Last year one of my office colleague had mentioned about this event. Though then I wasn't aware of the name. All I had heard from him was that this event is held in Lonavla and that the race begins very early in the morning at 230AM. So after my stint in SRT Ultra, where I had heard a lot of new names of Ultras conducted all over India, I had started planning for the year 2020. So in this process I came to know the name of Tata Ultra Marathon (TUM). It mainly had two categories i.e. 35 Kms and 50 Kms. The qualifications for these categories were as below:
- 35 Kms: Should have Completed Half Marathon in 2 Hours 45 Minutes
- 50 Kms: Should have Completed a Marathon in 5 Hours 30 Minutes
Along with the above two, the ones who have completed any Ultra Marathon shall be qualified for the event.
After going through eligibility criteria I assumed my SRT Ultra (25 Kms) certificate shall be eligible for TUM. So I registered for the same and was waiting for New year to book the accommodation. But somewhere in the month of January I got an email saying the link (SRT Ultra Marathon Timing Certificate) mentioned in the registration form wasn't working so I had to share another link in order to ensure my qualification in TUM. Luckily, I had a good start to the year 2020 at the Navi Mumbai Mayor Half Marathon where I had completed it in 2:21:18. So had I received this email in 2019, I wouldn't have qualified for TUM. After sharing the new link the organisers confirmed my eligibility for the 35 Kms category.
The reason to participate in this event of 35 Kms was simple for me. In the run up to TMM - 2021, this would be a step up from Half Marathon by nearing the mark of 42.2 Kms. And most importantly the organisers had mentioned in their website that they will be taking care of Hydration as there will be water zones on the route. So that will mean less luggage for me as I will not have to carry the small bag and extra bottles for water.
So by January end I had booked the accommodation. The package didn't include food as they were providing bus drop from hotel to start point and from finish point back to hotel. When I had checked my location of the hotel, fortunately they were close by from the Lonavla station and also from the Start Point. It was approximately 1.5 Kms. So to reach Start Point we could walk but the bus drop was essential from Finish Point as it was around 25 Kms away from the hotel.
After accomodation, came the travel plans. For reaching Lonavla I had booked a seat in the train, Deccan Express. But for return when I checked for Deccan Express, all the tickets were full. So I booked an available train which was at 1230 from Lonavla and shall drop me at Kalyan by 3Pm. From there I will have to take a local train. But whether I will be able to board this train or not is a bit dicey. As the race will end at 930AM. Then from Finish point we have to cover the journey of 25 Kms by bus which was going to start at 1030 AM. Most probably the bus will be dropping us at the Start Point which is still 1.5 Kms walk to the hotel. Then freshening up, changing and walking 1.5 Kms to Lonavla station. I was skeptical that I will be able to board the train. So I had explored the options of luxury buses and ST buses to reach Mumbai on Sunday post race.
On the D - Day, I reached Lonavla on time checked in the hotel by 11Am. Got settled and went to collect my BIB. The Start Point is exactly near the Sunil Wax Museum. I took the goody bag which contained my BIB Number, T-shirt, Bandana, Cap and Torch. The volunteer explained me that I should return the torch as soon as the sun is out to the nearest hydration zone. I took the bag and started walking back to my hotel. Enroute I had seen a tea stall, so I waited there to have a cup of tea. All around me there were Chikki stalls. But ironically, they were empty and all the wine shops were crowded. After entering the hotel room, I prepared my morning dresses like attaching the BIB on the T-shirt, my knee cap, protein bars, mobile holder, wrist band, Bandana, Cap, shoes etc.
With all that done now it was time to relax and wait for race day. This time the stay was more comfortable as compared to my previous Ultra stints as in both cases I had opted for tent stay. Here we had a AC room, with TV, comfortable bed, multiple charging points and attached bathroom too. So this was going to be a comfortable stay. I had switched on the TV to my favourite daily soap Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah and was relaxing on my bed awaiting the arrival of other roommates. It was supposed to be a triple sharing room.
