Unfinished business. Starting this race report on a dramatic note may have piqued your interest already. 

Backstory:

The रथी-महारथीs of our running group started running the various races at the Sinhaga-Rajgad-Torna (SRT) trail ultra marathon in 2019. What started with a couple of folks became a mass movement with most people from the group participating in it since 2021. After running the 25km edition in 2021 and doing the other parts of the 53km route during different hikes, I also wanted to try myself at the 53 km distance. I ran the 53 km race in 2022, only to DNF at the 34km point at Bhutonde Khind, as my brain overpowered my being and convinced me to not move ahead. I was cool with the decision (In hindsight a DNF closer to the finish would have felt worse) but the experimental, problem-solver part of me was also itching to figure out what must have gone wrong and if I could learn from this and grow and become better at the same effort. 

Lo and behold, when the time came to decide my yearly running goals for 2023, AH told me, I could choose only one big goal. For me, it was obvious to try running the 53 km race at SRT in December 2023. Around June I shared my intention to focus only on SRT for 2023 with AH and he was on board with my decision. He shared the training plan sketch with those of us running 53 km in early July. Since the other 3 runners were at a different (better) level I was the only one who was going to stick to this sketch. 

Training:

AH had made it clear to us that it was a sketch and I could choose to tweak it based on my schedule. Given a complete return to the office earlier this year, running 5 days a week while managing other responsibilities was not working out for me. So I told him early on that I’ll stick to 4 days of running a week. Volume wise I was to start from where I was in training and slowly build mileage. By August, my weekly mileage was still way below what the sketch had. Because of B12 deficiency, my recovery was also slower (I fixed this by doing a course of b12 shots). After reevaluating with AH, he told me to reduce the weekly mileage by 10% and increase nutrition during the run. In all honesty, even that was not working out as well as expected. But things started getting better slowly as I was able to squeeze in more time for morning runs on weekdays. I also started doing longer (35-40 mins) walks in the sun post lunch as ultra running requires lots of walking 😉 [This wasnt planned by the way. Just something that I was used to doing that helped too. Shoutout to my lunch walking friends!] I had also ruled out any outside Pune long trail runs on weekends as my weekdays were already so busy. So most of my weekend running was on the tekdi. Most times I had the company of fellow runners, especially SG, and SP, VS (who was training for his 100 Km ultra). Because of this, the weekend-long run planning and execution became easier. I wanted to log 53+ km mileage during the training block and I was able to do so for 4 weeks during the training cycle. In addition to this, Friday’s strength training, SP’s twice-a-week pilates class, and yoga for balancing and stretching when time permitted continued. 

Even though I was not able to stick to the actual training plan, I still showed up for the race feeling confident.

Pre-race day:

It takes a village to execute an ultra run and running is hands down a team sport. As always RPRT was at the top of their game in figuring out the volunteering stations and creating a perfect setting for us runners. 

AP had offered to drop the 6 runners to the start point early in the morning. ML’s 7-star wagon on wheels (with YP, SG-38) and VS’s car marked with various funny posters (with HG) were to be our aid stations. There was also going to be a celebrity car with SP, SG, KP, and SP2 slated to make an appearance at the finish line. Side note: SP, SG, KP were running a half marathon the next day ie on Sunday. They showed up to support us irrespective of their race the next day!

A special mention for the funny posters VS had made. After his successful 100km run completion just a couple of weeks ago, VS was the kid whose exams were over and was looking forward to ‘troll’ us as we suffered through the day. 

Met KP at bib collection who was visiting to wish us and SG afterward to collect ice box. I spent the rest of the day relaxing. My race day bags were marked and packed, which VS picked up in the evening. I had also planned elaborate carb-heavy homely meals. All the chatter and banter on the group chat was exciting. I went to bed at 8.30 PM hoping to get 6 hours of sleep.

I also made a running plan by splitting the entire 53 km route into sections. I shared it with AH and he suggested some corrections. Attaching my revised plan here for memory.

