First steps – 100milers

We did it! India’s 100mile races got off to a great start with many runners setting personal and course records! What a weekend it was. 16 male and 3 female runners blazed the trail as though yet to cool off winter’s heat wasn’t hot enough 🙂 After contemplating for months, we at Globeracers launched the first in a series of 100mile races to be held across the country. It was the perfect setting for those who wanted to test their limits. A trail that needed focus, heat that seared, and humidity that drained – a perfect setting for a tough race. 100-mile runners set off at 5am and soon the 50-mile and 30-mile runners followed. By 6.30am temperatures started to rise touching 37C with peak temps setting in by 1pm. 5 lakes, though beautiful, only added to the humidity topping 65%.

GR Photofile: 100-mile racers Arun and Roger waiting for the clock 🙂

GR Photofile: 30 and 50-mile runners waiting for their start.

GR Photofile: Roger accompanying Arun on his last lap

Roger, who puts on Annapurna race in Nepal, set out to run 100-miles, while Arun set a pace for himself for the coming 200km run in Calcutta. Every passing hour brought on more heat, and more suffering to the runners. To add to the misery, there were shallow gorges to cross, rocky paths to watch out for, and thorny bushes leaving their mark! We didn’t intend to make this run an easy one, setting the stage for a tough 100-mile series in 2011 starting with Golconda 100 in March 2011 in the city of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh with road/trail in mildly hot weather, Western Ghats 100 in June 2011 near the city of Bangalore, Karnataka with mountain trails in rainy weather, and Bhati 100 – II in Delhi in October 2011 in the end summer season weather rounding off with a 24-hour road race in Mumbai in December 2011. That is one packed 2011, in addition to our Multi-day races in Thar desert and the Himalayas 🙂

Pre-race get together had some runners showing up directly from airport, those who thought couldn’t make it show up, and some just before everyone left, but we were glad they could make it and get to know each other a little. Volunteers were there too taking in the energy and gearing up for the big morning. Sadly though some of the volunteers weren’t there with us at the race when Parvinder Singh, Andrew, and one of the runners, Manjula Sridhar stepped in and made the day!

Through the day we had Manjula like a true champion that she is, drop out to volunteer, Ravi almost give up and go back to finish 30-miles, Santhosh wavering after 60kms and deciding to push for a strong finish after a string of DNFs, Roger deciding to finish 50miles rather than a 100, Corinna, Dickie, Prem, Anand, Darvesh, Snorre, Ken, Asha, Tejpal, and Chinar finishing their first Ultra, Asha going beyond a 50km distance, Rahul being the first victim of the heat and needing to drop out due to cramps, and Arun settling in to a steady pace for a strong 100-mile finish. Amit and Dinesh dropped out after the first 20kms and called it a day, the only runners who didn’t finish, officially.

As the runners were weighed after every 20kms, a first for many of them, each of them experienced a different process of sorts, and were seen discussing their weight loss/gain and analyzing their runs, food habits, and their nutrition and water intake during the run. It looked as though they all learned something about their own run habits! Although many seemed to think their timing wasn’t good enough, it was a matter of mind over body that day when every runner who finished, finished strong, and left the field elated, and vindicated. All that training, and confidence were perfectly put to use.

Suraj Kund cops did their mandatory rounds to ensure all the runners were safe, and there weren’t any mishaps on the route, while runners struggled through heat and waning determination. They were supportive throughout and ensured we felt welcome and protected when a couple of mining inspectors showed up to check whether or not we were camping there to steal precious resources with coolers of water, and tents!

Suraj Kund management was extremely accommodating in allowing us to run through their development and camp on their premises. AllSports, Fitz Coke, Fortis, Suunto, RedBull, all were generous in their support and sponsorship. Archit of Real Adventures, our logistics partner survived 40 sleepless hours without a gripe!

Our volunteer interns came in the form of Delhi College students, who wanted to understand what the races are all about and how they worked. We enjoyed having them with us and seeing their perspective and take on things. Quite refreshing. Seen here is Prashant.

GR Photofile: Prashanth, one of our student volunteers.

GR Photofile: Santhosh receiving his certificate and medal. A much needed finish.

GR Photofile: Darvesh on the trail. Picture courtesy Manjula

GR Photofile: Vikram on the trail. Picture courtesy Manjula.

