Trail Running in India

The sun had long set,
the hills embraced by
a blanket of darkness.

Critters of all kinds were making their presence felt, the canopy of stars high above gradually emerging from their shell.

Through most of that winter day in January 2022, Roshan Surve had been comfortable running alone during the 80km Jumping Gorilla Trail Run near Pune in Maharashtra. But after 12 hours on his feet, he was nearing the end of his tether and longed for inspiration.

Roshan Surve runs downhill at The Great Mawla Ghaati Ultra in the Sahyadris.

Then, from his perch on the ridgeline, he saw a light in the valley below. He was unsure of what it was, but the possibility of a human presence was enough motivation for him to push on. After 16 hours and 26 minutes, he made the finish line in the second spot.

“When you run for so many hours, you have all kinds of thoughts in your head after a point - why am I doing this, what’s the intention of this struggle? In the mountains, you don’t see anyone for long periods. During such moments, you draw motivation from absolutely anything and tell yourself to keep moving, just like I did when I saw that light,” Surve says.

A whole
new world

The world of trail running is a stark contrast to the many marathons that unfold across India. For starters, there's the company of nature, instead of a thousand feet pounding the tarmac in sync. The terrain can often be a bigger challenge than the distance. And, as Surve has come to realise, there's often the need to dig deep.

While trail running goes back a few decades globally, its origins are fairly recent in India. Five years ago when Sannat Sachdev was getting into the sport, he recalls there being a handful of races across the country. Over the years, that number has jumped to around 20 races, unfolding mainly in the Himalayas in the north and northeast, the Sahyadri in the west and the Nilgiri in the south. Though the popularity of the sport is on the rise, the community remains fairly small, which has a lot to do with the barrier to entry.

It's still a privileged sport in India since trails aren't accessible to everybody. For instance, only those with resources can sign up and travel for a race. There needs to be more access to trails, without a significant investment of cost and time," Sachdev says.

A whole
new world

Sannat Sachdev on one of his runs in the mountains near Bir, that he now calls home.

After starting out on the road, Sachdev’s first brush with trail running happened through social media. On the other hand, Sindhu Rao first experienced nature by signing up for trail running events in Coorg, Mysuru and Auroville around 2014. She then had the opportunity to volunteer at the Malnad Ultra in 2016. It gave her a chance to obverse runners closely while getting her journey underway.

Others like Lipi Kalita were fortunate to land a firsthand experience when she accompanied a friend to a trail running bootcamp conducted by Kieren D’Souza, a top runner from Nasogi near Manali in Himachal Pradesh.

Lipi Kalita on the lady leg climb at Solang Ultra, 2021.

“When I heard what it involved, I realised it was something that I had been doing for years as a kid. We would go on hikes in the hills around Guwahati, while summer holidays were spent running up slopes in chappals around my mother’s home in Shillong. I’ve always enjoyed wandering in the wilderness and it didn’t take me long to get regular with these runs as well,” she says.

Sindhu Rao on the Vagamon Ultra trail in 2019.

The familiarity helped her make quick progress and since 2019, Kalita has gone on to win multiple races across the country. Surve and Sachdev have competed at prestigious international races. On the flip side, Rao has made it an integral part of her lifestyle. As a digital nomad traveller, she has the freedom to take trips and explore the trails in the neighbourhood.

“The first step is to get people to understand the sport. Those who’ve done a marathon on the road tend to sign up for a 50km trail race because the distances are more or less the same. What they don’t realise is that it will take them twice the time to finish. And there’s little idea of what the course profile is like,” Sachdev says.

“A lot of people tend to run because the race photos look nice. But few are interested in learning what it’s all about. I tell them not to be in a hurry, take shorter steps and listen to their body. But they often get overwhelmed with the entire effort,” Kalita adds.

This understanding is as important as training for the distance. After exploring different races, including a few ultra-marathons, Rao realised that she was a bigger fan of the shorter stuff. Once she took on a structured routine, she started enjoying the training for different distances.