Race day:

I woke up at 3.30 am. I had a breakfast of black coffee, SG’s butter cake slice (which she had given to me on Monday for carbo-loading), a banana, and a few almonds.

All of us assembled at PP’s home by 4.45 am. We made it to the starting point by 5.30 am, nearly half an hour before the race started. I ate half-Unived gel 20 minutes before the race. AH and YoLi were going to do the 25km race, so the 4 of us running 53 km were off to start the race before them. We also saw Hemant Limboo, the best ultra trail runner in India doing his warm-up drills and did not lose the opportunity to click pictures with him and be awed by his mere presence!

Race:

The race start always feels crowded and running in the dark is an added challenge. But following available street lighting and other runners’ headlamp lights I made it to the Sinhagad base in 15 mins. The Sinhagad trail was more crowded than expected so I automatically slowed down. There was no point in trying to push so early on in the race. I made it to the first aid station by 7.25 am as per plan. I had the rest of the gel and a salt tablet then. I kept moving to the next section. There is usually a line to cross Zunjaar Buruj. After a 2-3 min wait there I was running on the lovely backside of Sinhagad. A gentle, cool breeze was flowing as the Sun was rising from the east. An experience that speaks for itself year after year. As the crowd thinned out it became easier to run and maintain a steady pace. This entire section till Nagphani felt like a breeze. At the last steep descent after Nagphani l fell once. The fall was not bad but I did not want to take risks so I was careful on the downhill sections after that. I made it to the Vinzar village aid station slightly off the mark. I picked up a few orange slices there and made it to the RP aid station. VS and HG were waiting to welcome me with the posters. Humor my analogy here, but I felt like an F1 car stopping at a pitstop there. I stood recovering as VS and HG hovered around me and refilled my hydration pack, drink mix flask. AH had twisted his ankle so he was also recovering and waiting for me there. We both took off within 5 mins from Vinzar. 

I had half a gel and a salt tablet again as we started the road section toward Gunjawane village. AH was able to run but wasn’t sure if he would accompany me for the last portion of the race. I decided to park the thinking for later and focus on running the road section. Thanks to the company and chit chat we had a good time running. We weren’t even aware of how those gruesome 10 km went by. YP welcomed us to the next RP aid station with a big cheer. While AH went to the 25km finish line, I lay on the mat that ML had brought for some stretching. ML gave me stretches as I told her of the fall. I had some recovery mix, and a small thepla at this aid station. I also picked up some gels, a thums-up bottle, refilled water, and drink mix for the next patch. AH also gave me a special massage that relieved the entire spinal column of any stress! I also put a lot of ice in my buff, in my sleeves, and inside my cap. After some back and forth with SG-38 I took one trekking pole with me instead of two to help with the Rajgad climb. I was off my plan by 10-15 minutes and started the Rajgad climb around 10.50 am. I had half a gel at the beginning of this climb and a salt tablet too.

Rajgad climb was my nemesis in 2022. So this year my only mantra was to not stop and keep moving. Earlier on Friday, ML had sent me a message telling me to focus on the breath and listen to it when in doubt. I started doing that whenever I felt like I was pushing myself. This helped me stay on track and complete the climb in one hour and 10 minutes. This was a huge confidence booster. I kept walking/running toward the next pit stop at Suvela machi. As AH had predicted it was a crisp sunny day getting hotter with every hour. The clouds from the previous week had vanished. I had the remaining gel and a salt tab again. With a run-walk routine, I made it back from the machi to the turning point toward Sanjivani machi. I crossed OA here around 12.40 PM. Without taking a break and continuing with a run-walk I started the climb down from Alu Darwaja. I kept the effort conservative and started a slow but steady descent toward Bhutonde Khind. I fell again after the rock patch on this descent. Only time would tell if I had hurt myself. All through this section, I was wondering whether I should continue toward Torna after this. While I was mentally and physically feeling strong, time was slipping out of my hands because of the slow pace. As my original pacer AH was injured, I knew that if I went alone further, I would slow down and take longer breaks and would not complete the race in the 12-hour cutoff. As I contemplated all these thoughts, I met VS on the last patch of the trail, who welcomed me to the Bhutonde Khind at 1.32 PM.

