A marathon for life
Hyderabad runners script history at the recently concluded The Hell Race, considered India’s toughest ultra-marathon
It is the toughest ultra-race given its terrains and the distances to be covered. So to win this challenge, which is considered the pinnacle of ultrarunning distance, gives a new high. So it is never about their personal success. It’s always about the camaraderie — Amit Kshirsagar
I had blisters on my toe, suffered from insomnia and then ran out of water and food. Then, the mercury dropped drastically and turned incredibly chilly during the night. So adjusting to the extreme conditions was challenging. As the body reacts differently for different temperatures, it is important to stay physically and mentally fit
— Subham Mishra
Amit Kshirsagar and Subham Mishra have become the first runners from Hyderabad to successfully accomplish what is believed to be the toughest ultra-marathon race in Indi a — The Hell Race. A series of endurance races featuring trail running and marathons, this race was a Border-100-Mile challenge, which aimed to remember the sacrifices of the martyrs during the December 1971 Indo–Pakistan War. Held on December 26, the race, which was to be completed in thirty hours, started from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan and ended at Laungewala Rajasthan via the Thar Desert.
The daunting challenge of the 100-miler brought in only fifteen participants, out of which only 10 runners managed to complete the challenge. And not only did Amit and Subham from the city complete the challenge, they also did it in twenty-seven hours.
Overwhelmed with joy about accomplishing the challenge, a reflective Amit tells us that he realises now why this challenge is called The Hell Race. “It is the toughest ultra-race given its terrains and the distances to be covered. So to win this challenge, which is considered the pinnacle of ultra-running distance, gives a new high,” he confesses, adding that becoming one of the two Hyderabad runners to do so is like the icing on the cake.
However, the allure of victory aside, neither 46-year-old Amit nor 39-year-old Subham have forgotten the objective of the run — remembering the sacrifices of the 1971-Indo–Pakistan War martyrs. “And that’s why we have dedicated this win to the martyrs,” they remark in unison.
A RACE OF A LIFETIME
Let’s be honest. Nothing about The Hell Race is meant to even look easy. And as if to reiterate the fact, the race started on December 26, 2020, at an unusual time of at 12 noon, when it was extremely hot in Rajasthan.
Having participated in around 20 marathons before, Subham, for instance, still vouches for how different this race is, pointing out how if runners are not well prepared for this race, it will indeed be one hell of a challenge, pun intended.
For starters, despite the heat of the place when they started off on the run, temperatures were not all that was high up on their list of concerns. “I had blisters on my toe, suffered from insomnia and then ran out of water and food. Then, the mercury dropped drastically and turned incredibly chilly during the night. So adjusting to the extreme conditions was challenging,”
Given the mammoth challenge, the finish line was, obviously, very significant to both the runners. And when they finally came upon the historic moment of crossing the finishing line, the duo apparently looked at each other and shouted in unison, “We did it!”. Both of them complemented each other well and ran in tandem
points out Subham.
Then stressing upon the preparations, he adds, “As the body reacts differently for different temperatures, it is important to stay physically and mentally fit.”
For Subham, especially, running the last 35-km was the toughest. “It was so windy with sand storms, the rolling desert hills only made it extremely tough. And the chilly air only kept testing us,” he recalls,
adding that the sporting around clothing too.
Amit, who is a techie, is aware that runners usually experience emotional highs and lows and go through the extreme suffering
runners were five layers of
and pain during their running stint. Even so, this distance, he believes is the real test of human will and endurance. Then explaining why he took up the challenge, he adds simply, “I have read dozens of books and seen hundreds of documentaries about this challenge and wanted to experience it all first hand.”
Given the mammoth challenge, the finish line was, obviously, very significant to both the runners. And when they finally came upon the historic moment of crossing the finishing line, the duo apparently looked at each other and shouted in unison, “We did it!”
Also terming the challenge the ultimate spiritual journey of self-discovery and ascension into a different realm, Amit states how one of the aspects of running ultra-distances is that runners help and encourage each other.
“So it is never about their personal success. It’s always about the camaraderie. If you need something, it’s as if ‘let’s do this together’,” he says.
And as he signs off, Amit adds, “It was a privilege running with Subham. Both of us complemented each other well and ran in tandem.”