Back to Jarakabande – Voluntarily Embracing the Madness Again

After running three 100-milers, ideally logic should start dominating emotion. But probably, I am not wired that way.

Last year’s 100 miler at Jarakabande was my first try at this challenging trail. And the fact that Bangalore had heat wave warning that day did little help to ease the situation. After the furnace at Jarakabande I had told myself I had “experienced it.” I had survived it. I had nothing more to prove there. However, when registrations opened for Jarakabande Ultra 2026, I signed up.

Not because I was in peak form. Not because I had trained like a man possessed. But because somewhere deep inside, I knew this wasn’t about mileage.

It was about mindset.

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Training? What Training?

Let me be honest.

I am not running as much these days.

Two days of running a week. Two days strengthing in the gym. No long runs since Bahubali Ultra in September 2025.

The only meaningful distance before this was a birthday marathon on Feb 10th. That’s it.

No 50K. No 50 miles. No back-to-back long runs.

Yet I showed up at the start line knowing one thing — 100 miles is never purely physical. It is always a negotiation with your own mind.

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New Route. Same Brutality.

2026 had a different start and finish point. Slightly tweaked route. Same forest. Same attitude.

The format remained — 5K loops with ~71m elevation.

Out of four registered 100-milers, only three of us stood at the start.

Small field. Big intentions. Podium guaranteed BUT ONLY IF YOU FINISH

3 guys who started the 161KM

Experience from last year whispered in my ears: “Start slow. Respect the heat. Hydrate before you feel thirsty.”

Loop after loop, I stayed disciplined.

The focus was simple:

• Maintain hydration.

• Stay on top of salt intake.

• Don’t race anyone.

• Don’t fight the course.

The weather had turned hostile suddenly in the last week. The sun was unforgiving. There is something about Jarakabande heat — it doesn’t just burn the skin, it drains intent.

But as all the ultras demand, I was prepared mentally.

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85K Before Sunset

By 6 PM, I had completed 17 loops — 85 km.

That’s when the forest loop closes.

My colleague Hari, who stays nearby, came by in the evening and watched me grind through three 5k rounds. Small gestures like that matter more than people realize. When someone witnesses your suffering, it becomes real.

I bid him goodbye and prepared for the night shift.

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The Field Narrows

Nithin, the only multi-time 100-mile finisher at Jarakabande (four previous finishes), stopped at 93 km. Unfortunate. He was strong.

Suddenly it was just Bose and me left in the 100-mile category.

A few 100K runners kept us company until around 3 AM. After that, it became a conversation between footsteps and silence.

Interestingly, I crossed: 50K, 80K and 100K all faster than the eventual winners of those categories.

Not intentional. Not strategic. Just steady pacing.

I even paced Ajeet for a couple of kilometers while he was finishing his 100K. That’s the beauty of ultras — competition dissolves into community.

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Night, Fatigue and The 1K Loop

Around 5 AM, the shorter distance runners started arriving. The once silent 1K night loop suddenly felt crowded.

At 6:15 AM, I had completed 152 km.

Technically, I could have just kept repeating the flatter 1K loop to finish.

But something inside said — one last 5K forest loop.

Last year I had done the same.

Somehow, it feels incomplete otherwise.

So I went back in. One final climb. One final descent. One last handshake with the trail.

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Finish Line – 25:34

I crossed 100 miles in 25 hours and 34 minutes.

Five minutes faster than last year.

And once again, I stood as the winner in the 100-mile category.

It was especially heartening to receive the winner’s memento from Vijayaraghavan the CEO if Fast&UP. There is something deeply fulfilling about being recognized by someone who understands the depth of what a 100-miler demands. The handshake, the smile, the quiet acknowledgment — those moments stay longer than the timing stats.

More importantly, I finished injury free — except for a swelling on my right foot that stayed with me for about a week. Nothing dramatic. Just a quiet reminder of 100 hard-earned miles.

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Gratitude

Ultras may look like solo efforts, but they never truly are.

Thanks to my running group — they kept checking on me throughout the night. Those calls, those messages, those small nudges — they matter when your mind starts dominating at 2 AM.

When you know people are tracking you, believing in you, it adds invisible fuel.

Special thanks to Sharan from Swaasthya Fitness & Physiotherapy for all the strength sessions.

And last but not the least, Babu sir - I don't think I have to write anything about him.

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What This 100 Miler Taught Me

1. Mileage builds fitness.

2. Experience builds intelligence.

3. But mindset builds finishers.

I am not running crazy mileage anymore. Life has added gym sessions, responsibilities, balance.

