Running Tata Ultra Marathon 2024 - 50 KM
My first ultra marathon, finished with no injuries in 5:46:08
Last year around September I signed up for the Tata Ultra Marathon 2024. Concurrently I signed up for Tata Mumbai Marathon 2024. I was slightly worried about the gap between the two races but had complete trust in my training - clocking 100 km weekly and my body was recovering well.
Call it ego or trying to find my limits I decided to do the 50 km as my first attempt since I was also spending considerably for the race. I wanted to challenge my body and mind with the distance and terrain full of ups and downs.
Training Plan
I kept my training plan simple. 100 km every week - doing more slow runs of 15 and 20 km. Additionally, one-tempo run and then a long run(40-45km) on Saturday followed by a barefoot sandal recovery run on Sunday. Post TMM I shifted my long runs to Nandi Hills to get my body used to the elevations. Before the race, on Saturdays, I was doing 2 laps of Nandi (30 km). I needed to train my mind for the distance.
Further, I was in the gym twice or thrice a week focussing on the legs and back. While I say this I would also do my upper body to be in perfect shape for the race day pics.
On the nutrition side, I would eat desi or Indian food with a lot of rice and whatever I would get. Eggs and protein shakes have been a regular on my breakfast table. With me hogging on non-veg once again my body was ready to face the Shyadri range in Lonavala.
Traveling to Lonavala and the BIB collection
A night before I packed my bag and double-checked my list of essentials required for for the race and the trip. Two days before the race, I start preparing the list to keep my nerves calm.
After finishing an easy 6 km in the morning, I boarded the Bangalore to Pune flight, and in no time I was in one of my favorite cities. I decided to take a bus from Pune Station and continue my journey onward to Lonavala.
Mistake one before the race. Buses to Lonavala are very limited from Pune Station, instead, Swargate is a better option.
After waiting for an hour, I was told by the guy sitting at the counter “Ready to Help” that I should go to Swargate. It was already noon, chose to skip my lunch and head to Swargate. That is the second mistake of the day. On my bus journey, I was on chips and water. Terrible thing to do since I was running 50 km later in the night.
I landed in Lonavala at 3 PM with a stomach aching for food. Near the bus stop, I had roti and Palak Paneer. The food was okay but it was way past my lunch time. After finishing the lunch and gulping two sweet lime sodas I headed towards the Dawoodi Bohra Ground. After walking for a kilometer in the sun I collected my BIB, goody bag, and t-shirt.
Generally, I make a point that I find a decent hotel near the starting point. So after searching for an hour I finally found a decent hotel - Treebo Trend Yash Residency. I was exhausted and decided to lie down for a while. I woke up at 7 pm and went out for tea. As I stepped out I saw Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara about to be closed. I was lucky to enter, take blessings, and cherish the suji ka halwa.
After coming out I committed nonstop mistakes one after the other - eat two hot vada pao, a couple of teas, and then ended with two roadside double egg omelets.
As you can see all my mistakes were around food and having no discipline before the race. Also, the practice of carb loading doesn’t work for me and I would never try again in my life.
It is better to have an empty stomach than to run 50km with an upset stomach.
I again slept at 9 pm and woke up around 11:30 pm. Wearing a full-sleeve t-shirt, comfortable shorts, and Puma Deviate Nitro 2 I started walking to the starting point. I carried five gels, a headlight, a head scarf, and two chocolates. I avoid carrying my phone on any of my races. Before the race, I had half a liter of milk, some dry fruits, and a banana.
Race day
Dawoodi Bhora Ground is a community hall with a big ground which is the starting and the ending point of the race. Almost every runner was stretching and getting charged up for the race. I sat on a table and quietly waited for the clock to tick at 1:30 am. Meanwhile, the music was loud, runners were taking pre-race selfies, and overall the mood was wild. I made sure that I relieved myself before the race, finally did some stretching, and walked towards the starting line.
