On cloud nine, come rain or shine

The Great Monsoon Marathon Challenge 2018

By Veloscope

March 15^th, 2019

Four races and a monsoon

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add colour to my sunset sky" - Rabindranath Tagore

As the Indian monsoon sweeps into the Western Ghats and turns everything into impossible shades of green, the Sahyadris (that name means benevolent mountain) become impossibly more beautiful than before.

Your best option is to run a series of races in this gorgeous place, and celebrate the life-giving rains.

The Run Buddies club takes advantage of the beauty in their backyard. They've devised a 4-course beautiful torture, complete with challenging terrain and distances. Off-season? What off-season?

Chapter 1: Slippery start

FIRST MONSOON MARATHON 2018

The Run Buddies open their rainy innings. This was supposed to be a gentle run to stay warm in the off-season. Now, it helps hundreds of runners ward off monsoon blues. People can run a half marathon, 15k, 10k, or 5k.

"Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain"

Or run in the rain. The joys of running with buddies, the challenge of a race, the thrill of besting your own previous time... add to that, a rain washed shade of the world to be enjoyed on a grey morning.

Paus aala re

When the rains arrive with swollen grey clouds full of promise, it is no time to back off on the promise made to yourself for your well-being and fitness! Paus - yes. Pause - no!

brooks babble past as quietly as meditative runners

As we bid farewell to the First Monsoon Marathon, please enjoy the meditative beauty of the ghats, with a quiet stream bubbles and babbles by... giving much succour to the runners going past, with conflicting thoughts of PBs and enjoying the beauty of their surroundings.

Chapter 2: rocky road runners

MATHERAN MARATHON

Fact: Matheran is the only Indian hill station that has banned motorised transport! To take advantage of this great initiative, what else to do but (mathe)run, right?

This race is an endurothon: a 50k race, and a 25k race, so marathoners and half-marathoners have stretch goals to achieve. Runners vault over fallen trees, splash through pools of water, push through hard rocky terrain and experience smacking rain on your face and then there are 50 kilometres. Fun!

Going somewhere in a hurry?

Doesn't matter if you're running the 50k, 25k, 10k, or the non-competitive 5k: you have to slow down to appreciate the beauty of this place.

get your feet wet in trail running

Trail running, as we all know, is a different kettle of fish compared to road running. This is a great opportunity to get your feet wet in the sport, and have others at the same level of competence, learning the ropes with you. As your ankles get used to the rigours of the trail, you will enjoy a new high!

Chapter 3: pool in efforts

DURSHET MARATHON

Another run through forests, waterfalls and winding, windy country roads.

A cherished post race tradition at this event is that everyone jumps into the pool at the race venue - Durshet Forest Lodge.

If there ever were country roads that take you home...

The undulating roads of the Durshet Marathon and the shades of green tell another tale as well, if you care to look carefully enough: that of camaraderie. How else does it become tradition for all participants to jump into the pool, post race, and celebrate with each other? This is, at the end of the day, the story of a close-knit community, that finds reasons to come together and spend time with each other.

CHAPTER 4: THE RUNNING PILGRIMS

STONE RIDGE VALLEY MARATHON.

The Brahmagiri range and hill has been a holy spot for centuries. It is said in Hindu mythology that the saint Gautam and his wife Ahalya lived here. The run route pays homage to this sacred spot, and runners go around the temple following in the footsteps of the pilgrims. Their own pilgrimage into their minds, their own sacred endurance is something that follows them every step of the way.

THE CHANGING FACES OF STONE RIDGE

The colour palette of this entire region is in shades of 'vivid' with an overlay of 'intense'.

As runners go past the same spot, you can see how the day progressively each runner just a little uniquely.

amidst beauty, the struggle rages

Despite running in beautiful environs, the struggle of most runners is to get to that finish line without giving up, past the niggles and injuries, past the hurdles that life throws and past every obstacle that came in the way of their race prep.

The beauty visible to the eye offsets the struggle within. But that doesn't mean the struggle isn't real.

When the stars wink out at night...

The race is run, the self-congratulating posts are uploaded, the celebratory beverage of choice has been had, backs have been thumped, it is now time for a little quiet, that space to think about your own journey - in running - and what that has meant for life. Resilience? Patience? The ability to pace yourself? The need for discipline? Balance? True wellness? What more? What next? What do you want from the next race? What is the next hurdle to vault over?

the finish line is elusive

The finish line of a run, much like stages or tasks in life is nothing more than the start line for the next big thing. So, we'll see you at the monsoon races in the new year!