“It’s not necessarily the distance or the trail that makes it a good run. I enjoy a short jog around the park, as well as the struggles that come with endurance running in the wilderness. I’ve learnt a thing or two about consistency and self-love on trail runs. And I’m inspired by fellow runners who tread hundreds of miles across the globe,” she says.

Sindhu Rao captured during her run at the Bison Ultra in 2024.

Training
for trails

Once it sinks in, training involves a similar cycle of endurance and interval training that most undergo for road running.

There’s an added focus on strength and weight training to gear up for the slopes, which Kalita believes has made all the difference to her racing. She often dons a weighted vest and takes on stair climbing as well.

According to Sachdev, access to trails, while important, isn’t a necessity at all times. From his home in Bir in Himachal Pradesh, the trails are a short hop away, but he feels that a day each week on trails is enough preparation for a race.

“A lot of the routine is similar to road running, but there certainly needs to be trail-specific training as you get closer to the event,” Sachdev says.

Races are a delight, and not just for the running alone. They take runners to new places and unexplored trails that offer varied experiences. It’s also easy to get carried away with the stunning vistas that unfold all around, but at the same time, it’s important to stick to the basics

“It’s a sort of meditation on the trails and your focus has to be on the next step. There’s a good chance of a fall if you’re looking ahead, especially on the downhills. And on a new trail, it’s a good practice to team up with another runner, keeping in mind safety in an unknown terrain,” Surve says.

Appropriate gear can only add to the experience, but access remains a major challenge for Indian runners. Shoes with the right lugs, quality poles and hydration packs can make all the difference, especially on technical terrain for proficient runners. Trail runners must also ensure that they are self-sufficient while going for a run, depending on how long they plan on being out on the trails.

“A hydration vest that fits well and can hold all your nutrition needs is a must because there’s a good chance you’re not going to find anything once you set off,” Surve says.

“So many runners are forced to jump in at the deep end due to a lack of options. There needs to be something shorter and easier for beginners to try out. We have a group called Trail Running India, where runners and race organisers meet to brainstorm on what can be done for the community to grow,” Sachdev says. .

“For instance, one of the suggestions is to put together a basic event before big races like the Malnad Ultra, SRT Ultra or Hell Race, where the cost is minimal and the experience is exciting enough for people to come back next year for the main race,” he adds.

“Carrying an extra layer, even if the weather is clear, is not going to hurt you. Besides that, a whistle can alert wildlife of your presence and also help in case of an emergency,” Sachdev adds.

More importantly, there needs to be better access to the sport for anyone who wants to have a go. For instance, the Run With Athlos Club, Chennai Trail Club and Capital Trails in Delhi have been actively organising runs these days. Sachdev highlights the Ravine Run put together by the Amdavad Distance Runners that unfolds on a dry river bed in Ahmedabad.

“Carrying an extra layer, even if the weather is clear, is not going to hurt you. Besides that, a whistle can alert wildlife of your presence and also help in case of an emergency,” Sachdev adds.

More importantly, there needs to be better access to the sport for anyone who wants to have a go. For instance, the Athlos Trail Running Club, Chennai Trail Club and Capital Trails have been actively organising runs these days. Sachdev highlights the Ravine Run put together by the Amdavad Distance Runners that unfolds on a dry river bed in Ahmedabad.

Future
goals

ABOUT THE “RUN WITH
ATHLOS” CLUB

The Run With Athlos club was established with an aim to nurture the running community of Athlos. We began by introducing interested runners to a firsthand experience of running the trails in Sahyadris. Currently, Athlos puts together a trail run every month for members of the Run with Athlos club through the rich network of mountain tracks across the Sahyadris. The runs are 10-15 kms long and last between 1.5 to 3 hrs and are open for runners at all skill levels, beginner to pro. We work with different trail run leads within our community, notably seasoned trail runners like Roshan Surve and Lipi Kalita. The intent is to take beginners through the basics of trail running and highlight the important dos and don’ts to be followed while in the wilderness. Eventually, we’d also like to expand the Run With Athlos club initiatives across more cities within India. And while we are at it, soak in the many benefits that running and trails offer.

Join our Strava Club - Run With Athlos to stay up to date about all our future runs and possibly join us.

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