Saumya's MindfulRunning

I f you had told me a year ago that I would be running a World Major marathon, I probably would have been amused. My heart has always been in trail running, in nature, surrounded by mountains and quiet. But when the chance came to visit family in Chicago, I thought, why not club it with a race? And I found myself signing up for the Chicago Marathon, my first world major. The road to Chicago I trained for about 18 weeks, and it was far from easy. The hot and humid weather where I live made those long runs brutal. Some days, it felt like every mile was a battle and it created self-doubt. I never quite hit my ideal training distances, which made me question if I was truly ready. But as training wrapped up, thanks to my coach Sannat Sachdev , I shifted my focus and adopted an alternate strategy, one that felt more sustainable for me. That small change gave me a renewed sense of confidence just before I boarded my flight to Chicago. Apart from the physical training, I also focused on stren...

  My Malnad Ultra Experience There is something magical about running in the heart of nature, surrounded by misty hills, coffee plantations, and the rhythmic sounds of birds. The Malnad Ultra is not just a race; it is an experience that stays with you long after the run is over. This is my journey through the challenging yet exhilarating course at Malnad. The Build-Up I had always wanted to push my limits and experience trail running. Training, however, was a different story. Preparing for an ultra-marathon in a hilly terrain meant weeks of endurance runs, strength training, and mental conditioning. Running long distances on uneven ground is nothing like road running, and I had to learn the nuances of pacing, hydration and fuelling. Race Day: The Adventure Begins As I stood at the starting line, surrounded by fellow runners who shared the same passion, there was an electric energy in the air. I was anxious before the race like anyone would be, and that too for my first 50K race. Th...

  “The cave you fear the most holds the treasure you seek.” Joseph Campbell In the first week of October, I participated in the Summit Run Indrahar. A 20 km race through the rugged terrain of Mcleodgunj. It was a test of both physical and mental endurance, and an opportunity to experience the kind of beauty that only the mountains can offer. The Pre-Race Experience: Preparing for the Challenge With a course that’s classified as a hard technical trail, the preparation had to be just as demanding. In the weeks leading up to the race, I focused heavily on training that would mimic the race’s terrain as much as I could living in a city. This included steep hill climbs, trail running, and descents, which were all critical for preparing my body for the diverse and unpredictable trail conditions. Gear was equally important. I made sure my trail shoes were a perfect fit and enough grip to handle the tricky, rocky sections. I also opted for a hydration vest, as I knew the race ...