But somewhere inside, the ultra-runner still lives.

And sometimes, he needs to revisit the fire — not to prove strength to the world, but to remind himself who he is.

Until the next irrational registration.

Blazing Trails: Battling Heat and Distance at Jarakabande for my 3rd 100 Miler

For the first time in over 16 months, I found myself at the starting line of a race once again, and just like my last official race it was a 100 Miler organized by Bhasin sports. This time it was the Jarakabande Eco Ultra 2025 held in the serene Avalahalli State Forest. 

The past year had been marked by inconsistent training, and my confidence had taken a hit. But two self-supported marathons—the Virtual TMM 2025 and another on my birthday, February 10th—helped me regain my belief.

When I shared my plan to run this race, eight runners from my group decided to join me. They all preferred running on Saturday instead of the scheduled Sunday, and after discussing with Ankur, we made the necessary arrangements.

However, what none of us anticipated was how brutally hot Bangalore would get. March usually has warm but bearable weather, yet this time, an unexpected heatwave had taken over, making running during the daytime extremely difficult. As we stood at the start line at 6 AM, the air already felt warmer than usual, and I knew this was going to be a battle against not just distance but also the elements.

At the start line with Vinay & Richa

The course involved 5 km loops inside Avalahalli State Forest, each with a 71-meter elevation gain. After 6 PM, due to forest restrictions, we had to switch to 1 km loops. The name ‘Jarakabande’ in Kannada means slippery rocks, and staying true to its name, nearly 20% of the ultra runners slipped on Saturday. 

I started off conservatively, and just as I finished my first loop, my friends began their run at 6:30 AM. I kept my pace steady, hiking the tough section between the 2nd and 3rd km. Throughout the morning, I kept crossing paths with Ravi, Loki, Vinay, Richa, Ramaiah, and Sarath, which was reassuring. After five loops, I took a short breakfast break. Around the 30 km mark, Babu Sir arrived. I met Ravi who was starting his 6^th and final loop and ran a couple of KMs with him. He was eager to finish quickly so blazed past me, while I focused on conserving my energy for what promised to be a long and grueling day.

By mid-morning, the sun was blazing, and the forest provided little relief. The heat was unbearable, draining my energy much faster than expected. Even a small effort made my body overheat, and I was sweating profusely. The hydration strategy had to change completely—I started drinking a full glass of electrolyte or water every single kilometer just to keep myself going. The thought of dehydration or heatstroke loomed over me with every loop.

By the time I completed nine loops (45 km), all my friends had finished their runs. We took some pictures, and I bid farewell to them and Babu Sir. As I stood there alone, anxiety crept in. The next stretch felt uncertain, and it must have been visible on my face because before leaving, Babu Sir asked, “Do you really want to run 100 miles?” It was a valid question.

Standing there alone, with the sun only getting harsher, I realized this wasn’t going to be just about endurance—it was about survival. The hot, dry air made every breath feel heavier, and the forest, which I had hoped would provide some shade, did little to protect us from the scorching sun. Even after refueling at aid stations, the exhaustion would return within minutes. Each time I completed a loop, stepping back into the forest for another round felt mentally excruciating. I managed to complete 17 loops of 5 km before the 6 PM cut-off, but by then, the damage had been done.

At 100 km, reached around 8 PM, my body was wrecked. The intense heat had drained my energy reserves, and my quads were screaming from the relentless elevation gain. Sitting down for even two minutes caused my muscles to stiffen up like bricks. After reaching 105 km, I took dinner and lay down for 15 minutes. Restarting was painful, but I forced myself to move again. I called Babu Sir while eating and promised to update him at 120 km.

The night brought some relief from the heat, but the accumulated exhaustion made things worse. Somehow, I managed a walk-run strategy and reached 120 km around midnight. But as soon as I hit that milestone, my motivation plummeted. I took a physio break, hoping for some relief, but it only made things worse. From 120 km to 140 km was sheer misery. The mental fatigue was overpowering the physical exhaustion, and even a 30-minute nap (which turned into 40 minutes) didn’t help. Frustrated, I slapped myself twice to snap out of it.

At 130 km, Praveen Sir completed his race. Five kilometers later, Sateesh Ji finished, after that he started walking alongside Sangeetha. I decided to walk with them until I reached 140 km. He was ready to continue for a few more kilometers, but I knew I needed to push beyond the mental resistance, so I insisted on getting back to a walk-run rhythm. To my surprise, I was able to do three sets of 3 km each, and by then, shorter-distance races had begun. Encouraged by this, I continued for two more sets of 3 km and reached 155 km. Instead of taking the easier 1 km loops to finish, I decided to experience the forest trail one last time.

