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  Crossing the finish line of the Tata Ultra Marathon 2025 with bib number 50200 was more than just a personal achievement—it was the culmination of months of preparation, a test of endurance, and a journey filled with new experiences and unforgettable memories. The Road to Lonavala: A Family Affair My ultra journey began in Bangalore, where I laid the foundation with consistent training and a few key races. The Chennai Full Marathon 2025 (bib 42495) tested my endurance over 42.2 km, while the Tuffman Bengaluru Half Marathon 2025 (bib 21248) saw me pacing the 2:20 bus, building both stamina and confidence . Arriving in Lonavala on Friday afternoon by train, I was greeted by the cool, supportive weather that would set the tone for race night. My mom joined me from Mumbai, and picking her up on Saturday added a special touch—her presence made this milestone even more meaningful. Pre-Race Jitters and Camaraderie With the race scheduled for 1 am on February 23rd, the anticipation...

The Freshworks Chennai Full Marathon on January 5th, 2025, with bib number 42495, was more than just another race for me—it was a pivotal moment in my running journey, restoring my confidence after a tough outing in Kolkata and preparing me for my first 50km Tata Ultra. Bouncing Back from Kolkata Leading up to Chennai, my last major race was a 25km event in Kolkata. At the 20km mark, I developed a niggle that turned into pain, forcing me to walk most of the final stretch. That experience left me questioning whether I could hold up beyond 20km—an essential benchmark for marathon and ultra training. Arriving in Chennai: Simple, Focused Preparation I arrived in Chennai from Bangalore the day before the marathon, checked into my hotel, and collected my bib. I kept my pre-race routine simple: light food, early bedtime, and a kit packed with dates and electrolytes. The start line was just 1.5km from my stay, so I jogged over as a warm-up, feeling the early morning energy of the city. R...

Bib Number: 21248 Race Date: 2nd February 2025 Event: Tuffman Half Marathon Pacer Goal: 2 Hours 20 Minutes This was my first time officially pacing a race, and what an unforgettable experience it turned out to be! To prepare for pacing the 2:20 bus, I did focused training. I ran two practice half marathons at an even 2:20 pace to internalize the rhythm and effort required. This wasn’t just physical prep—it was special because it trained me to run at a lower heart rate , a valuable skill that’s already helping with my main goal: finishing the Tata Ultra 50K strong. But this race wasn’t just about me. I encouraged three friends from my apartment to join as well—two signed up for the 5K and one bravely stepped into the half marathon distance. I even picked up their bibs and drove them to the race. It was such a unique experience to pull and push first-time runners toward the joy of running. Race Day At the start line, I stood alone with my pacer flag. But just before the gun went...