The evening race briefing was cancelled. So now we (Me along with my roommate) were just killing time by playing Carrom. When bored we went out for a walk and visited the Race Expo again. We checked the hydration zones and marked the distance in which we were going to get water supply. We had a cup of tea and again came back to our room. By now the third member had also arrived. Coincidentally we all three were from Mumbai and all three were Maharashtrian. So rapport building wasn't that hard. We talked for sometime and then switched on the TV and were watching a movie Raid.
At around 7Pm we left our rooms for dinner. Since we were supposed to get up at 2Am so it was necessary to have dinner early. We both had a Veg Thali. Post dinner we did a small walk and then directly into our bed. All alarms were set for 2AM. Approximately 5 hours of sleep was all we will be getting before we start the race.
Finally came the race day. We all geared up and gathered in the lobby of the hotel. The bus dropped us at the Start Point. Announcements were being made for all runners to get inside the holding area as refreshments were served. The host was also making important announcements such as about the route, hydration zones, cut off timing etc. On Saturday I was doing my calculations. Already 5 hours for 35 Kms was a huge task for me. To add to that we had to adhere to an intermittent cut off too. That was at 3 hours 20 minutes and at a distance of 25 Kms. So I had kept it as my reverse countdown. The race will kick off at 430 AM. So my target was to reach the 25 Kms target at 730 AM keeping 20 minutes in buffer. And then complete the balance 10 Kms by 9 AM, keeping 30 Minutes as buffer. During SRT Ultra, I was keeping track of time by looking at my phone. This time I didn't had the luxury of time to take out my phone from my pouch and keep track of time. Luckily the MI Band which I had gifted to my brother which was lying in the house unused, I had brought with me. And it was indeed a blessing.
As part of the refreshments, I had a cup of tea with some glucose biscuits and a banana. Also I was having some dry fruits. This time I also had two protein bars with me to have during the course. After the initial rounds of instructions, we were asked to move towards the starting line. It was almost 430 AM. Amidst the roar to the answer of How's the josh? High Sir, the race kicked off. As ritual, I started all my apps i.e. Strava, Pacer, Relive, MI Fit and Wynk. I had also prepared a new playlist of around 50 songs for this race which had some DJ songs as well downloaded from YouTube.
The initial 6 Kms were going to be crucial. As that was the only patch when we will be having the flat route. Post that the elevation will begin. At the start I wasn't feeling that good. But those are just the initial uneasiness which one has to overcome as body begins to adjust to the process. The torch was on. I was only carrying one bottle of water as the route was hydrated at regular intervals. I was consistently checking time on the band to ensure if I am within the reach of my target. My initial focus was to reach at the Cut off checkpoint by 730 AM, which meant to cover 25 Kms in the first 3 hours. As I already mentioned the 5 Hours Total Time for the 35 Kms route was already a task for me as in SRT Ultra we had 6 Hours for 25 Kms whereas in Deccan Ultra we had 7 Hours for 30 Kms.
Inspite of the initial uneasiness, I was quite surprised to have clocked my personal best in 5 Kms which I had it covered in 32 Minutes. That was indeed quick and my first hint that I may be able to complete this race. Running long distance is as much a mental game as it is physical. It is essential to keep the thoughts in control as body will respond to the signals the mind will give. At each kilometer there were placards showing the number of kilometers left. Watching that can sometimes be cheerful and sometime might have a negative impact. So it is essential that such information should only be used for informative purpose and one shouldn't adjust their run according to the distance mentioned in the markers. Ofcourse in the end one surely has to adjust when you are near the cut off point or the finish line. So with each passing placard I was doing my mental calculation of how much time has gone by, how much distance covered and how much is left? If the outcome of this discussion was positive I went on with my race.
This experience was surely better than all my earlier marathon type events mainly because I never did so much mental calculation or had looked at the time. Today I was also not concentrating on the Finish Line. I was just taking One Kilometer at a time. That was my target. With 6 Kms over, we had just crossed the second hydration station. I checked my bottle and it still had enough water for me to sustain for another 2 Kms which was the approximate distance between two hydration zones. So with that began the ascent from INS Shivaji. Though I had earphones plugged in still I could hear some runners chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai. From here, it was more of walking now. Only when I got some flat road did I run. In the next water station, I had to fill my bottle.