First 25 km
My strategy was to start slow, give the body enough time to wake up for the madness, and go with the moment. After the first two kilometers, the runners started scattering as I kept an easy pace with the course being flat.
Post 5 km the course started revealing its true nature. From here on it was a steep climb till the 10 km. Trusting my training in Nandi I kept on running and it felt good when the entire crowd was walking on the uphill I was able to run at my own pace. This strategy more or less carried throughout the race. However, I never went overboard or did something unusual. At times I would just tell myself that this is a usual Saturday long run.
However at 13 km, the stomach started acting up, and it became difficult to carry on running with an upset stomach. Thanks to the Tata Ultra committee for placing toilets at strategic points. It was not an easy job to relieve myself in a public toilet but I had just one goal running. Without thinking much I took 10 minutes to get completely up and ready again for the race.
The moment I was back on the road I had the immediate goal to cross the runners who were running with me. I avoided taking any more gels and relied on the race drinks.
Running on a full moon night was a completely new experience. The more I climbed, the more the night became colder and younger in the company of more than 1200 runners.
I felt relieved when I took a turn after finishing the 25 km - half the distance was over and at this point, I also crossed the runners who were running with me initially. I felt good and patted my back.
Last 25 km
Around 30 km I had a moment where the self-doubt erupted with full force. At this point, I stopped for an aerated drink which felt good and motivated me that from here on I would take 5 km at a time. Also, I kept convincing myself that I had done 50 km in training consistently so I would do everything to finish the race.
I remembered my father and Cobra Baba for giving me the much-required strength. After that moment there was no looking back. I made sure that I was hydrated properly, took salty oranges, and ran my heart out. I sang 90’s songs, talked to myself, and simply had fun with myself.
The sun started rising and by then I completed 40 km and I took a moment to appreciate the beauty of running in the hills. When I crossed 42 km I felt that I had grown as a runner and thereafter it was a steep decline. I was scared to run faster, and my kneecaps resisted so I maintained my regular speed. One of the areas that I can work on going forward.
However, I knew the last 5 km of the course was flat and this is where I paced up like I do in my society with my running group. I finished strong without any injuries or cramps. I collected the medal and dragged myself to have a hot tea and banana.
After finishing the tea and with no one coming for selfies, the self-proclaimed elite runner decided to walk slowly towards the hotel. The walk was nice and the only thing I wanted to do was sleep on a comfortable bed. I did a bit of stretching, took a hot water bath, called my mother told her my health was good, updated my timing on my running group, Strava, and went to sleep.
My tweet got some attention from fellow runners ;)
At noon, checked out of my hotel and took a bus to Pune. I also grabbed a bit of food but mostly I was on liquids, bought some chikis for my friends, and bid adieu to Lonavala.
My flight from Pune was in the evening so I kept eating all the way and landed in Bangalore around 8 pm. Had a filter coffee, took a cab and by 9:30 pm I was on my bed for the much-required sleep.
Learnings
I could have saved 10 minutes if I had controlled my eating urge. I need to be more watchful especially when I have trained hard for the race.
The travel plan needs to be better especially when I am traveling by air and then by bus.
I wish to carry more good healthy food in my travel bag.
Going forward I want to limit races that are far and don’t have direct connectivity. Anxiety and getting sleep in a hotel is a big challenge for me.
Thank You Tata Ultra
The race and the travel were expensive(INR 16,000 approx) but if I had to go next year then it would be for the course and the arrangement made by the Tata Ultra group and Striders.
A big shout out to all the volunteers who were awake all night giving us the much-required support in the hills. They were on cycles, walking, running, and passing water with other required aids throughout the course. Water stations were placed and active till the last 500 meters. Full marks for arranging such a brilliant race.
Thank you for making the trip and race a memorable one. I was happy with the time but more than that I ran nonstop be it up or downhill.
Final race timing.
Strava race details.
Now I go back to training.