The ultra experience Posted on November 18, 2008November 18, 2008 Last year’s Ultra was my first long distance running event. Besides the fact that I had no idea about the route (especially the uphill sections), I had also not run more than 10-12 kms in training. So it was quite an experience for me. But what was really motivating was the fact there were so many runners out there doing it for the first time and giving it all they had. Very inspiring. From Bangalore Ultra 2008 This time around I was a little better prepared. I made sure I put in a couple of long runs (of course, the training never seems enough on D-Day). The day of the ultra dawned on us : it was cool and there was a cloud cover : in fact it was drizzling lightly as we packed up in Pankaj’s red bus (comprising of Prateek, Toufeeq, Meher, Satsang, Ashok, Pankaj and me) and left for Hesaraghatta at 5 am. At 730 am (the start time for the 25K run) the cloud cover hadn’t gone yet : I was keeping my fingers crossed. Anything is better than running in the blazing sun. Unfortunately, I got off to a really bad start with my calf muscle swelling up just at the 2 km run after the first incline : it was painful to say the least. I had to resort to putting loads of Relispray then itself and the lady at the aid station kneaded the area to ease the discomfort. After that, the pain was quite bad for the next 3-4 kms and I was wondering what was happening. After completing loop 1 (12.5k), I started feeling a little stronger (loaded with peanut butter sandwiches and electrolyte). I ran a little better till the second turnaround point (12.5 + 6.25 = 18.75 kms) and then picked up my pace. After that, I settled into a decent pace and managed to amble and not walk the uphill sections too. At around the 23 k mark, I bumped into Mr Patel again who claimed he was waiting for me to pass by (for reference, I had finished the KTM with him)! He, of course, insisted that we run together to the finish. We set a comfortable pace and then finished off the 25 kms in 3 hours and 29 minutes. The weather was perfect, the trail was lovely : green in parts, grasslands in others and narrow trails through tree cover and some road : a little different from the last time around but great never the less. It was as usual awesome to watch all the 50/75k runners still going long after we’d finished. One runner, Santhosh, had been on the track since 630 pm the night before (attempting a 200k) and he was still going strong when I saw him at around 130 pm. He finished at 156kms : what a feat! From Bangalore Ultra 2008 Personally, I’m happy with 25K (paltry as it seems compared to the 50, 75ks) and I am not very sure I want to go beyond it for the moment 🙂 I’d like to keep improving my time over the next few months and hopefully get better at it. Next: a half marathon in January : Mumbai here we come! The Ultra 2008 Album Links: ~ Santhosh’s 156 km effort and his work for Team Asha – Must read! ~ Shumit does a 100K ~ Swaroop about his 25K ~ Jayadeep’s first effort ~ Sathish on the highs and lows of his 50 ~ Venky on crossing the 25 k mark And thanks to Tanvi for his painstakingly gathered list of ultra related blog posts that I quickly borrowed! Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share on X (Opens in new window) X Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Print (Opens in new window) Print Living Personal Photography Running Sports
Insider or Outsider? Posted on November 21, 2005December 1, 2005 This is inspired by the responses I got to the post about roads, which somehow got into a discussion about insiders and outsiders. Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share on X (Opens in new window) X Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Print (Opens in new window) Print Read More
Racing Buffalos, fried fish and loads of slush! Posted on December 21, 2006December 21, 2006 Where on earth can you witness hefty buffalos running 100 metres through mud and slush in under 14 seconds? The answer folks is a few hundred kilometers away from the city in Mangalore during the Kadri Kambala festival! And that’s where three of us – Venkatesh, Sandeep and I headed… Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share on X (Opens in new window) X Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Print (Opens in new window) Print Read More
Priceless conversations Posted on September 23, 2004 Yesterday… A few priceless ones, all in the space of a day made it really memorable… And made me thankful for the sweetest friends I have. Venkat hunted me down through Ryze (or was it the other way round?!) and discovered we work in the same office. He lent me… Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share on X (Opens in new window) X Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Print (Opens in new window) Print Read More
Kudos!!! You runner girls rock I say! You need to tell us what motivates you to run, inspite of the running injuries, ankle pain, calf pain, hot blaaazing sun et al. I am inspired to run looking at your girls. Maybe the day I throw my bunch I will start running too 🙂 Reply
Congrats! Good to see you complete the run, and complete it well, after that initial hiccup. All the best for the upcoming Mumbai half. Reply
@ aqua: hehe 🙂 i think you get addicted to the pain after a while! now, i’ve been hearing that for a while 😉 @ tanvir: thanks a lot! Reply
Hi Anita, @Thanks and congrats to you too on completing your second ultra. and btw, the pictures are awesome! Reply
Thanks for the comment on my blog. I saw you running but I was too screwed up to say hello. My apologies !!! Come join team asha and run with us. Reply
venkat: thanks! glad you liked them! @ prashanth: hehe 🙂 no, these were after i finished my race. i went out into the trail again and took pictures. @ shumit: no problems 🙂 yes, would like to do that! what do i do next? Reply
wow awesome.. pics and nice writeup.. i m running the Hyderabad 10K marathon end of this month 🙂 Reply
Hi Anita, I have been following your blog for a long time but, this is my first time posting a comment. Your pictures inspire nostalgia and make me want to return to India. In your pictures I see a positive blend of modern India with the old. From your blog entries I understand that you have struggled to maintain a healthy weight. You look great in these pictures 🙂 Way to go girl! And, I love your pink T! Reply
@ sathish: yes! have no idea if i’ll survive it though! @ ravi: thanks! and great – all the best for that! @ sonia: thanks! and it’s nice that you finally decided to leave a comment 🙂 and thanks for the encouraging words!! Reply
is color of the street that much red…. or it was enhanced in pic…. first pic, deep red and sharp green in contrast Reply
@ noni: yes, colours have been touched up in photoshop, it was a very dull day 🙂 @ shalini: thank you dear! Reply