It was still dark. As I was walking on the ascent, I decided to open the protein bar and have a bite. Things were going as per the plan. The hydration zones were equipped with Ice packs and sponge to cool you down. Truly the organisers had taken lot of efforts to ensure the runners feel comfortable enroute. As we reached the 15 Kms mark we could now see the 50 Kms runners also on the route. I also came across one of my roommate as we crossed the mark.
After I completed my half marathon I checked my clock. It was almost 720AM. Approximately, three hours had passed by. Now the tension was building up. I had only 30 Minutes left to cover the next 4 kms else it was going to be a DNF tag, again. Already One DNF I had this month and for sure I didn't want it again. So I started to pick up speed as much as I could. From now on I was almost watching the watch every minute. 750 AM was the cut off. Around 500 meters before the 25 Kms checkpoint they had written it on the road, "Cut off Ahead." Luckily there was some descent which helped me pick up some speed. Finally the 25 Kms check point was visible and I surely cannot explain how much soothing it was to my eyes. As soon as I crossed the timing Mat it was 7:46 am in the clock, which meant I had reached the cut off time 4 minutes in advance. This was also the first race in which I had an intermittent cut off. So the experience was surreal. I could see some runners already celebrating and clicking selfies. Apparently, this was also the Cut off zone for 50 kms runners too. So for them the distance was 40 kms.
Up until now there use to be two signboards showing the number of kilometers left, one for my category and other for the 50 Kms category. But post the cut off now it was going to be just one as both categories had 10 Kms left in their quota. I relaxed for 2 minutes, took some energy drinks and then checked my clock. 1.5 Hours of race time was left and 10 Kms distance to be covered in it. One battle was over but the war wasn't over yet.
On a regular day this much time and distance would have been a cake walk. But on the hills its a different game. You just cannot run when the ascent begins. And from here on we had a lot of elevation to cover. One thing I remembered quite vividly from the elevation chart was the last 5 kms had the most elevation in this final leg of 10 Kms. So it wasn't over yet. Whenever I got downhill, I ensured I will run with the pace of the road and let gravity guide me. Some runners were being cautious but since I was wearing trail running shoes I had a bit faith in them that they won't slip on the tar road. It was like climbing one hill and getting down and again climbing another.
As we reached the final 5 Kms, the hydration zones were now available at every Kilometer mark. And I was filling water bottle at each zone, plus having some of the energy drink to keep myself hydrated. The sun was firing upon us. I had to change the position of the cap on to its regular pose as too much sunlight was coming on the eyes. A lesson I have taken that I need to carry sun glasses, the next time I am on a Ultra race.
The last 3 Kilometers were left now and we still had 30 Minutes in the clock. I was at peace as well as at war in my mind. The time was enough but now for the next 2.5 kms we had a Up hill climb. Now this was going to be testing times. Multiple "What If" thoughts were looming in my head. What if I end up with a DNF tag at the fag end of the race? With 33 kms down, this was already the highest ever I have run on any route in my entire life. But it still wasn't enough. I then remembered the Navi Mumbai Mayor Half Marathon at the start of the year where I had achieved my personal best. It was with a long term target to ensure my qualification for the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2021. If I get a DNF today, then surely I will have a laugh at myself that how can I aim for a Marathon when I can't complete 35 Kms? The failure of Deccan Ultra also came in front of my eyes. How it still hurts? What if today I again fail?
All these thoughts had my head filled in the last miles. The clock was now at 923 AM, which meant we had 7 minutes to go and the Finish Line was still not visible. Then we saw a guy coming on a bike who was cheering the runners. He said, Come On, "700 Meters To Go and 6 Minutes Left". That was a siren. We were still climbing with no signs of flat surface. Now there was only one option left, RUN.
We were some 200 Meters away when I stopped my music player. That's when I heard the sound of dhol. Now the finish line was audible but not visible yet and clock was at 927 AM. I pushed myself for one last time as suddenly I got a doubt that what if my clock and their clocks aren't aligned with each other.
