NitteOn 10k 2026 Race report

 “Strike when it is hot, race when you are fast” - Old jungle saying.

I am coming off, of a good training block or two, the recent “forced” time off allowed for high weekly mileage, the peanut-abstinence vrath kept the unwanted couple of kgs off - perfect recipe for some fast paced intervals. But the proof of the pudding is in the racing. My son, N2, was also looking to participate in a timed 5k. I reached out to Rajesh from Racetime India, for his recommendation. NitteOn was a race being organized by Nitte College for Mother’s day from Orion Mall on Sunday, 24th May. The route looked promising, and I eagerly signed up. My entire family was planning to run - me, the 10k, N2 - 5k, N1 and S 3k. However, two deaths in the family rocked the plans and only I ended up registering.

Pre-Race

I like the low overheads of local / small races - the world needs more of “less”. Bib collection was simply bib collection, no mega Expo, goodie bag and all the jazz.

Race day

At 6AM, there was ample parking at the World Trade Center. The lakeside courtyard was abuzz with runners. (Digression: I have been adding make “lake” words to my lexicon off late, lakehouse, lakebase, thanks to my recent job change). I immediately noticed elites from SAI, including Nanjundappa - no podium pressure on this one. It was good catching up with a few runners from Free Runners. Warm up was mostly jog to the restroom and back, with the Zumba session in the background. The 10k race was flagged off at 6:20, 10 mins late, not bad, but should be improved.

The course

Starting at the “lakebase”, the first km was around the “lakehouses” inside the Orion mall complex. Once outside the mall, the road was demarcated by cones to give the runners some scant protection from the traffic. We quickly got off Dr. Rajkumar road, towards Malleshwaram. There was an U-turn followed by an uphill here, which killed the momentum. Then came the railway bridge also another low gradient hill. But on a cool Sunday morning it was still great conditions to run. I had done a reccee on my bike the previous day and waited for the Gulmohar tree lined, concrete 8th Main road - a 2k straight undulating stretch. At the end of this road was the U-turn and the return to lakebase.

My race

My plan was to run as close to 4min/km pace as possible. I started with the right earnest. Veteran runner, Ramesh, gunning for the 50+ age category podium, ran alongside. The U-turn and uphills were challenging to keep up the pace. Post 2k, I started noticing more of the 4:15ish on the pace. I lost Ramesh at the start of 8th main - he missed the timing mat and had to run back to cross it. I reeled in a Nitte student, half my age on this stretch, kept decent pace, a bit slower than my target. Again, left turn, left turn, U-turn, uphill killed the pace, the turn off point came at 5.2kms, 22:06 on the clock.

By the time I got back to the railway over-bridge on the return leg, the effort felt like 80-90%, but the pace was not happening. I was consistently seeing 4:15+ pace on my Garmin. I passed a couple of kids running their 5k and trying to keep up on the downhills, was refreshing to cheer them. Then the bummer - come Dr. Rajkumar road a volunteer beckoned the 10k runners to go left (instead of right, which was the actual course), downhill, U-turn and back uphill. This added an extra 300m, cut the momentum and led to almost everyone getting a min extra on their finish times.

Not knowing this error, I was still hoping that there would be a short cut within the mall to compensate, but it was not to be. I tried to keep a steady pace, tried catching up with a runner ahead of me in the last km, sprinted up to finish in 43:31

The eventual distance was 10.4kms, average pace of 4:15 per km (equivalent of a 42:30 for a 10k) - not happy.

My km splits were - 4:15, 4:05, 4:18, 4:17, 4:05, 4:17, 4:10, 4:14, 4:26, 4:20

I finished 4th in my Age Category, coming up behind Nangundappa in 3rd place (ha ha, who finished in 36 mins!).

At the finish line, I met a bunch of runners over 50yrs who had all finished under 45mins and exchanging notes - inspiring indeed.

Also met Shamik and Farheen briefly who had aced their 5k in under 20mins.

I skipped the boxed breakfast of Banana, sandwich and samosa (yeah, you saw that right)!

The medal was lame - no mention of the the distance, date, year, etc., could have been better.

Overall, loved the vibe, the course, and lakeside event. (If you didn’t already get it - I just completed week 1 at the co. that makes Lakehouse and Lakebase products!! and hence the reference!)