Garhwal Runs -2021 ( 74 kms )

Towards the fag end of January, I came to know that one has to complete Garhwal 74 km’s in sub 11 hours to qualify for LA Ultra 111 km, this came as an absolute shocker to me because I was not aware of this criteria In retrospect this was an important filter, the theory is if you cannot finish Garhwal Runs in sub-11, you have little chance to complete Laulta 111 k considering the complexity of the challenges,

I immediately reached out to my Coach & informed him about this shocker, he was calm as he always is, he just told me only one thing “You will be able to complete this “This was very reassuring for me & soothed my nervous energies.

My Coach Lt. Col Romil Barthwal then made a training calendar for me, with Garhwal run in focus, the plan included weekly runs on Sinhagad fort, 5 min run followed by 1 minute walk & weekly around 80-108 Soorya Namaskars.

I have been fortunate enough to work with Romil for last 7 months – I do not think I could have found a more knowledgeable & understanding coach. His credentials are impeccable, what I like more about him is the trust he puts in you –

I unlearned everything I learned in 8 years of training & focused on the fundamentals.

The first time I send my running data to him, he Said “High AHR can be a limiting factor in long distance running “I have been running for several years & didn’t have any clue on AHR.

So we worked initially on building the aerobic base, it was a slow painstaking process & was getting bored, but I married the plan, stuck on to it & like magic Boom – My running efficiency became improved, RHR & AHR became better & for the first time I ran a 10 k in 48 mins.

Learned an important lesson “Run slow to Run fast “

First time in my life started doing Soorya Namaskars - & I can tell you this exercise has strengthened my core. I find this excruciatingly boring, but now understand the value.

A structured training calendar on weekly basis was shared by my coach & my role was to adhere to the plan – I did to the extent of 95 %, the 5 % variation is adjusted for my exuberance which sometimes got the better of me.

For the first time in my running career , I had some one to be accountable to , someone who understood my limitations , someone who was willing to commit alongside me , this is the Number 1 reason for my progress .

Garhwal Runs -2021 (Pre-race)

The race was scheduled for Feb 21st, The organizers hosted a FB live to take clarifications, I was on a flight to Goa & interacted on the flight, got my doubts clarified before the flight took off .

There were two categories – 33 km & 74 km’s

There was 4 Waves – 6 am start, 6.15 am, 6.30 am & 6.45 am

I was in Wave 2 6.15 am start – I needed to complete 74 km by 11.15 am to qualify for La Ultra.

I reached Dehradun by 19th late evening, flight from Pune to Delhi was delayed due to fog, subsequently delaying flight from Delhi to Dehradun by 5 hours, thankfully I was reaching two days before the race .

These small things matter, no point coming to a city just one night before the race, that too a race so important.

I called by my Coach on Thursday looking for motivation & last-minute effort to calm my nerves.

As usual he gave some valuable inputs, keep munching, keep sipping, drink different flavors, also have a bit of coke, Trust the plan, it is going to pay you rich dividends. Conserve energy ,

This was going to be a self-supported run, so instead of tucking everything into hydration jacket, I hired a cab & a driver – I wanted to run light & not carry any extra weight.

I was staying at Hotel Red Fox very close to the venue - A Tamil Movie shooting, was going in full bang, no noticeable actors, so I said chuck it & watched Drishyam 2 – well past midnight on 19th night – I do not remember when the last time was, I slept at 1 am. Perks of an upcoming ultra-run.

I did not wake to up early on 20th, since it was a rest day & I wanted to make best use of it.

On 21st I arranged my car & driver which would crew me during race day, bought a lot of hydration stuff, Tropicana juice, water, coke, chips, bananas & oranges & stuffed it in to my room,

I had my lunch at kalsang Mall, just a chicken burger & a chocolate peanut shake, nothing fancy, didn’t want to eat anything unusual or too much, hydrated well.

I ensured by 5 pm everything was packed, did not want to wake up to last minute jitters.

I carried an extra pair of shoes, Brookes Hyperion, I thought I will wear these shoes during downhill, I packed an extra pair of socks, fleece jacket , rain coat , cap , gloves , fresh clothes & jacket to change at Dhanaulti . However I never used the Brookes at all , I was quite comfortable in my Nike Pegasus 37 & also didn't want to waste any time , changing shoes , even on the downhill .

Convinced that everything is in order I went to sleep at 8 pm , but surprisingly tilted on the bed several times , sleep evaded me , my thoughts wandered to the challenge in front , I was getting pensive , in normal circumstances , I mentally visualize the route & my mind already covers the distance , the body only executes next day , but Garhwal run was a beast , it had 4 stringent cut off times , miss one means you are out , finally I got some sleep ( may be 2-3 hours )

I woke up at 4 am – 2.15 hours later I would embark on one of my toughest challenges, I was getting ready to face this challenge.

