Being in the sports industry and especially working as the E-Sports Manager for Running and Walking i was kind of compelled to take part in almost all the major running events in and around Bangalore. It's not that i didn't want to run but the added responsibility of being sports manager for Running wiped away all my doubts on weather to go for a race or not. Courtesy to that i'm kind of a serious and regular runner now.
After taking part in 3 road races in 10 kilometers over past year and a half i decided to journey the trails with Kaveri Trail 2013 edition. It was on 14th of September and to be held at Srirangapatnam (10-12kms before Mysore). We decided to leave Bangalore on 13th late night so that we would reach there around an hour before the race. We set out at 2am with the infamous Bangalore rain showering upon us and managed to reach at the venue by 5:30 am with race to start at 7 am. With office day before and no sleep at night i decided to take a short nap in car for half an hour in order to keep my sanity in check.
We were inside the venue by 6 am and came to know that the race track is at a distant place where we would be taken in a bus (15 mins ride). I still don't know what struck me and i decided to run a trail race in barefoot shoes (vivobarefoot evo II) and without socks - Yes, please doubt my sanity and common sense and don't try this foolishness for any trail. By 6:45 am most of the runners had reached the starting point and post normal announcements and gimmicks the race started at sharp 7 am. My initial strategy was that i would start in the middle as usual and then within first 0.5 - 1km would move ahead of the pack, however to my dismay the track was too narrow (maybe 10-12 feet at best) and it took me a good 1.5kms to get ahead of the crowd. Slippery track and barefoot shoes didn't aid my cause either.
However with little bit of extra struggle i finally was running without any hindrance. The track was pretty flat and not what i had expected (with uneven terrain) apart from few muddy patches here and there and mid to big sized pebbles. I didn't had any specific strategy for the race apart from taking my first stop (walk) as late as possible. 2km mark went by then 4 and finally 6km, i had ensured to keep myself hydrated during the race by taking sips of water at every water station (every 2km). I was having a pretty strong race by then and would have finished in around 55 min. However, my mind started playing tricks and i took my first walk at around 6.5km mark around 30 mins after the race had started. Till 8.5km i took the stop go approach and saw few racers overtaking me, i overtook a few. After having the final round of water at 8km i decided to end my stop-go approach and vowed to run till the finish (not after i had walked another 400-500 meters deciding it). I picked up pace again and started running for remainder of the race, only proper trail that was there on the track was an approx 10 meter climb 300 meters before the finish mark and once it was done i sprinted my way to the line.
In around 40 mins official timings were out and as calculated i had finished the race in 61 mins and 09 secs, my best for a 10k till date. The sleepless night had finally paid off.
Overall it's a good experience and runners who want to start enjoying the basics of trail running should go for it as it would help you ease into the gruesome nature of trail running and prepare for more demanding trails like Bangalore Ultra which is up next for me - 25k here i come.
After taking part in 3 road races in 10 kilometers over past year and a half i decided to journey the trails with Kaveri Trail 2013 edition. It was on 14th of September and to be held at Srirangapatnam (10-12kms before Mysore). We decided to leave Bangalore on 13th late night so that we would reach there around an hour before the race. We set out at 2am with the infamous Bangalore rain showering upon us and managed to reach at the venue by 5:30 am with race to start at 7 am. With office day before and no sleep at night i decided to take a short nap in car for half an hour in order to keep my sanity in check.
We were inside the venue by 6 am and came to know that the race track is at a distant place where we would be taken in a bus (15 mins ride). I still don't know what struck me and i decided to run a trail race in barefoot shoes (vivobarefoot evo II) and without socks - Yes, please doubt my sanity and common sense and don't try this foolishness for any trail. By 6:45 am most of the runners had reached the starting point and post normal announcements and gimmicks the race started at sharp 7 am. My initial strategy was that i would start in the middle as usual and then within first 0.5 - 1km would move ahead of the pack, however to my dismay the track was too narrow (maybe 10-12 feet at best) and it took me a good 1.5kms to get ahead of the crowd. Slippery track and barefoot shoes didn't aid my cause either.
However with little bit of extra struggle i finally was running without any hindrance. The track was pretty flat and not what i had expected (with uneven terrain) apart from few muddy patches here and there and mid to big sized pebbles. I didn't had any specific strategy for the race apart from taking my first stop (walk) as late as possible. 2km mark went by then 4 and finally 6km, i had ensured to keep myself hydrated during the race by taking sips of water at every water station (every 2km). I was having a pretty strong race by then and would have finished in around 55 min. However, my mind started playing tricks and i took my first walk at around 6.5km mark around 30 mins after the race had started. Till 8.5km i took the stop go approach and saw few racers overtaking me, i overtook a few. After having the final round of water at 8km i decided to end my stop-go approach and vowed to run till the finish (not after i had walked another 400-500 meters deciding it). I picked up pace again and started running for remainder of the race, only proper trail that was there on the track was an approx 10 meter climb 300 meters before the finish mark and once it was done i sprinted my way to the line.
In around 40 mins official timings were out and as calculated i had finished the race in 61 mins and 09 secs, my best for a 10k till date. The sleepless night had finally paid off.
Overall it's a good experience and runners who want to start enjoying the basics of trail running should go for it as it would help you ease into the gruesome nature of trail running and prepare for more demanding trails like Bangalore Ultra which is up next for me - 25k here i come.
No comments:
Post a Comment