In 2021, saw myself at a series of ultra marathons and post the last run event at jaisalmer – The Border Ultra 100 miler, it was about time for a breather. I decided to take a break alongside sea and enjoyed surfing and relaxing just the way I wanted it.
Comes January and I reckon, the urge of getting back to running was building up. The Border Ultra 100 miler was indeed cruel and had lead to swelling of my right foot. This was still under recovery in January 2022. I ran a few kms in 2022 before heading to Jumping Gorrilla Trail Run to be held in Pune- Maharashtra. Last minute registration were open and honoured by the organizer owning to a referral of a fellow runner Roshan Surve.
While the covid wave was back in action, a lot of uncertainty prevailed with the event being conducted and hence the motivational level of getting out and doing some practice runs were fluctuating too. However, Adinath was confident enough to pull off a rabbit by ensuring he cuts down on the number of runners at the event and still have a successful outcome.
Mountain Running is a different ball game and this had started to sink in when we ventured on a short 5kms run on a evening before the d day. This was when I felt, registering for a Humble 60kms was the right decision to make a mark in an unknown territory.
The Bib collection and race Orientation happened a day before and the idea laid down by the organizer was simple. Keep your egos at home and enjoy the run. This is a semi supported run. The mountains are difficult and so is the weather. If your body is giving up, please respect and stop running. You will be evacuated from the nearest aid station volunteers.
Back at the hotel, it was time to load the hydration bag with water, electrolytes and necessary gear to beat the weather. Being self supported is something that every ultra runner should align during regular trainings. This hugely cuts down on dependencies you may have at any given time during the run and when you have a desparate need of break between the aid stations.
At times, its just okay to pack your favourite snack irrespective of whether its going to give you the much needed energy to run because at times, its the feeling you cherish with those bites.
So, the usual drill of waking up an hour and half early, attending natures call and munching on some dry muesli and warm water intake sets your tone to commence towards the start line and be there atleast 30 minutes before the start time.
Runners of 60km, 80km and 120km category were lined up and it was still dark out there. Not taking along the head torch and pole torch is something I overlooked and I had to highly depend on fellow runners to seek the pathway to run. It was indeed difficult and making my friend help me show some light every now and then could have got annoying only due to the fact of the uneven terrains and surprising mini boulders on the trail that cam knock you down in time when you had just began the race.
The start of the race saw a gentle uphills followed by some plains and then there was incline approximately 200 meters that saw all the runners piled up on that route and it was a wait game until the runner in front of you moved ahead. This climb was along side a iron fence which also could have proven fatal if you had to haphazardly try and find your way to the top. Hence the key was to be patient as there was a long way to go after the climb and the journey had just begun.
So we finish the climb and could start running for a while but like I said, had to be careful enough to dodge those falls as I was quite frequently stepping over those boulders and loosing my balance on the route. I must say, after running the Buddha Trails in Darjeeling-Sandakhpu, these poles have come in quite handy and helpful for my back to keep the pain at bay.
The run continued and the idea of rushing on trail was no where close to our thinking, we had to run alongside runners and go past them slowly and steadily. Communication becomes a key aspects when there is traffic on the trail and you only help is your fellow runners and vice versa. We had to take care of each other and so we did.
The chaos in the absence of day light continued for a hour till we could see the sun rising from one of the peaks and the breeze making the run much colder than expected. Here I realised, a layer of warmer tights with a jacket could have helped. Nevertheless, I had to live with what I was wearing and continued to stay warm as much as I could by not stopping or taking longer breaks.
Since this was a unknown territory, the organizer had made a chart of all the checkpoints that could help you ensure you are heading towards the right direction.
The volunteers were also helpful in letting know where to proceed after scanning the QR code on your bib. You had to make you presence felt at the aid stations and have them scan the QR code to mark your attendance at that very checkpoint. This continues till the finish line
The data across all checkpoints is syncd to a command place and verified. This is done to validate your passing at the aid stations and avoid any misqueues.
The routes were also marked with red and white ribbons for you to ensure you are on the right track and not bet lost when alone. Your decision making skills may also get affected once you have crossed your fatigue threshold and if you are running alone, you got to stick to baiscs like following the route markers and not get lost.
The journey continued and rolling hills trails can already start playing mind games with you. You may have ran the plains for a while and all of a sudden you have a climb on the route. There is no respite and you actually do not get a opportunity to set your momentum right atleast till the 20km mark. You then tend to understand the scenario and have to pace yourself accordingly.
