BLOG Ootyultra #ultramalaivasi 2023
Aside from coming second in the 90km race, what else was special about the event?
What an experience! (Caution: Long read)
Well, the usual fun stuff came with travelling and running at a hill station. We arrived at 3 PM, collected our bibs at TTDC Hotel then checked into Hotel Mango Hill, Central. Albert, me and Jeeva then went out for a late lunch and decided to meet the rest of our friends at the bib expo. On our return visit, we clicked more pictures. Following tea outside and dinner at the hotel, we decided to call it a night at 10 pm.
Start: the race was scheduled at 6 pm from TTDC Boathouse, and we took out our gear with bibs pinned and at-the-ready. We used our car to take our friends and to the boathouse, which was 2.5km away.
The morning was chill, and I had no choice but to remove the extra t-shirt and put it back into the car to start warming up. We met a few more friends there, and after we finished catching up, we headed to the start point at 555AM.
The chief guests arrived on – the – dot, and the race started exactly on time, which is what I love most about this event.
THE RACE:
The first 10km was a slow climb to Dodabetta, which would result in total exhaustion by sprinting the first 3km for the uninitiated. Having made this mistake in 2019 while running the 60k, I slowed down and ran steadily at a comfortable pace without stopping anywhere and grabbing stuff from the aid stations on – the – move. I ran the first 5km with Albert, then maintained the pace while advising him to slow down according to his heart rate.
The descent was fun as usual, and we had a better grip on paved roads than in 2019. I met Srini, a Coach Kays student who has made brilliant progress, losing 10kg while racing from 20km to 60km in just one year. He was running the 60k now.
We proceeded through a different route and finished 30km at Tea Garden, crossing the timing strip well ahead of the planned time in 3 hours and 5 minutes.
The next 30km was where the challenge happened. Taking us through a scenic route and scattered villages, we runners were left feeling like we had wandered off the route, and if it weren’t for the correctly spaced aid stations and markers, it would’ve been a difficult chore. When tiredness takes over, 1km seems like 2km, and when I hit the 50km mark, I was about to hit the proverbial wall. I comforted myself, reassuring them that everything was going according to plan. After a gruelling uphill, I soon managed to finish 60km, crossing the next Tea Garden timing strip in another 3 hours 45 minutes (total 6 hours 50 minutes covered).
THE CHALLENGE
By now, I had surprisingly overtaken many and was third on the list to the podium. “Good work”, I thought as I ran back along the same route we had taken to complete 60k. Running this route in reverse would take us back to the Tea Garden to complete 90km. Remembering the gruelling uphill to complete 60km, I just conserved energy by running fast but not at full – tilt since the route was reversed and the uphills were now convenient downhills.
I profusely thanked the volunteers at the aid stations as I drank water, replenished myself with electrolytes and had a sip of coke with watermelon at most of the aid stations. I didn’t bother to take my hydration bag since the water points were well-spaced every 2.5km. Before I knew it (I didn’t even know when), I had overtaken the second participant, Amit, a famed ultra-runner. I kept up the pace, hurtling downhill till I hit the uphill section and slowed down.
Remembering my hip flexor training, I just settled back, walked a bit and then jogged certain areas of the uphills where my quads obliged. I couldn’t afford to make mistakes with a famous veteran runner at my heels. I felt a cramp coming on, and I knelt by the side of the road and stretched it out, making sure to take salts at the aid stations. Soon, 80km came up.
The last 10km seemed more like 20, as the uphills threatened to swallow up our efforts. Keeping a steady pace of 7 to 8km per hour was becoming difficult. Summoning up all my willpower, I plodded along the last 2km to the finish line, finishing second at 10 hours 47 mins and odd seconds 18 minutes behind the first participant, Sougurav. Coach Kay, Jeeva, Albert and the remaining volunteers greeted me warmly, and after taking a few more photos, we had lunch which was provided at Tea Garden.
Points I loved:
Punctual start Watermelon and coke with Chikki, bananas, salt and dates at aid stations Absolutely awesome volunteers Great scenery Proper markers and aid station spacingWill I be back for another event?
DEFINITELY YES.
