toward my 110K path. The setting sun compelled me pick up headlamps from my second drop-bag. Amar Ranu was there who I had met at the Rann of Kutch 100 miler. I made a mental note to overtake him later. I knew that a big climb was in store. Brutal. Going all the way upto the Kemmangundi road. So, I power hiked my way up this crazy gradient. Bu the time I reached the road, I was spent. Total body ache. Even running on flat roads downhill felt painful. Somehow, I manage to trudge along. At the end of the road section, there was a water stop. It was dusk and a father-son duo manned this station. As I stopped for a sip of water, I asked the kid his name. "Nun- nun", he replied. I asked if he went to school. He said something I couldn't understand. Probably its a local dialect, I thought. His dad intervened and claimed that he is a "bit slow". My eyes welled up. Such an adorable kid. 8 or 9 years old perhaps. He even had a front tooth missing. The cutest smile I had seen. "Dont you ever say that" I rebuked his father. My heart simply melted. And ached. I began to wonder: Whats his future life going to be like? Will he be teased, ridiculed. Can he find normalcy in this society of ours? What all will his dad go through. Oh God, why? Why is there such disparity? Why is this world so unfair? You have given me two arms, two legs, near perfect sensory organs. Why is Nun-nun different? Mentally, I felt miserable. All my pains and aches took a back-seat.
I charge downhill with these thoughts lingering in my head. I reached drop-bag 3 and put on my yellow Salomon road running shoes. This is my race, I reiterated mentally and took charge. I overtook Amar Ranu, Joe and another runner. I encouraged Joe to catch-up but he was struggling. I switched on my headlights and pumped ahead. Slowly I see a bunch of runners in the opposite direction. I must be in the top 10, I assumed - I had no inkling till then . Off the road, the trail heads into the estates again. Technical terrain with constant drizzle makes the going tough. My right ankle injury is acting up. It was an overuse injury I had pushed though in my earlier stadium run. Still, I kept moving. I expected to reach the road section and belt it from there but that seemed to take forever. Bonfires are lit up at a few places. I yearned to cuddle by them. I take down an energy gel and some salt tabs. The pace is average as my body is wet and cold. My ears listen for a vehicle sound which would imply that the road is nearby. None. After a long climb, I finally reached the road. Almost there, almost there, I chant and pushed myself. For the last few Kms I had to draw on reserves of non-apparent energy. I was really pumped with some music on. Breathing heavily, I charge. I see lights in the distance. This is it, I realize and sprint. Thud thud, my feet pound the road. Not good running form but heck, what else can I do when I feel my ankle feels broken. I charge downhill and fly across the finish mat. Sub 17 hours. That was the plan, yes sir. Yeah, I howl and yell. Told my mom to leave me alone and yelled some more. Jagdish Sir handed me a belt buckle - my first. I'm relieved and chat to Kieren and some CTC guys. Then, I crash in the tent till dawn. 10th place. Good. However, I can be. should be, will be better.
Malnad Ultra 2017
7 Oct 2017
10th Place
110K, 16:58:37
Back again after last year. The course has changed. Its still my favorite race. This time, I bring Mom and Dad along.
I waited in the queue to deposit my drop-bags. Five minutes to go. I tell mom to leave me alone for a while. They will consider the chip time, not gun time due to the delay. I finally deposit my drop-bags as the gun goes off. Slight panic waves through my body. Not the ideal start. The elite athletes charge off. Especially Paul Giblin. He had a ripped physique - looks aptly world class. Hurriedly, I shoved my jacket towards mom and took start. No running till the summit, I repeated in my head. For the first few kilometers, I did some slow jogging just to get some blood flowing. No running, I ingrained in my head. Navin Thangiah and I caught-up and exchanged pleasantries. It was primarily roads for a while. Once I reached the coffee estates, the climbing started. Kathle Khan estate it was called (dark estate) and I started power hiking here. My arm movements are prodigious, exaggerated. I pass by Ashok Daniel who is pacing Monica. Ashok is one of the finest runners in the country. His running resume speaks for itself as he has run several races around including Tour de Geants and UTMB. I pose a silly question to him: "Do you need to carry your passport while running UTMB?" (UTMB route snakes through three countries - France, Italy and Switzerland). "No, a copy of the Visa should suffice" he replied something of that sort. Sheepishly, I go ahead. The climb to the summit beckoned. Very scenic, it felt familiar from 2016. But I was'nt looking here and there. An important phase of the race started for me. After the summit, I belted down the narrow trail to the summit. I was making tss tss sounds to warn/ alert the uphill bound runners. I played cat and mouse with Kieren and Kullu for a while after which these fast guns charged away. A certain calmness engulfs me as I reassure myself that I have a long way to go. I settle down to a conservative pace - my all-day running pace - as certain sections were technical. Overall, it was a wet and slushy course. Much worse than than the previous edition. Back then the ground was harder, one had better traction. This slippery course now, needed more attention and respect. I landed awkwardly sometimes but recovered. No major damage. I tried to keep my body loose/supple. I did not have company for a long long time. Perhaps I slowed down more than necessary. Then, Hari (80K) trots along. We chat along and I understood that he is in second place. I'm genuinely happy for him and I want him to finish first. "But dharma is ahead" he says worriedly. "No Dharma, no kurma", I urge him along. He offers me amla (gooseberries) to nibble claiming they are super helpful. I didn't want to experiment with Ascorbic acid in my belly so I accept that and tell him that I might try it later.
