100k Solo Footpath Run

This story has one of the most unlikely openings. Little did I realize that I would stop by a group of walkers on a Wednesday morning, doing their Bangalore Walks thing and take up a challenge to run 100k on footpath on the following Sunday.

Bangalore Walks was doing a 15day 100km walk on Bangalore's footpaths, while journeying through our rich cultural heritage. On their 11th day, they had briefly stopped at high grounds and that is where a motorcycle stopped by and this 'bakra' in full formal wear (read "me") got cajoled into accepting the challenge to run their entire route in one day - their 15th and final day.

Jokes apart, I was enthralled by the attention and the curiosity of the group as they bombarded me with questions on Ultra running and was keen to try this, to inspire them in their own fitness journeys.

And thus, Arun Pai became the race director and Manoj Bhat became the runner to attempt the "World's First 100k Solo Footpath Run" on 15 Dec 2024 in Namma Bengaluru.

Logistics

Route: Arun put all of his experience in creating a runnable footpath route to me - 100.08km, starting close to Hebbal (my residence) and finishing at Vidhana Soudha. He emailed me the GPS file (.gpx) which I loaded on to my Garmin smartwatch, so I could follow the map on the go
Support crew: Nil (what do you expect from a self-supported run, eh)

Nutrition & Hydration: Buy enroute as needed. Use the ubiquitous Bangalore darshinis for water and food, chai kadas, yelneer thekas for all and sundry.

So what went into the bag: Phone, a mini power bank, cable, cash, credit card. The phone being the heaviest item, but as a back up for almost every other thing on this list, the additional weight met the ROI requirement.

I chose a pouch to carry this, since it gave me the option to waist it, or sling it across my shoulder. A singlet, shorts and cap (for dew, sun and pollution) rounded up my gear for the day.

My family was at their cousin's place - I emptied the fridge for dinner and got to bed as soon as I had the maps loaded in the Garmin smartwatch!

Race Day - 15th Dec 2024, Sunday

5AM to 9AM: Hebbal, Jayanagar, Basavangudi

It was cold, dark and desolate when I stepped out into the chilly morning, I walked up to the main road and hit the footpath. The first 15kms was familiar area and included BEL road, footpaths I take almost everyday. As I passed the Bangalore palace and right in front of Mt. Carmel, Arun came by me, running. He ran alongside with his 'boys' recording a short interview as we jogged past the Chief Secretary's residence. After briefly checking on me, Arun jumped on a bike and headed off to Lalbagh. I had had some water and also a pay-and-use toilet break near "Shanthinagar" (no pun intended).

The plan was for me to meet the about 200 walkers who were starting their BangaloreWalks walk from Lalbagh West gate. I reached the Metro station at the appointed time, 7:30AM, having completed 23kms. I was in for a surprise!

Just below the Metro station, Arun had lined up all the walkers to form a human corridor, waving and cheering as I passed through the tunnel. It was such an amazing moment. I was ushered to a high podium to say a few words and they flagged me off, so I could continue to keep following the footpath!

I ran down RV road, along the mini forest, under the canopy, almost hit Banashankari, before I turned back towards the market area. I met the walkers again, deeply engrossed in Arun's story, near Ashoka Pillar. Some group photos and many selfies later, i peeled myself away from the crowd, back to my solitude.

By the time I put Lalbagh behind me, and looked eastward towards Ulsoor, it was 33kms in 4hours.

9AM to 3PM - Indiranagar - Cantt - Indiranagar

I stopped at a crowded darshini on Double road, sought the coffee counter and asked for some 'decoction'. My first fix for the day - it was heavenly. And then there was this long stretch from Richmond circle all the way to HAL!!

I had the prayers in my mind when I passed Domlur, the spot my accident in 2022 and Manasa hospital, some untold memories. My first "food" break was at 10am, 5hours, 42kms done, I stopped for a tender coconut. A short distance later, I picked up 2 bananas from a cart. I really didn't feel the need to eat. Having practiced fat-optimization for the last few years, my body relies on fat stores for easy runs.

Suranjan Das road was a lonely, hot, unforgiving stretch of poor footpaths and no trees to hide from the sun, which was by now blaring down in its full glory. 2 more bananas and 4 chikki's and some more water happened and I closed on to 100ft road and the 50km mark. A small muscle cramp was also threatening. Thankfully, I found Padma medicals open on this Sunday morning, I bought 4 sachets of Electral, had one and tucked in the rest to be had one every hour.

