FRONTIERS
Anything to share a smile
ASHOK NATH
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Pushing oneself to the limits in a tough marathon can be painful. But it is worth it when one is running for a cause.
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My strategy of approaching the race from one water stop to another was paying off.
The author at the finish line
Ask a mountaineer why he climbs high peaks and you will hear “because it’s there”. For the less adventurous, it is difficult to understand this spirit but to a select few, it’s the challenge that brings out the best in us.
Well, here I was at the Great Tibetan Marathon, quoted by Forbes as one of the World’s five toughest marathons, at Leh on July 19, 2008.
What is the challenge at this adventure marathon? Firstly, there is the altitude; at 3740m you are looking at 30 per cent lower oxygen levels. Factor in the dryness of the air, the intense sun and a terrain that is truly gruelling. Finally there is the basic marathon distance of 42 kilometres that needs to be covered.
Gruelling marathon
A field of 104 participants were lined up at the Hemis Monastery, Leh, from where we would start on our 42-km endeavour. Runners from across the globe were present to attempt this extreme marathon. The monastery monks had given us their blessings and at 7 a.m. sharp, we were signalled off. After an initial downpour that morning, the sun had come out and most runners had caps and sunglasses to escape the intense heat.
Soon the front group of runners was defined. We were seven of us men and a sole lady runner that had broken away and established a lead over the other runners. As the road opened out, three men — two Icelanders and an American — took the charge and sped on ahead. Later I would learn that all three were sub-three-hour runners and clearly in a league of their own.
By the 10 km mark, one had forgotten about the race placing and just focused on the task at hand. With an intense sun beating down and little shade on a meandering terrain where often water rivulets ran across the road, it was a struggle. The only way to survive was to break up the 42 km distance into smaller segments, one water stop to another. These Oases — literally — were four km apart and one would use the opportunity to sponge oneself, swallow some precious water and perhaps grab a banana for energy. Then the cap and sunglasses came back as one set off again.
Reasons to run
Often across this gruelling course I would ask myself, “Why am I doing this? Why am I exposing myself to such torture?” But each time I would push back such negative thoughts by reminding myself about the cause that had brought me to the Great Tibetan Marathon at Leh in the first place.
I was here to help the Genesis Foundation — a private trust which facilitated critical medical care for abandoned and lesser privileged children with the intention of giving them an opportunity to lead a normal life in the future — in raising funds to assist four needy underprivileged children. Four children who faced a marathon struggle every day. Surely I wasn’t going to let down these children, the Genesis Foundation and all the well wishers who had sent their contributions for the cause. What we had aptly titled as “Share a Smile” (For more info see www.genesis-foundation.net
.)
Soon, the 42 km were pruned down and I was within sight of the 21km marker. Yes, I was halfway there and could sense that I could beat this tough course. Ask a distance runner and they will admit that a marathon is more about finishing the 42 km course and not so much the timing. But for competitive marathon runners, the race had to be beaten and that too in a decent timing.
Smiles despite the tough schedule ahead: Some of the runners at the Hemis Monastery
I had been training for some months now for the Great Tibetan Marathon. In trying to simulate the effects of altitude running, I would join other runners from my Bangalore Running Club (runnersforlife.com) in training at some nearby hills around Bangalore and add several endurance runs to ensure there were enough “miles in the bank” so to say. Weekends were dedicated to training and often two night runs on week days and finally some gym work. With a packed work schedule, this often meant that sleep had to be sacrificed.
All in all, a great deal of investment in time had been made and it was pay off time now. What’s more, there was my young Angel whom I had promised to return victorious from the Great Tibetan Marathon whatever be the obstacles at this race.
Strategy that worked
My strategy of approaching the race from one water stop to another was paying off. I had overtaken some of the other runners and soon sensed there were just four runners ahead. The task now was to stay strong and hold this position for the balance distance.
The last seven km were truly a test, especially after having run 35 km and the legs showing signs of fatigue. The route was a complete trail with several obstacles — winding and often inches in width with sharp wiring on both sides, marshy in other places, pebbled in others with genuine threat of tripping, broken bridges and finally even an expanse of heavy sand where your feet just sunk in. Yet, in some sense, I found this section the best part of the course as it was quite akin to the trails that my hash runs had exposed me to.
With just three km left, the sounds from the monastery where the race would finish could be heard. Chanting. Human screams. Bells ringing. I could hear the cheers as the 1st marathon runner — an Icelander — completed the race and this goaded me to push on.
Victorious finish
Finally, it was my turn. Four hours and 21 minutes later, I entered the monastery to cross the finish line. A medal and some cheers greeted me but, more important was the knowledge that I was victorious and had beaten this course. Yes, 42 km and I was alive to tell the tale. And a little Angel to welcome me home.
Looking back, I smile at how this course had battered so many other runners into submission, forcing them to walk. It felt good to be the 1st Indian runner at the Great Tibetan Marathon, and 5th overall. I felt strong, mentally and physically, and would welcome taking on the challenge of other extreme marathons across the world.
Next? For starters, there is the Cauvery Trail Marathon in October, India’s only UltraMarathon in November at Bangalore and finally the StanChart Mumbai marathon in January where I am hoping to actually win my category in the full marathon.
ashok.nath@hotmail.com
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