‘Do not attempt a record. Just finish the race.’ I heard one of the organizers say at the pre-run briefing of the Baikal Ice Marathon. It was Nikolai, translating in English all the instructions and details that Alexie, the race director spoke in Russian. Since, the English translations were brief and intermittent, I held this […]
Category Archives: Running
Malnad Ultra 110
Malnad Ultra, 2019Underneath a high silver oak canopy, about an hour and a half into the run, I knew that there was much to be thankful about on that morning. To be able to stand there, on a quiet mountainside trail and watch the daylight break made me feel thankful to be able to get […]
Tata Mumbai Marathon 2019
TMM 2019 Mumbai Marathon this year felt faster while the finish time was more than last year’s run. This is how runs go. One hopes, prepares and then variables beyond one’s control take over. All that variation and uncertainty is fine as long as one doesn’t expect. However, as much as running is about experience, […]
Malnad Ultra: It gets easier after 100K
On Saturday I ran the Malnad Ultra. Runs near Bengaluru have the same format – ride to starting point, run, sleep over, ride back. This was my first 100 KM+ trail run. After Ooty Ultra, I was doubling the distance. In the interim, since April, I have had six months of time to prepare for […]
Ooty Ultra 60K
Two Sundays back I ran a 60 KM ultra run in Ooty. This was the year’s first ultra. Though labeled 60K actual course distance of 62K. Every time I mention 62, instead of 60, I am reminded of a fellow runner who insisted that every additional 100 meters matter when running long distance. However, I […]
Second year at Mumbai marathon
On Sunday, January 21st I ran the Mumbai marathon. It was my second year at this marathon. I will continue to run this every year. I realized that this once a year run is a good opportunity to mark one’s physical and mental states through time. As I began this time, I clearly remembered how […]
How To: not finish a marathon
Wilson Kipsang dropped out of Berlin Marathon today. He fell out of leading pack’s pace and at 30th km he stopped, as reported. Kipsang’s reasons are best known to him. One can only guess what might have been going on in this ace runner’s mind as he saw himself falling out of the pack. While that […]
Pace of things around
In the distant horizon was a bullock-cart rolling away. On the straight road this distance was over a kilometer. Pace was on my mind this evening – of things around, of me running and of Scott’s during Sparthathlon. I was trying to think what a pace of 7 min per mile takes after having […]
Stupa to Stupa: Trail running in Nepal
“Its gonna be a long day”, said the Canadian runner as we tackled the first elevation of the day. It was half past seven in the morning. A naive 6-7 hour finishing time however was my idea. I saw that intention mocked at, by the trail, as the noon sun began drying the salt at […]
Some trails
Bangalore Mountain Festival 29/1/2017 This was a short ride and a short run combo. Rode out this morning for a trail run outside the city. Early hours, the yellow of the city roads and the engine’s rhythm worked up nostalgia of a dozen road trips. Reached the venue after overshooting some 20 km in the […]
