The Great Mawla Ghati Ultra Memories - 50 KM Trail Run
Mawla is an ancient tribe renowned for their prowess in warfare and their ability to conquer hilly terrains.
At the beginning of the year, the plan was to prepare thoroughly for the Border Run 100 KM, and as part of this preparation, I was seeking available training runs.
Someone suggested the Great Mawla Ghati Ultra, and I, along with a few others, registered without knowing the actual terrain or difficulty level of the event.
We had four months for the training to take place, as we registered in February.
A family emergency arose, requiring me to return home early each day, which prevented me from completing even a single trial during the entire training block.
A well-managed diet with reduced sugar intake and increased protein consumption had effectively helped maintain body weight.
I completed a significant number of elevation runs and was under the impression that the Malwa Ghati would be finished quite easily
Some questioned my spouse about why I am being allowed to participate in the trial.
The day before I left for the trail, my wife was among those who urged me to return safely, regardless of whether I completed the trail
Travel Day
I traveled to Pune by train. Fortunately, I had a good night's sleep and maintained decent hydration during the journey. The leader of the group took excellent care of our travel arrangements and accommodations.
With everything working in our favor, we reached the accommodation, collected our bibs, and decided to do a 1 km trail run from the starting point to assess the trail conditions.
This first kilometer was incredibly challenging. My calves began to ache after just 250 meters, setting the tone for the trail's difficulty ahead.
Fear crept in, and I began to curse my preparation.
Mistakes Made
I did not participate in any trail runs during the training block, nor was I an enthusiastic trail runner.
I did not prepare myself with the race day gear.
I have never run with a water bag or used goggles, a torch, or a trekking pole before.
Not understanding the ruggedness of the Western Ghats and the challenges posed by an elevation of 3,000 meters did not help either.
My initial thoughts were that completing 50 kilometers in 14 hours would be a walk in the park, and I believed I could easily achieve this by maintaining a pace of 1 kilometer every 20 minutes. However, on the day before the race, I found that even 1 kilometer took me approximately 28 minutes to complete.
Actual Race Day:
After a few warm-up exercises, the race began.
My torch fell to the ground, my bag was too heavy, and my stick got stuck in the mud, breaking into two pieces. All of this occurred within the first kilometer, and once again, I regretted my preparation.
A fellow runner assisted with the Torch, learned how to position the goggles, and the bag ultimately provided support for the back, keeping it firm.
I initially thought about stopping the race, going back to prepare thoroughly, and returning next year. This consideration arose at the 250-meter mark. However, I ultimately decided I did not want to give up so soon.
With the help of fellow runners, I began to take one step after another, and soon I found myself in a runner's trance.
I continued to move forward. With sunlight streaming in and a gentle breeze surrounding me, it began to feel quite pleasant.
I completed the first 25 kilometers in 5 hours and 50 minutes, and I started back from the halfway point after 6 hours and 10 minutes, having taken some time to eat.
The body began to feel exhausted as I faced one hill after another. Each hill seemed to taunt me, whispering that I was not made to conquer it. However, the fellow runners ahead instilled hope, reminding me that it could indeed be overcome.
The stories shared by fellow runners during our trail runs serve as a great source of inspiration and help us maintain high spirits.
I slowly reached the 37.5 mark, enduring significant pain and feeling very little hope.
I sought the assistance of a physiotherapist, and this 10-minute session may be one reason why I might not finish the trek within the allotted time. Negative thoughts begin to creep in, and my mind urges me to give up, but my heart insists that I might still be able to complete it.
As we continue, we face a relentless uphill stretch of 3 kilometers, and our hearts begin to falter. The sun starts to shine intensely, draining any remaining energy. Suddenly, it becomes clear that the water we carry will not suffice for at least the next 2 kilometers, and we won't have access to any water until the end of the race.
A thought creeps in, saying, actual target is the Border Run, not the Ultra. So, give up the Ultra and focus on giving your best to the Border Run. Otherwise, you may get injured and it will take a long time to recover.
At the 37.5 km mark, I even left my trekking pole behind and lost its support. Some fellow runners were generous enough to offer me one of their trekking poles, but I declined so as not to make it difficult for them.
Everything comes to a halt. You stand still with your hands on your knees, gazing at the elevations. Thoughts of the Malwa tribe and each runner ahead fill your mind, along with concerns about the lack of water for the next 11 kilometers. The process of giving up has begun to take shape sharply in your mind.
Suddenly, the sun disappeared, and it began to rain. My initial thoughts were that the situation would worsen, as the rain would make the ground slippery, and I even lost the support of my trekking pole.
The rain quenched my thirst and gradually restored my energy. It became my savior, allowing me to complete the trail run in 13 hours and 3 minutes. A sense of joy filled me, but I regrettably skipped the cooldown after the race. This oversight resulted in increased pain in the days that followed.
At the beginning of the year, the plan was to prepare thoroughly for the Border Run 100 KM, and as part of this preparation, I was seeking available training runs.
Someone suggested the Great Mawla Ghati Ultra, and I, along with a few others, registered without knowing the actual terrain or difficulty level of the event.