Beer at the finish line made it all worth it, especially for Prem, who told us that he would be expecting a pint to make all the punishment worthwhile. We are glad to have a set of runners who understand the sport, live for a challenge, and excel. Roger completed 50-miles with ease, and we felt that he gave up after enduring the toughest part of the race, running 50 miles at the hottest hour of the day, and giving up as it cooled down. He says he will come back to finish. We look forward to it. Asha walked her last few miles and finished as the night fell while Arun kept up his steady pace. As we settled in to the night, Arun was the sole runner on the route, logging miles after miles. As dawn broke, Roger came back to see Arun finish, and ran the last lap with him, which Arun sprinted! Some power he had left in those legs!

GR Photofile: Runners chilling post race.

Arun was the only one to finish 100miles, Santhosh finished first in Men’s category, 50miles, Asha was the only woman in the 50-mile category and finished strong, while Snorre finished first in Men’s category, 30-miles, and Corinna stood first in Women’s category, 30-miles.

GR Photofile: Runners still looking good after the race.

What more can a race director ask for? Runners who are happy, a race that concludes without any major incident, and smiles at the finish line. We, at Globeracers, are very much looking forward to a strong 2011 racing season. Ultras in India are here to stay! Come race with us and, yes, consider it a run on your vacation in India 🙂 That’s the way of a Globeracer!

48-hour, Strides of hope

As runners came around the bend of the final lap, there were smiles, hugs, congratulatory slaps, and high fives. There was jubilation, and celebration. No one was talking about sleep deprivation or sore muscles. With a cumulative 3000-km distance, 350 runners, and 48 long hours later, Strides of Hope 48 hour run came to an end on Feb 21, 2010, 4pm, IST

A personal goal to run 48 hours to raise funds for ASHA, an organization he supports and works for, prodded Santosh Padmanabhan to seek volunteers to crew, and support him on his run. I had crewed for him once before on a 24-hour run, and I was not going to miss this chance. Information on his fundraising, and volunteer efforts can be found at http://runnershigh.in/nonprofit.php. He dreams for the kids he trains, and helps them realize their potential.

Santosh trained by running 20 hours at Bangalore Ultra, and another 12-hour and 6-hour runs back to back, setting a realistic expectation of what he can achieve. As volunteers turned into organizers of the 48-hour run, ideas floated around, and what was formalized came to be Strides of Hope 48-hour run. With free entry, and a fully supported run, it encouraged participation of large number of runners. The idea: To log as many miles, and to have as many runners on a route, which was chosen carefully to highlight run locations available to general public within Bangalore city limits, while taking in to consideration feasibility of traffic management. I must say that we not only succeeded, rather exceeded our expectations.

As the first 24 hours came to end, some of us needed downtime to replenish food stock, broadcast the run on the radio, and rotate support crew. As the run moved from location to location, Saturday morning saw a surge in runner numbers, pacing already exhausted runners well in to 12-hours of running. Some chose to walk all of those 48 hours, and some walked for about 12. However, there was always someone on the route.

Globeracers Photofile: Photos by Kavitha Kanaparthi.

Globeracers Photofile: Photos by Kavitha Kanaparthi

Globeracers Photofile: Photos by Kavitha Kanaparthi.

Globeracers Photofile: Photos by Kavitha Kanaparthi.

Globeracers Photofile: Photos by Kavitha Kanaparthi.

A big collective shout out to all those who participated in the run, and all those who came to cheer. Sunand and Murtazza breezed through a 48 hour walk, Sindhu and Jagadish walked 12 hours, Bhaskar Sharma ran 13.5 hours, and many more met and surpassed their time, and goal of total miles logged, all the while cheering Santosh who aimed to run all of 48 hours but was forced to retire after 30 hours into the run, due to foot injuries.

The organizers also deserve a big round of applause for doing double-duty as organizers and crew. They registered participants, braved three days of sleep deprivation while they ran and cycled the course to ensure safety, manned water stations day and night, while making sure that logistics such as movement from location to location, medical help, and food requirements were all met, as well as ensuring that an uninterrupted 48-hour run was logged, and recorded. 

Strides of Hope, a 48-hr mega-marathon is here to stay continuing with the current open and free format, with no sponsors, and all donations benefiting childrens’ education. When it returns in 2011, Strides of Hope aims to bring out more Bangaloreans, and everyone across the country to take a step towards hope, to trail blaze their way to an active lifestyle as well as have an impact on the lives of children they indirectly shape.