Ooty Ultra 30k: Where Mountains get precedence over anything
By: Santosh Srinivas
Publised Date: 20th July 2024
You can never dictate over the nature especially to the mountains.
You either conquer with you all that you have got or die in the process.
There is no other way out.
Ooty Ultra being one such races in the country which is hyped and is for real.
Non Ultra distance categories like 15k and 30k can be considered as Ultras
given the elevation they hold within their distances i.e 500mtr
and 900mtrs rescpectively.
This race was not in my list until it just happened to fit into my
calendar at the cery last moment.
Signed up just like that knowing that I will surely give a try and
survive a few miles atleast. Training for this was out of question as
I just completed a run from Pune to Panchgani in a Team relay format
a couple of weeks prior covering 120kms within 14 hours. But before
signing up I was fully aware of the Elevation I had to encounter
during the entire 30k stretch which is in two parts of 7kms each
and had an Elevation of approx 450 mtrs.
Surprisingly Ooty was way much warmer than usual and it wasn’t an
ideal condition to run any distance longer than a 5k. Being considered
as one of the tough races of the country, the crowd was humongous.
This race generally has a late flag off time at 6:30 irrespective
of harsh sun gracing the runners. All the runners get to enjoy the
intial 4km stretch which is flat until reality double crosses you.
Next 7kms is an insane incline to the Doddabetta Peak which is also the
2nd highest peak in the state(you run out of energy mid way itself).
But somehow successfully executed the plan of 400m:100m run/walk statergy
and stuck to it for this entire climb. Glad to manage it.
Comes next is a 12km decline which are very steep in nature and a
mindful steps need to be put(inclines never do any harm but the
declines can turn the tables), ran most of it but still needed a
few walk breaks to make sure the ankles are not stressed out and
the legs still can pull a few good miles under the belt.
At the 23rd km, the last section of the race commences with an incline
of 500mtrs approx and for 7 kms upto the finish line. You either choose
to keep it simple with one foot over the other or throw in the towels
to call it a DNF(you get to pick one only). Now the sun is also on the
top and chooses to suck you out to the core. Though the aid
stations have everything you need but you aint going any further
until you decide to crawl to the finish point and actually start moving.
Finally, crossed the Finish line with 04:07:18 moving time
and 4:23:17 including the aid station breaks gave a sense
accomplishment which cannot be measured instrumentally.
Having said all the above, this race has got the most scenic
views all throughout the course. Be it the talls pine trees while
climbing the peak, the country side view, the city landscapes,
forests, tea estates; name anything and you will find it.
Am I doing this again? Definitely coming back to this brute and
gruelling race cause the endorphins released are unmatchable and
the challenging terrain gives the best Runners High.
Gears Used:
-Shoes: Puma Nitro Deviate 2
-Hydration Vest: Kiprun by Decath(very spacious for soft flask, gels, salt tabs and other essentials as required).
-Watch: Coros Apex(pre feed the route map)
-5 Gels
-2 Salt caps
Things learnt during those 4 hours:
“In the face of Defeat, let Perseverance be your guide.”
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