“I always loved running…it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.”
Jesse Owens
Back to Dec 2017, I had finished Airtel RFE in Nov and nursing small injury, trying to get ready for TSK25. In this period, I saw the Corbett Running & Living XC Marathon ad on Facebook. I contemplated a bit on whether to run or not to, then decided to go ahead with it. I got registered immediately and got early bird benefit. I need to understand how to reach Corbett. Running and Living site had advise on how to reach. From what I gathered, I needed to reach Delhi on 29th March, take overnight train Ranikhet express to Ramanagar and from there to the resort/hotel. 30th March collect the bib, go for safari and run on 31st March. Take the night train back to Delhi and next day fly back to Kolkata. Did all the booking, Corbett XC marathon starts from Acorn Hideway resort, so decided to my stay there.
Fast forward to March end. In between feb and march I was running less, felt tired after too many races. However, I decided I will run the 21k at Corbett as planned.
March 29, I took the morning 8' o clock flight to Delhi. Landed in time and took a cab to Old Delhi station, dumped my luggage in the cloak room, and had my breakfast there. I had time to kill and decided to meet a friend for lunch at DLF Saket.
The train was at 10pm and had plenty of time to kill/murder/abuse. I got back to Old Delhi station and had my dinner there. Train was bit late, and got up when it arrived and went to sleep. The train reached Ramnagar about 30 mins late. My pick-up was waiting and I reached the Acorn Hideway resort. Checked in and went to sleep. Woke up late and finished my breakfast. Collected the bib and went for safari in afternoon. Coming back in evening, I had nice chat with Rahul Verghese of Running & Living.
The 21K was to start at 6.00. I woke up at 5am , freshened up , go ready and moved to holding area at 5.40. Reached in minute, did my warm up and ready to run. There were potatoes, bananas in the arrangement at start point. It was dark.
Race started at 6.00 am exactly, there were about 14 of us at the starting. The road about 1.3 km was pebbly, and had water flowing at locations. The weather was cool, I started running and as moving towards the main road, had to negotiate the pebbly road and water. Climbing up to the road, started moving towards Dhela, There was uphill here for a stretch. and then a downhill after crossing 2 km. Water station was available at 2.5km, gulped down water and it was in cups, lost bit of time. Started moving again and this was stretch where saw some deer darting across the road.
There were overseas runners as well, two were in top three ahead, and these guys were running as it was on plains. Coming downhill, came to part of road where stream flowed and had gallop across it. Crossing this it was again uphill and we moved off from main road towards Corbett Woods, this was bit up and down. I reached the place where runners needed to take right, hydration/biscuits were available. by the way post 5km all hydration point had bottles. After this, I started running, this segment was through village, wheat fields on both sides, gold colour glittering.
As nearing Corbett Treat resort, the road was converting into mud one, and about another five hundred meters it was complete trail/muddy road, I was running in border of jungle, there were electric fences in our left. This stretch was about 1.5 km from where we needed to turn back. At this turning back, hydration/oranges were available. I picked up 2 bottles. Returning back the trail was narrow, and few runners were coming.
Way back the sun was up and it was getting tough. I was slow till I reached Dhela Road. Started coming down to the stream, and on other side was a tough uphill, coming up I could see 3 runners up. I kept running, and could hear the runner behind me shouting out "Bharat mata ki jai". I kept my momentum, moving a km I found monkeys sitting on road and seeing us run (audience at last - wink).
Finally reached the pebbly road , I was feeling tired. This 1.3 km stretch was tricky had to manipulate water flowing, uneven surface. I met the 42km guys in this stretch, there three of them. I finally crossed the finishing line in 2.15. Feeling of relief engulfed me. I had not been running for a month before the event. The best part of race was even there were no cheering crowd, only fellow runners cheering each other you didn't feel lonely. The greenery around was eye soothing.
I did bit stretching, cooling down. The refreshment were there ready, had eggs which was available in plenty.
I collected the medal and certificate. There was mix of Gatorde with rock salt, specially for the runners. Finishing off , I moved to room and slept for 3 hrs. I got up and had lunch at room.
I had the night train back to Delhi. I reached Delhi early morning. I had booked retiring room at station and checked in there. I woke up around 8 and freshened up. I decided to try out parathawali gali at Chandni chowk. It was about km and decided to walk it down as recovery walk. The place was not crowded, I entered one of the shops. I tried few parathas, and I was not impressed. I went to airport after this to catch my flight back to home.
Few fine tuning people can be done while planning to come. First, take a flight in evening and you reach by 7pm to Delhi and catch the night train. You will need to do early check in which is chargeable.Other option reach Delhi by noon and take 4' o clock train, reach by 9pm. If coming in group and planning for few days, I would suggest, stay at Acorn 1 day for the race and move out to resort inside Corbett -Dhikala. If you are planning to stay before race in Dhikala, then you have option of taking Volvo in afternoon 2'pm get back to Delhi. In this case, you can take the late night flight back or stay back in Delhi. Plan the safari. And lastly, Corbett marathon is always held in Easter weekend. The vodefone network is working, other operators will help for digital detox as well.
#RUNNING #MARATHON #KOLKATA #CORBETT #RUNNING&LIVING #KOLKATARUNNERS #RAMNAGAR #PARATHAWALIGALI #HALFMARATHON