Reached Venue at 6 am – Did some light warm exercise to signal the muscles that you are in for a long day friends , , wore my BIB greeted my fellow runners, there were two women runners in my Wave ( 74 km ) Puja Negi & Smriti Katahit – Puja had completed 74 km last year in 11.28 hours , she is a localitie . Gave instructions to my driver to tail me & on the back end flip of my hand he has to reach close to me , hand over my hydration & I will throw it back in to the car , this way I will save time . ( Mithun Chakravorty would have been proud of this )

6.15 am Start time

The first 7.4 km’s was flat, I ran as per the plan 5 minute run ,1 minute walk, I continued like this till 7.4 km’s before the climb started, I persisted with my plan 5 min run & 1 min walk, I had my first fast & upload gel at 8 km’s. (In total I had 3)

At the 14 -15 km I crossed all the runners in my wave, I completed the first cut off in 2.42 hours against the time of 3.15 hours, I then took a loo break & started the climb again , at 24th km mark Nischint Katoch crossed me , we greeted each other with a slight nod in motion , he was in the subsequent wave .. I was not perturbed when a couple of runners marched past me , I believed in my plans , stuck to them like fevicol . Nischint finally finished in 9;15 hours & this was his 5th Garhwal Run .

I crossed 33 km mark in 4.14 hours against the cut off time of 5 hours. This is also the point the 33 km run ends.

I knew the downhill would start now & it is important for me to control the adrenaline rush, I knew that next 14 kms was downhill till the 47th km mark & the cut off time was 1.15 pm .

In my earlier Avatar I would have tried to run fast & build buffer from 47th km to 68th km , but I abandoned this wild thought & stuck to my plan

I kept replenishing myself nicely with few sips of water, Tropicana juice, slides of oranges & bananas .

I crossed 47 km’s, the third cut off with a buffer of 40 mins so now I had 4.40 hours to complete another 27 km;s .

I started nursing hopes of crossing the finishing line well within cut off.

Dr. Rajat the versatile Race Director, patted me at the 47th mark & said I was going good.

I though 47th km onwards I may have to walk, but surprisingly some strange energy came in to my body & I followed the same plan, I was running comfortably, you can say in cruise mode ..

At thr 60th mark I had a minor scare, I could not see my car & driver, I didn’t have any hydration, I ran from 60th to 64th km without any hydration.

I stopped few motorcyclists & asked them to pass a message to my driver so that essential food could be reached out to me.

At the 63rd km mark, I met Dr. Rajat, who was driving his car in his compass jeep & coming towards me, I waved my hands frantically, asking him to stop & burrow a water bottle from him

This was a big relief for me, soon afterwards, my drive rejoined, tailing me behind (He had sorted out the issues with the car)

At the 67th km mark I breathed a sigh of relief , my goal of completing Garhwal in sub 11 hours was now in sight .I consolidated my run from 67-70 km’s by slightly increasing the pace , but from 70th km mark I just sprinted to the finish line – last 4 km’ I finished in 24 minutes – I completed the run as per my Garmin in 10.50 hours , I run through the finish tape , smiling , then of course collected my medal & the thought started sinking in that I have completed Garhwal Run successfully . For the first time in my running career I smiled to the finish line .

 I run one pace , no bravado , no playing to the gallery , I just stuck to the plan like a fish to water .

The 2 hour car journey back to Dehradun was about thanking everyone who had faith in me

Once I reached the hotel , had a hot shower & a meal to heart's content , thanked the almighty & slept like a billionaire ..

What worked for me.

Structured training plan.

Hill training

Proper Hydration plans (Car & Driver) Did not have to carry any extra weight.

Ran with Discipline, stuck to my plan

AHR based running, I was constantly monitoring AHR.

Had been to Dehradun in Jan so was aware about the geography

Had spare shoes, socks, food, Volley Spray, Raincoat (Builds confidence) Prepared for all eventualities.

Soorya Namaskars helped in fortifying my back.

Did not waste a single minute, utilized every opportunity & time to be on my feet.

Turned off mobile data, kept phone with driver, did not take any pics from my phone.

Stayed in the moment, kept talking to myself

Did not panic when I lost track of my driver, just kept running.

Ran with the same attire the once which I run for practice , didn’t want to take any chance .

Didn’t worry about others running past me.

Total faith in the plan.

I always kept thinking you cannot let down people who care for you, who love. you.

I am now ready & fiercely determined to double my efforts for La Ultra 2021

 Life can feel heavy when we spend too much time thinking about what we want and what we haven’t got. Try flipping that on its head. Each night, write down three things that you are grateful for, or that have gone well that day, no matter how small, and see how it feels