I soaked in the memories of the 17 loops I had completed the previous day, taking a moment to thank all the volunteers at both aid stations. With only 1 km left to reach 100 miles, I finished it effortlessly, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. After the run, Sushil Sir asked me to have breakfast and wait for a bit until the 5 km runners finished. I had a friendly chat with Satish Ji, Sangeetha, and Gurleen before being awarded the medal and trophy by Sushil Sir—the same way it had happened when I won the Hennur100-miler in October 2023 and secured the 100 km runner-up position in October 2021.

This race turned out to be more challenging than the 100-miler at Border Ultra. The relentless heat, the elevation gain in every loop, and the sheer mental effort required made it one of the toughest ultra-runs I’ve ever done. A big thank you to Sushil Sir and Ankur for organizing this fantastic event, to all the running friends I met along the way.

Last but not the least, a big shout out to my boys Ravi, Loki, Sarath, Vinay and Babu sir who always kept a tab on my progress. This journey was a battle of mind and body, and I’m grateful for every moment of it.

Conquering the known-unknown: Unplanned 100-Miler at Hennur Bamboo Ultra 2023

When I stood at the starting line of the Hennur Bamboo Ultra on October 27th, 2023, I embarked on a journey that would redefine my limits — a race that wasn’t just about covering miles, but about pushing boundaries in unexpected ways.

This wasn’t my first foray into the realm of 100-mile running. Having conquered the 100 miler at the challenging desert course from Jaisalmer to Longewala in December 2021(Hell Race Border Ultra 100 Miles) , I knew what to expect from a gruelling 100Miler. This race held its own set of surprises and tests mainly because I haven't covered much miles in last 1 year. However, I was still maintaining my 3 runs a week routine but the run distances were mostly short, like 10KM and 10miles.

Unlike the expansive landscapes of my previous 100-mile endeavour, the Hennur Bamboo Ultra presented a unique challenge—a 10Km loop course during day time and an unforgiving 1KM loop at night (due to forest area restrictions). What followed was running this 1KM loop throughout the night - an extraordinary test of mental fortitude. I looped 111 times covering 111KMs which is close to 70% of my race distance — a testament to adaptability and perseverance in the face of challenging circumstances.

I am not unfamiliar with running throughout the night, having run that way on 3 previous occasions, my first 100Miler, Stadium Run and 10hour run self-supported run while preparing for Khardung-la challange)

The decision to transition from initial thought of a 100-kilometer race to challenging myself with 100 miles wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment choice. It was a conscious effort to delve deeper into the reservoirs of my strength, to test the limits of my endurance and mental tenacity.

As a seasoned ultrarunner, I had experienced the rigors of such races, but this one was different. With minimal practice leading up to the event, each step of the way demanded unwavering determination and mental resilience.

This race held profound personal significance—it marked my second 100-mile endeavour, a milestone in my ultrarunning journey. Moreover, it was a symbolic return to the ultra racing circuit after embracing the beautiful chaos and joy of fatherhood—a journey that intertwined the responsibilities of nurturing a new life with pursuing my passion. 

Crossing the finish line after 20 hours and 45 minutes was more than a physical accomplishment; it was a testament to adaptability, mental resilience, and the unyielding human spirit. 

While merely completing the 100-mile journey is an accomplishment in itself, securing the leading position in the 100-mile category marked my victory, crossing the finish line a remarkable four hours ahead of the closest competitor.

 Having a casual conversation with Saikat & Alokik

To Babu sir, your support and belief in my capabilities were instrumental. Without your unwavering encouragement, this unexpected 100-mile journey would have been far more daunting. 

To Deepti akka, thank you for coming all the way and being part of the celebration - the positivity you bring in is something else 😊

Thanks Nitin & Ravi for taking time and meeting me on the day before the event - as a big time Introvert, I generally isolate myself before such events but this is a group that just adds positivity.

A few pics from the event

 

On Sunday around 30 runners from my running group Run Machines of Sutra ran different categories from 5KM till 50KM and we won 7 more podium position. This was an icing on the cake.

Reflecting on this unique and challenging experience, I'm reminded that every 100-mile race, regardless of prior experience, brings forth unforeseen tests and victories. It’s about embracing the unknown, pushing boundaries, discovering untapped reservoirs of strength within and finding resilience in the face of unexpected twists.

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Hennur Bamboo ultra is a special event for me as I won the runner up position in this very event in 100KM category in 2021 which I ran as a preparation for my Border Ultra 100Miler.

 

A few funny quotes on the route markers en-route the run: