The Hell Race – Story of my second 100 Miler

PRELUDE

Border 100 is an ultra-marathon race consisting of 50 kms, 100 kms and 160 kms categories. The event is inspired by Battle of Longewala fought in 1971 by the Indian and Pakistan armies and therefore is conducted in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

The name BORDER evokes an emotion as this was the movie which had inspired me to join the armed forces. Therefore, an event with the same name had to be participated. Further, the race was to be conducted on the eve of Battle of Longewala and Navy Day on 3-4 December.

It was around June 2022, I decided to participate in the event to be conducted in December 2022 and started mentally preparing myself. For physically training for the event, I gradually tried to increase the distances I ran in practice and the kilometers/ month. I could not increase it to desired level till     September 2022 due to various other commitments. However, my training again was halted due to a bout of fever in the month of November 2022, because of which I couldn’t practice for 10 days.

I had a self-believe of completing the race as I had completed it earlier in 2019 with lesser practice the important aspect to be taken care of was proper planning and execution.

PRE-RACE

I traveled to Jaisalmer one day prior to race-day on 2 December 2022 and reached my stay at around 1 PM. After having my lunch, I started preparing my drop bags as they had to be submitted during the bib collection in the evening. Drop bags normally contain essential items like headlights, clothes, shoes, any specific food items etc which runners might use during the race and they are kept at pre-decided points. As I was doing 160 kms, 2 main drop bags were at 50 kms, 100 kms and drop bag of 160 kms had clothes for changing after the race. At 50 kms, I kept winter wear and at 100 kms, change of clothes, headlights, battery bank.

After having a shot nap in afternoon, I went for collecting the bib at 4 PM and submitted the drop bags. Later there was a briefing by the Race Director about the race route, safety precautions, hydration etc. I walked back to hotel, had tea and rested for a while. Later in the evening, to distract my mind of the race-day, I went for a walk near the market area had 2 glasses of Kadai Milk and came back after having dinner. I tried sleeping, but due to tension it was difficult, so I started watching a movie and eventually slept at around 11:30 PM.

RACE-DAY

I woke up late, around 8 AM, as I was trying to get maximum sleep, because no sleep would be possible for the next 28-32 hrs. After having breakfast, I arranged my hydration bag (this essentially contains water and other items like headlights, electrolytes, salt capsules, charging cables). At around 10:45 AM, I started towards the race venue (Indira Indoor Stadium) and the wait started for the race to commence. At 12 PM, the race was flagged off by Army Commander of the region.

RACE

Part 1

The sun was burning hot at that time of the day (~38-40° C) and sunset time was around 6-6:30 PM. My strategy was to divide the race into smaller sections, so that they are easier to achieve. Accordingly, I had divided the race into 4 sections 50-100-130-160 kms and a total target of sub 24 hours. I had targeted to complete first 50 kms in ~5 hrs 30 mins and not exert much in the heat as it will affect in the later part of race.

The aid stations are points arranged by organizers of the race where water, electrolytes and other eatables are available and were positioned at intervals of 10 kms. I was having oranges with salts, bananas, electrolytes from these aid stations and salt capsules to prevent de-hydration. I was able to complete the these 50 kms within the pre-decided target. Here I accessed my drop bag, wore the full lower and took down jacket alongwith me (didn’t wore at that time as temperature was not too cold) for protection from cold. I didn’t had dinner at this point as it was 5:30 PM and I intended to do that at 60 kms point.

Part 2

The next target was 100 kms, which I had decided to complete by 11:30 PM-12 AM (~6-6.30 hrs) and not to wait at that aid station for long time. Because this will cause a negative impact on mind, as the feeling to stay in the comfort zone will be stronger causing wastage of crucial time.

Keeping this target in mind, I was running and at 55 kms, I found another runner PG, who was running at similar pace like me, so we decided to stick together during the night as running alone could be depressing. Sunset happened during this time and we started using our headlights and reached the 60 kms point at 6:45 PM. I had Dal, Chawal, little salad, filled my hydration bag and started our running.

We were considering the upcoming 10 kms as targets to make them seem smaller and easier to achieve. I started doing run+walk after 75 kms, due to slight cramp in my right leg and pushing the pace during that time could have aggravated the cramp. We went along sharing our running stories and keeping a lookout for road markings, so that we don’t go on wrong route. I was conscious about controlling the hydration as improper food/water/ salt intake could have curtailed the race. At 96 kms, PG went ahead as he had a chance of being a podium finisher in 100 kms category. I completed the 100 kms in 12 hrs 57 mins just before 1 AM in the night but 1 hr after the pre-decided target.

At this station I changed my clothes, charged my watch and refueled with Maggi, this took around 25 mins and started towards the next target of 130 kms.

Part 3

I had decided to reach 130 kms point by 5-6 AM (~ 5 hrs for 30 kms) and started running while listening to songs from mobile for staying awake (this was the first time I was using mobile for listening to songs while running). The next 10 kms, I covered swiftly as we were told, that this aid station will also have solid food, however, the hot food was yet to be delivered at that point. So, I had oranges and went along for the next 10 kms. At this point, I was feeling sleepy and also, I was hallucinating headlights in the front and at back. I thought, maybe I could catch the runner in front or the runner behind me, may catch me so that I will have some company. However, when I think later, they might not be runners as I couldn’t find anyone for the next 23 kms.

After reaching 120 kms, there was a motivation that at 130 kms hot food will be available as informed by the organizers. However, the going was very slow, because I stopped on multiple occasions due to sleepiness and the temperature had dropped drastically (~7-12° C). At 4-5 AM the sky was really dark with no moon light and only wish was to see the sunlight. I reached the 130 kms aid-station at 6:10 AM and had a small cup of Pasta-Maggi mix as recommended by the Race Director, who was present at that check-point. I also enquired about the sunrise time and he informed that in next 15 mins, light will be visible.

Part 4

So, I started from this aid station with only 30 kms remaining and ~5 hrs 45 mins for a sub 24 hours finish. However, I was only walking at this point of time due to excruciating pain in my glutes and thinking that by walking the race could be completed in 24 hours. This stretch was rolling with continuous up slopes-down slopes and reached the 140 kms point at 7:40 AM.  I realized that sub 23 hrs finish will be possible, if I push myself, this thought re-invigorated me. I refueled my hydration bag in shortest possible time and started running the down slopes, walking on the up slopes. I was mentally calculating my pace and anticipating to enter the hallowed grounds of Longewala.

At 150 kms aid station, I decided to wait for little time and move ahead, thus started my reverse countdown of the kms to finish line. After 159 kms, I could suddenly see the Longewala War Memorial from top of an upslope, and couldn’t believe that ultimately the finish point had come. Therefore, I removed the naval ensign from my hydration bag, hoisting it at the finish line in memory of a brother and finished my race in 22 hrs 41 mins. It was a feeling of relief after completing the grueling race.

POST RACE

After the race, I had lunch at the finish point and was transported back to Jaisalmer by the organizers. After returning to hotel, I took bath and slept, however it was difficult due to the pain. In evening, I decided to go to Golden Fort and buy some souvenirs for home, had dinner and returned to hotel. The next day I returned to Hyderabad and thus my sojourn with the Hell Race finished at last.