We reach the lake before noon. I felt that I'm running faster compared to last year. But no, this is a different course, I remind myself. The going slowed down on uphill roads. I was calorie depleted at this stage and cursed myself for my predicament. I start planning ahead for the 50K aid station which had my drop-bag. (This was the start point too where my mom would be waiting). I spot coach Santosh as he urged me on. At the 50K, Kieren was sitting by the road. "Where's your bib?" I asked. "I'm done. 50" he replied. Why just 50? I wonder. This dude has run the Spartathlon (246K). Regardless, I carry on. I approach my pit stop and am pleasantly surprised by the applause. Mom's there too. I keep my interaction minimal. Shoes off, shirt off, I change into fresh ones. Mom, like all moms, senses that I'm hungry and offers to get me food. Rice. But NO curd rice. I still have to emphasize this even after 2 years of going vegan. She heaped a plate full of bisi bele bath and lemon rice. I shove that down hurriedly. Oh! the BBB was so good, so tasty - near perfect spiciness. My taste buds perk up. I mention it to many as I proceed later on. As I depart, I tell her to return to the resort as I would take a long while to finish. However she insisted on staying throughout. Though I really wanted to spend some time there, I did the right thing and scooted. Sleeveless tee, food in my belly, felt jolly. I walked for a while allowing food to settle down. I did not want stomach cramps at this stage. I even made a mental note of this course section. I would need to charge here to finish later on.
The running is somewhat slower than expected. Why? I cant quite put a finger on it. I passed by a few policemen and ask them if they have eaten. Advised them to try the BBB as it was awesome. Now again, the course was unfamiliar. I dont know if I should belt it or stay conservative. Opt for the latter. I spot a dude banging away on a plastic jerry can. On inquiry, I wad told that it is to ward away birds/animals from the estate. Weird, I did not understand. I kept going. Joe from CTC joined me and we were together for a while. A nice dude, he had run in altitude (Ladakh region) recently along with Peter. These CTC guys were the upcoming guns, I realized thanks to their approach to training. Joe was a little negative at this stage. Struggling perhaps. I enliven him with some small talk and keep going. I approached drop-bag 2 at about 80K. I spotted Monica and Ashok again. On seeing she's doing 80K, I tell her to finish strong. "She's been leading from start to finish. That's strong" claimed Ashok. Such positive pep-talk really lifts a runner, I realized. I bade them goodbye and head toward my 110K path. The setting sun compelled me pick up headlamps from my second drop-bag. Amar Ranu was there who I had met at the Rann of Kutch 100 miler. I made a mental note to overtake him later. I knew that a big climb was in store. Brutal. Going all the way upto the Kemmangundi road. So, I power hiked my way up this crazy gradient. Bu the time I reached the road, I was spent. Total body ache. Even running on flat roads downhill felt painful. Somehow, I manage to trudge along. At the end of the road section, there was a water stop. It was dusk and a father-son duo manned this station. As I stopped for a sip of water, I asked the kid his name. "Nun- nun", he replied. I asked if he went to school. He said something I couldn't understand. Probably its a local dialect, I thought. His dad intervened and claimed that he is a "bit slow". My eyes welled up. Such an adorable kid. 8 or 9 years old perhaps. He even had a front tooth missing. The cutest smile I had seen. "Dont you ever say that" I rebuked his father. My heart simply melted. And ached. I began to wonder: Whats his future life going to be like? Will he be teased, ridiculed. Can he find normalcy in this society of ours? What all will his dad go through. Oh God, why? Why is there such disparity? Why is this world so unfair? You have given me two arms, two legs, near perfect sensory organs. Why is Nun-nun different? Mentally, I felt miserable. All my pains and aches took a back-seat.
I charge downhill with these thoughts lingering in my head. I reached drop-bag 3 and put on my yellow Salomon road running shoes. This is my race, I reiterated mentally and took charge. I overtook Amar Ranu, Joe and another runner. I encouraged Joe to catch-up but he was struggling. I switched on my headlights and pumped ahead. Slowly I see a bunch of runners in the opposite direction. I must be in the top 10, I assumed - I had no inkling till then . Off the road, the trail heads into the estates again. Technical terrain with constant drizzle makes the going tough. My right ankle injury is acting up. It was an overuse injury I had pushed though in my earlier stadium run. Still, I kept moving. I expected to reach the road section and belt it from there but that seemed to take forever. Bonfires are lit up at a few places. I yearned to cuddle by them. I take down an energy gel and some salt tabs. The pace is average as my body is wet and cold. My ears listen for a vehicle sound which would imply that the road is nearby. None. After a long climb, I finally reached the road. Almost there, almost there, I chant and pushed myself. For the last few Kms I had to draw on reserves of non-apparent energy. I was really pumped with some music on. Breathing heavily, I charge. I see lights in the distance. This is it, I realize and sprint. Thud thud, my feet pound the road. Not good running form but heck, what else can I do when I feel my ankle feels broken. I charge downhill and fly across the finish mat. Sub 17 hours. That was the plan, yes sir. Yeah, I howl and yell. Told my mom to leave me alone and yelled some more. Jagdish Sir handed me a belt buckle - my first. I'm relieved and chat to Kieren and some CTC guys. Then, I crash in the tent till dawn. 10th place. Good. However, I can be. should be, will be better.
Malnad Ultra 2017
7 Oct 2017
10th Place
110K, 16:58:37
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