As I was settling down for a breather to evaluate the next steps, the RP volunteers at the aid station (AH, HG, ML, SG-38, VS, YP, YoLi) collectively told me that I was going ahead with YP as my pacer to complete the race. There was no looking back now! Everyone assured me that I was well within the race cutoff so I should give it a try. 

I got to know YP’s incredible and अचानक pacing duty backstory well after the race. Since AH had an unexpected injury, the volunteers decided that YP would be my pacer for the last tough patch. But he had brought no gear! So he borrowed a backpack, electrolyte tablets from SG2, sunscreen, a hat from AH, and gels from VS, and a bottle, some other drinks from ML! They planned all this way before I was there to ensure my quick departure from the aid station. I was feeling lucky to have found such a selfless support system!

YP and I took off from Bhutonde Khind around 1.42 PM. YP told me that we would be running the downhills and walking the uphills. He first asked me to dictate the pace. As DFW says, the mind is an excellent servant but a terrible master. Seeing that I was slacking and not even making an effort to run he took the charge. My tired brain was caught red-handed and there was no slacking now 🙂 I just tried to follow his encouraging instructions and footsteps which I must tell you was not an easy task. There were a couple of runners who also stuck with us. The next 3-4 km to 40 km felt like a breeze and soon we could see the Budhla climb looming ahead of us. During this climb, I could not even register YP’s encouraging words as I made my way up. I’ll just leave this video here. That says it all. 

I celebrated this milestone by having a few sips of thums-up. After that, I just sat down below the next climb (pic above). Another 12-13 km including the dreaded walk from Budhla to Konkan Darwaza were now remaining. YP kept on telling me to keep it brisk and to take only a few steps to the next point, but I could see the never-ending climbs ahead and would tell YP, how he was lying to me. What can I say? I was my raw self 🙂 Once the Konkan darwaza climbs were done, for some reason my feet and body found a rhythm to keep moving. It was all downhill now. As I caught up with YP, he saw a Limbu sarbat stall and took a break. In an ultra run, if one gets a chance to take a break one must! We had a refreshing Limbu sarbat, chatted with other runners, and took off. YP’s encouragement rubbed off on other runners too. A couple of them who had given up hope of completing the race before the cutoff also started running with us after this point. From here to the Torna parking it was a relentless rocky and full of scree descent. As we made our way to the Torna parking aid station, a volunteer told us that we had to continue down the concrete road and not take the trail. This change of route was a blessing in terms of saving time! I thoroughly thanked the volunteers for this decision and continued. We met VS waiting for us at the next turnaround. VS took my running pack and from there within 4-5 minutess we were greeted by the amazing RPRT crew! Everyone including my family clapping, cheering, welcoming us to this last patch and conquest of paradise playing in the background is a memory etched in my mind. I picked up a water flask, ate half a gel, and started the last road portion of the race. YP graciously continued on the last patch with me. 

This last 7 km loop was a gently rolling route along the lake. I was able to maintain a run-walk routine. After the 50 km turnaround, I knew I was going to complete the race well within the cutoff. To my surprise though, Hemant Limboo zoomed past me around the 99th km. He was still running like he had just begun. That energy brushed on me. We again met VS at the 52nd km mark. The last 400 meters were a casual sprint, though all parts of the body were now in pain. I was welcomed with loud cheers and fanfare to the finish line by our dedicated and stupendous volunteers. I completed the race in 11 hours 43 mins 25 sec (per Strava). I was so dazed at this point that I did not register a lot of things except feeling overwhelmed. Even now as I complete the race report, it’s not sunk in. 

After some stretching, rejoicing, celebrating, and resting I collected my medal and we were all off to our respective vehicles. The RPRT volunteers had spent a day out of their lives, crewing, and cheering for us. That meant being able truly to care about our weird aspirations. No greater joy than being with like-minded people. I am grateful to have found such a solid bunch of friends. 

As for the 2021 race report, I am going to end this report with my favorite quote. 

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