Now, finally, I could see the finish line with lots of people cheering at us as we were ending the race. That's when my eyes went to a heavenly scene. I finally saw the official clock. It said 9:28:20, which meant now I had 1 minute 40 seconds more to go. That was the first time I breathed a huge sigh of relief in the past 5 hours.
I passed the finish line with timing of 4:58:30 thus completing my Tata Ultra Marathon in Category 35 Kilometers. The medal was indeed precious. I hope this helps me achieving my final short term goal. Indeed it was a positive step towards it.
Though for now, it was time to relish the refereshments (Noodles, Boiled Egg, Sandwich and Cake) and later on figure out the transport to home as my train was cancelled.
Until Next Time.
-SR.
PS: May The Force Be With You.
As part of the refreshments, I had a cup of tea with some glucose biscuits and a banana. Also I was having some dry fruits. This time I also had two protein bars with me to have during the course. After the initial rounds of instructions, we were asked to move towards the starting line. It was almost 430 AM. Amidst the roar to the answer of How's the josh? High Sir, the race kicked off. As ritual, I started all my apps i.e. Strava, Pacer, Relive, MI Fit and Wynk. I had also prepared a new playlist of around 50 songs for this race which had some DJ songs as well downloaded from YouTube.
The initial 6 Kms were going to be crucial. As that was the only patch when we will be having the flat route. Post that the elevation will begin. At the start I wasn't feeling that good. But those are just the initial uneasiness which one has to overcome as body begins to adjust to the process. The torch was on. I was only carrying one bottle of water as the route was hydrated at regular intervals. I was consistently checking time on the band to ensure if I am within the reach of my target. My initial focus was to reach at the Cut off checkpoint by 730 AM, which meant to cover 25 Kms in the first 3 hours. As I already mentioned the 5 Hours Total Time for the 35 Kms route was already a task for me as in SRT Ultra we had 6 Hours for 25 Kms whereas in Deccan Ultra we had 7 Hours for 30 Kms.
Inspite of the initial uneasiness, I was quite surprised to have clocked my personal best in 5 Kms which I had it covered in 32 Minutes. That was indeed quick and my first hint that I may be able to complete this race. Running long distance is as much a mental game as it is physical. It is essential to keep the thoughts in control as body will respond to the signals the mind will give. At each kilometer there were placards showing the number of kilometers left. Watching that can sometimes be cheerful and sometime might have a negative impact. So it is essential that such information should only be used for informative purpose and one shouldn't adjust their run according to the distance mentioned in the markers. Ofcourse in the end one surely has to adjust when you are near the cut off point or the finish line. So with each passing placard I was doing my mental calculation of how much time has gone by, how much distance covered and how much is left? If the outcome of this discussion was positive I went on with my race.
This experience was surely better than all my earlier marathon type events mainly because I never did so much mental calculation or had looked at the time. Today I was also not concentrating on the Finish Line. I was just taking One Kilometer at a time. That was my target. With 6 Kms over, we had just crossed the second hydration station. I checked my bottle and it still had enough water for me to sustain for another 2 Kms which was the approximate distance between two hydration zones. So with that began the ascent from INS Shivaji. Though I had earphones plugged in still I could hear some runners chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai. From here, it was more of walking now. Only when I got some flat road did I run. In the next water station, I had to fill my bottle.
It was still dark. As I was walking on the ascent, I decided to open the protein bar and have a bite. Things were going as per the plan. The hydration zones were equipped with Ice packs and sponge to cool you down. Truly the organisers had taken lot of efforts to ensure the runners feel comfortable enroute. As we reached the 15 Kms mark we could now see the 50 Kms runners also on the route. I also came across one of my roommate as we crossed the mark.