100ft road was alive with shoppers, late night revellers looking for breakfast. By now, this runner in skimpy clothes was already beginning to look incongruous, but no one gives as much as a second thought - the apathy of a metro.

Back on Old Madras road, I started consulting the map on my Garmin. There is only that much the small dial fits in. I checked my phone, but the map wouldn't open there. I called the race director, but he was away from his computer. It took me a while to figure out the map on my phone and get the km markers showing! The map showed that I would have to go all the way to Minsk square (less than a km from my finish point) and then loop cantonment area, back to Indiranagar 80ft road! Counting from Domlur at 42km, till I left Lido theatre at 76kms, it was 34kms of Indiranagar footpaths!

It would be remiss if I didn't mention how, after 55kms, my dear friend came visiting - cramps! I was walking just before Indiranagar BDA complex, the outer thigh of the right leg, turned into a brick in a second. I leaned against a tree, took some deep breaths and talked to my thigh to relax. Within the next minute or so, the muscle shuddered and let go. I moved 10steps to the bus stop, sat down and massaged my thighs. I vowed to have an electral an hour from here on.

The heat, the lack of electrolytes, the cramps - I decided to walk out the next 2-3hours until things would cool down again by evening. I used the chance to also charge my Garmin watch on the go, with a power bank!

So then after walking most of Gurudwar, Cubbon road, Commercial street, Wheeler Rd, St. John's Church, Madras sappers, and back to Aurobindo, 80ft road, Chinmaya mission, it was time to bid adieu to Indiranagar - 3PM, 10hours, 74kms done!

3PM to 7PM: CBD - Majestic - Vidhana Soudha

An Amul cone ice cream near St. John's Church was God send, but I would soon realize Church street was filled with them cones - smutty double entendre!

The next 10kms was zig-zagging all possible combo of Brigade road, Rest House road, Residency, St. Marks, Museum, Lavelle road. This must have been the slowest stretch for me, taking 2hours for 10-11kms. CBD was chock-a-block traffic, even the pedestrian paths were jammed with Christmas shoppers. I felt sick even looking at the amount of food that was on sale in the streets and I was getting overwhelmed by the crowds.

I made a brief stop at my previous office, the WeWork on Church street, went in for a good toilet break and my electral fix. I was still only on Bananas and Chikki, but didn't feel like eating any more.

With another 15kms to go, but at 5PM, having left the "hot" things behind, back on Cubbon road, I found my feet. I slowing began to run-walk again. Down Kasturba Road, I stopped at Cubbon Park police station for water and amused the cops a bit. From Hudson circle, on Kempegowda road - was another section of shopping - less glamourous, more business. It was 6PM twilight when I came around Central College to KR Circle, 91k done. There is still some more footpaths to cover of course - Nripatunga road, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Residency (again!), up Queens road, to Cunningham and then towards Raj Bhavan to Vidhana Soudha. But by now, with the crowds sparse, the footpaths wide, I was jogging mostly. I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to keep some tempo!

The last 2kms were also about coordinating with Arun, there were some inspired walkers from the morning who had come from
afar to see me finish. As I ran towards Vidhana Soudha, my Garmin hitting a 100k mark, I upheld the Karnataka flag, fluttering against the wind and completed my run, amidst the cheering crowd in front of Gandhi statue.

I had completed "The World's First 100k Solo Footpath Run" / "Kaaludaari Vota" in 14h:16m

Over Goli-soda and Chocobar, I shared my experience with the group that had lovingly come to support me. At 8PM I took the rick back home with unforgettable memories as the trophy for the effort!

Overall, I gave a score of 8 to our footpaths! The best footpaths - CBD area (St. Marks Road, Museum Road, Cubbon Road, MG Road, RV Road (Jaynagar), BEL Road, Nrupatunga road, Palace road. The ones that needs improvement - Suranjandas Road, Ulsoor road, Langford road (Richmond circle). My story (contorted like my route) made it to the Deccan Herald on Tuesday, 17th Dec with a headline that could be misconstrued for a Traffic meme -

"Hebbal to Vidhana Soudha in 14h:16m"