Running in my native Ankola!

Just a casual scribbling after 25K...

Though I started running almost 2 and half years back, my mom got to know about it just recently.. Not that I wanted to hide something from her, but knowing that half of my left foot is permanently scarred from skin grafting and that I lack of one metatarsal bone, I did not want to give any chance for her to worry when I stay far away in Bengaluru... Which meant I never ran in Ankola!

Whenever I planned to travel to my native i used to travel on Saturday nights just to make sure I don't miss that awesome "Weekend long run" on Saturday..

I remember, I did not train for 1 whole week before TCS10K 2017 as I was in Ankola for a family function!!

Eventually after running 3 marathons, because of my relatives on social media my mom got to know about my running..

I was happy for 2 reasons, first being I need not miss training runs, secondly I found a place to keep my medals which were rusting in Bengaluru. Also knowing that I had already run 42 KMs a few times, mom did not seamed to be worried.

My first run in Ankola was on 26th Dec 2017 when I ran a 15k(2 days later I again ran 17.5k).

Running is not an expected activity in Ankola, so the risk of running on the narrow roads is pretty high..

So I chose Vandige ground for running. The problem is that one loop in this ground is hardly 350 meters (I don't believe in being negative, but just to speak out facts).. But there are quite a few positives...

Tangible benefit : Well the ground is in such a location that on the east side there is a mountain range visible. And the mountain range is visible from almost half of the ground.. You will love it if you are a nature lover!

Since a loop is just 350 meters, one will be able to enjoy the nature every 2nd minute.. Every time the view reminds me of a poem on our district written by Dinkar Desai (an awesome poet who is also from Ankola)

Ondu badi sahyadri ondu badi kadalu,

Nadu madhya dalli adike tengugala madilu

Sirigannada da chappara ve ee nanna jille

Illiye innomme huttuvenu nalle.

(Which translates to : Uttara Kannada district has Arabian sea on one side while Western ghats is on the other side, this represents the best of Kannada. If there is rebirth, I would love to be born again here)

Generally I start running by 6 AM which means I can experience the transition from dark to twilight to sun rise..

The best part is the twilight.. Its just mesmerizing and I cannot explain it(neither can it be caught on camera unless I have a DSLR and of-course when I am not running).. The sunrise that follow is much better than what I have seen at many sunrise viewing spots..

Intangible benefit : I feel one can not do a long run here if he is not mentally tough.. Today I ran a 25 KM here.. Which means i had to do 70+ loops all alone! In over 2 hours of running all I could see was 10-12 people who were either walking or jogging.. For a good amount of time, I was looping all alone. On a lighter note I feel even the dogs looked confused as to what this guy is doing! Remember the play of light lasts for 15 mins, after that I am dragged to the reality that Ankola is one coastal town! Guys who have run Mumbai Marathon(in January) can understand what it is to run here in February end!

Honestly this is not everybody's cup of tea.. But yeah I love running here.

I will be looking forward for running in this ground whenever I am home.. Also if you tell me there is a very good road to run in Ankola, 99% chances that I will choose Vandige ground..

Cheers!