Training Block
We had four months for the training to take place, as we registered in February.A family emergency arose, requiring me to return home early each day, which prevented me from completing even a single trial during the entire training block.
A well-managed diet with reduced sugar intake and increased protein consumption had effectively helped maintain body weight.
I completed a significant number of elevation runs and was under the impression that the Malwa Ghati would be finished quite easily
Pre-Race Days
Unfortunately, some close friends have reviewed the previous years' videos of the trial and have begun suggesting that I withdraw.Some questioned my spouse about why I am being allowed to participate in the trial.
The day before I left for the trail, my wife was among those who urged me to return safely, regardless of whether I completed the trail
Travel Day
I traveled to Pune by train. Fortunately, I had a good night's sleep and maintained decent hydration during the journey. The leader of the group took excellent care of our travel arrangements and accommodations.
With everything working in our favor, we reached the accommodation, collected our bibs, and decided to do a 1 km trail run from the starting point to assess the trail conditions.
This first kilometer was incredibly challenging. My calves began to ache after just 250 meters, setting the tone for the trail's difficulty ahead.
Fear crept in, and I began to curse my preparation.
Mistakes Made
I did not participate in any trail runs during the training block, nor was I an enthusiastic trail runner.
I did not prepare myself with the race day gear.
I have never run with a water bag or used goggles, a torch, or a trekking pole before.
Not understanding the ruggedness of the Western Ghats and the challenges posed by an elevation of 3,000 meters did not help either.
My initial thoughts were that completing 50 kilometers in 14 hours would be a walk in the park, and I believed I could easily achieve this by maintaining a pace of 1 kilometer every 20 minutes. However, on the day before the race, I found that even 1 kilometer took me approximately 28 minutes to complete.
Actual Race Day:
After a few warm-up exercises, the race began.
My torch fell to the ground, my bag was too heavy, and my stick got stuck in the mud, breaking into two pieces. All of this occurred within the first kilometer, and once again, I regretted my preparation.
A fellow runner assisted with the Torch, learned how to position the goggles, and the bag ultimately provided support for the back, keeping it firm.
I initially thought about stopping the race, going back to prepare thoroughly, and returning next year. This consideration arose at the 250-meter mark. However, I ultimately decided I did not want to give up so soon.
With the help of fellow runners, I began to take one step after another, and soon I found myself in a runner's trance.
I continued to move forward. With sunlight streaming in and a gentle breeze surrounding me, it began to feel quite pleasant.
I completed the first 25 kilometers in 5 hours and 50 minutes, and I started back from the halfway point after 6 hours and 10 minutes, having taken some time to eat.
The body began to feel exhausted as I faced one hill after another. Each hill seemed to taunt me, whispering that I was not made to conquer it. However, the fellow runners ahead instilled hope, reminding me that it could indeed be overcome.
The stories shared by fellow runners during our trail runs serve as a great source of inspiration and help us maintain high spirits.
I slowly reached the 37.5 mark, enduring significant pain and feeling very little hope.
I sought the assistance of a physiotherapist, and this 10-minute session may be one reason why I might not finish the trek within the allotted time. Negative thoughts begin to creep in, and my mind urges me to give up, but my heart insists that I might still be able to complete it.
As we continue, we face a relentless uphill stretch of 3 kilometers, and our hearts begin to falter. The sun starts to shine intensely, draining any remaining energy. Suddenly, it becomes clear that the water we carry will not suffice for at least the next 2 kilometers, and we won't have access to any water until the end of the race.
A thought creeps in, saying, actual target is the Border Run, not the Ultra. So, give up the Ultra and focus on giving your best to the Border Run. Otherwise, you may get injured and it will take a long time to recover.
At the 37.5 km mark, I even left my trekking pole behind and lost its support. Some fellow runners were generous enough to offer me one of their trekking poles, but I declined so as not to make it difficult for them.
Everything comes to a halt. You stand still with your hands on your knees, gazing at the elevations. Thoughts of the Malwa tribe and each runner ahead fill your mind, along with concerns about the lack of water for the next 11 kilometers. The process of giving up has begun to take shape sharply in your mind.
Suddenly, the sun disappeared, and it began to rain. My initial thoughts were that the situation would worsen, as the rain would make the ground slippery, and I even lost the support of my trekking pole.
The rain quenched my thirst and gradually restored my energy. It became my savior, allowing me to complete the trail run in 13 hours and 3 minutes. A sense of joy filled me, but I regrettably skipped the cooldown after the race. This oversight resulted in increased pain in the days that followed.
People to Thank
The biggest support system always padma alluri my better half
The whole runners gang from aquantis. The strength training we did together helped and the runs were only possible bcoz of u
A special mention to sridhar r who helped me in my preparation marathon and was supportive during the trek
The gand with whom I travelled Sudhakar sir, omkar, ram, raj, Saravanan and everyone..
Naidu garu for the company during the trek and his ever positive attitude
Sudhakar garu for his meticulous planning during the travel and even during the training
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