The climb at wahjhai is a horrendous one out of all and this literally gave me fears when I happen to end the climb. I realised, my legs weren’t in control and all I could do is a slow walk and running was out of question. A sip of water, some electrolyte and some munchies was essential to beat the black out from your eyes. This was an eye opener scene that tells how you need to plan the rest of the kms.
Downnhills gives some relief but you cannot take them for granted as it take equal amount of effort to maintain your balance and avoid any falls, else it can just proove life threatening. This is where I would like all runners to work on their back and core strength. All of that will make you a strong runner on these challenging trails.
Running , walking, climbing, crawling continued till you finish the k2s junction and its time to head towards the Sinhagad. The volunteers at the junction will be polite enough to advise you on this stretch and let you know that now is the time for all the mind boggling feat out of all the terrains run so far. This is a make or break route towards Sinhagad and to make it even more challenging, the two aid stations were towards the very end i.e at around 3.5 and 6kms from K2S junction. And just like the it was planned, this gave me the jitters of climbing the peak one after another and seemed never ending. The sun was right in your face and with my head down, I ensured running on plains continued to avoid the heat and had also taken off the jacket quite early and kept myself in the comfort zone.
When you are tired to the core, you tend to ask your fellow runners as in how much more, how much more pain and the responses you may get in return in terms of the distance may vary and this can lead to yet another challenge of keeping your feet moving and not start calculating the remaining distance ahead. By now, it had simplified for me, 100meters at a time on the climbs and 1km at a time on the plains and take that much needed break to recover and start all over again.
I managed to reach the aid station and was seeing a runner sit and waiting for the rescue team as he had suffering from a muscle pull. These are the wake up calls you are to get and ensure your body is adequately hydrated. Even if you are not feeling thirsty, you need to keep sipping every now and then. The last aid station of Sinhagad was yet another climb and the strategy of one step at a time continued. There was no food at these stations as we were expecting some, it was stacked full of water, oranges, dates, salt, banana and you are bound to eat something and not stay hungry. The volunteers were kind enough to offer some food that was given to them for their stay during the two day race to support the 120kms runners category. With some rest and a photo click, I started to head back to the K2S junction.
All that was conquered to reach the Sinhagad station had to be redone in return. Gained some motivation from fellow runners who were sailing the same boat as me and sharing the sorrrow stories of the run. Physiologically, it so appears that you need a ear to hear all your banter and vent your frustrations of the route and sharing just makes you feel lighter knowing are going through the same emotional trauma. This does not mean we are asking for pain nor are we challenging pain, all this only boils down to how much as a human being we can keep taking and keep moving forward and it applies to all aspects of life
Slow and steady again and without any hush, I lead my self to the junction and was left with last three checkpoints before I cross the finish line.
The rolling climbs continued and I chose to brisk walk the climbs and run the plains. With the sun out before and me at these stations was gulping water to quench my thirst and pouring some on me to keep the heat off my body else it was turning out to be a nightmare. I was thanking all the volunteers at the aid stations for all the help provided. It is them that makes us take on these distance challenges and always by your side to support your needs.
It was now time to head towards the finish line and that is all the motivation you tend to have at this moment. You have done the deeds and now was the time to let all the pain and training you have gone through to pay off. An injury free run is always appreciated and this should be on every runners agenda. You need to compete with yourself to get the best of you but also listen to your body and stop when you have to stop.
The run towards the finish line felt like never ending but there was much respite when you see people alongside who were out on foot strolling the hills, it gives you the feeling that the destination isnt that far.
One last climb and I was being clicked and shot by the Bawaraybanjaray media team. A byte and a small shoot at the top with the sun setting down was just an icing on the cake I could ask for. The captures looked just amazing. So my fellow runner, do not forget to get yourself clicked, as every picture will tell a story of you and you being in the best and the worst of your life changing moments that you will cherish forever and ever.
The one last downhill against the iron fence that had been done through during the very initial stages of the run had to be gone over to finally hit the motor road. The iron fence and the downhill was indeed a challenge and there was no defined pathway and I had to take support of the poles and the rusted fence to get down to the road.
Screaming and jumping like a gorrilla at the finish line is all I could think off , making it another injury free humble finish towards the end.
The Jumping Gorilla Trail Run has my respect and I owe you yet another run. This has been yet another learning curve for me.
Friends you have and friends you make along the route:-
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