After I completed my half marathon I checked my clock. It was almost 720AM. Approximately, three hours had passed by. Now the tension was building up. I had only 30 Minutes left to cover the next 4 kms else it was going to be a DNF tag, again. Already One DNF I had this month and for sure I didn't want it again. So I started to pick up speed as much as I could. From now on I was almost watching the watch every minute. 750 AM was the cut off. Around 500 meters before the 25 Kms checkpoint they had written it on the road, "Cut off Ahead." Luckily there was some descent which helped me pick up some speed. Finally the 25 Kms check point was visible and I surely cannot explain how much soothing it was to my eyes. As soon as I crossed the timing Mat it was 7:46 am in the clock, which meant I had reached the cut off time 4 minutes in advance. This was also the first race in which I had an intermittent cut off. So the experience was surreal. I could see some runners already celebrating and clicking selfies. Apparently, this was also the Cut off zone for 50 kms runners too. So for them the distance was 40 kms.
Up until now there use to be two signboards showing the number of kilometers left, one for my category and other for the 50 Kms category. But post the cut off now it was going to be just one as both categories had 10 Kms left in their quota. I relaxed for 2 minutes, took some energy drinks and then checked my clock. 1.5 Hours of race time was left and 10 Kms distance to be covered in it. One battle was over but the war wasn't over yet.
On a regular day this much time and distance would have been a cake walk. But on the hills its a different game. You just cannot run when the ascent begins. And from here on we had a lot of elevation to cover. One thing I remembered quite vividly from the elevation chart was the last 5 kms had the most elevation in this final leg of 10 Kms. So it wasn't over yet. Whenever I got downhill, I ensured I will run with the pace of the road and let gravity guide me. Some runners were being cautious but since I was wearing trail running shoes I had a bit faith in them that they won't slip on the tar road. It was like climbing one hill and getting down and again climbing another.
As we reached the final 5 Kms, the hydration zones were now available at every Kilometer mark. And I was filling water bottle at each zone, plus having some of the energy drink to keep myself hydrated. The sun was firing upon us. I had to change the position of the cap on to its regular pose as too much sunlight was coming on the eyes. A lesson I have taken that I need to carry sun glasses, the next time I am on a Ultra race.
The last 3 Kilometers were left now and we still had 30 Minutes in the clock. I was at peace as well as at war in my mind. The time was enough but now for the next 2.5 kms we had a Up hill climb. Now this was going to be testing times. Multiple "What If" thoughts were looming in my head. What if I end up with a DNF tag at the fag end of the race? With 33 kms down, this was already the highest ever I have run on any route in my entire life. But it still wasn't enough. I then remembered the Navi Mumbai Mayor Half Marathon at the start of the year where I had achieved my personal best. It was with a long term target to ensure my qualification for the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2021. If I get a DNF today, then surely I will have a laugh at myself that how can I aim for a Marathon when I can't complete 35 Kms? The failure of Deccan Ultra also came in front of my eyes. How it still hurts? What if today I again fail?
All these thoughts had my head filled in the last miles. The clock was now at 923 AM, which meant we had 7 minutes to go and the Finish Line was still not visible. Then we saw a guy coming on a bike who was cheering the runners. He said, Come On, "700 Meters To Go and 6 Minutes Left". That was a siren. We were still climbing with no signs of flat surface. Now there was only one option left, RUN.
We were some 200 Meters away when I stopped my music player. That's when I heard the sound of dhol. Now the finish line was audible but not visible yet and clock was at 927 AM. I pushed myself for one last time as suddenly I got a doubt that what if my clock and their clocks aren't aligned with each other.
Now, finally, I could see the finish line with lots of people cheering at us as we were ending the race. That's when my eyes went to a heavenly scene. I finally saw the official clock. It said 9:28:20, which meant now I had 1 minute 40 seconds more to go. That was the first time I breathed a huge sigh of relief in the past 5 hours.
I passed the finish line with timing of 4:58:30 thus completing my Tata Ultra Marathon in Category 35 Kilometers. The medal was indeed precious. I hope this helps me achieving my final short term goal. Indeed it was a positive step towards it.
Though for now, it was time to relish the refereshments (Noodles, Boiled Egg, Sandwich and Cake) and later on figure out the transport to home as my train was cancelled.
Until Next Time.
-SR.
PS: May The Force Be With You.
