Sudeep Pakrashi:

Traditional Marathon race covering 42.195 kilometers is a popular sport. In contrast, ‘ultra-running’ is a rapidly growing discipline featuring races with longer distances: 50 kilometers, 100 kilometers, and 24-hour runs. Events take place on different terrains, including trails, mountains, 400m tracks, or roads, making each format unique.

The game has a governing body named the International Association of Ultra-runners (IAU), which is affiliated with the International Athletics Federation (IAF). In India, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) promotes the game.

There are two major international events in this sport so far: the Asia-Oceania Continental Championship and the World Championship.

Ahead of the forthcoming World Championship in 24-hour running to be held in Albi, France, on 18th and 19th October, the 12-member Indian team (six male and six female) have been undergoing an intense preparation under the tutelage of the country’s most experienced coach, Santhosh Padmanabhan, in Bangalore for around four to five months. While speaking over phone from Bangalore Padmanavan said, “We have worked hard this time. My aim is for the men’s team to break the world record of 319 kilometers in 24 hours, while for the women’s team, it is to break national record of 204 kilometers by Anju Saini in 24 hours.

Santhosh added, “I am optimistic that our men’s team will be able to able to win a gold medal and I believe the women’s team will be finishing within the top five.”

The best performance of India’s men’s team in a 24-hour world championship was 9th place in 2023 at Chinese Taipei. The women’s team were placed 15th in the same event in 2023.

India’s men’s team also earned an inspiring 7th spot in the World Championship, but in the 100-kilometer-running last year in Bangalore.

Padmanabhan sounded relying on Amar Devanda who had an individual gold medal in the 24-hour running in Asia-Oceania Continental championship in Canberra last year, covering 272.4 kilometers in 24 hours. Santhosh stated, “He had an incredible performance in the championship and as he is in form in the training Amar can also gift us a medal individually in the world championship also with another remarkable performance.” The coach also mentioned Ullas Hoshalli Narayana’s name, who earned a bronze in the 100-kilometer World Championship in Bangalore last year.

The AFI-certified and USATF level-2 coach with an experience of 16 years has also an ammunition in his six-member female team. She is Sunita Subba, the ‘wonder girl’ from Darjeeling. Sunita has long been a pioneer in India’s ultra-endurance circuit. In 2022, she made headlines by winning the Hell Ultra — a brutal 122-kilometre run from Leh to Nubra Valley, crossing the formidable Khardung La Pass at 17,582 feet. Braving sub-zero temperatures, steep altitude, and oxygen-thin air, she became the first woman from the Darjeeling Hills to win this high-altitude ultra marathon — a feat that drew national acclaim and spotlighted the strength of women runners from the Eastern Himalayas.

Padmanabhan said, “Leaving her family, especially the children, Sunita has been training for the last 41 days in Bangalore, staying as a PG. She has set an example of dedication, hard-work and sacrifice. “

India now host over 50 ultra-running events annually and has also hosted prestigious international Ultra running events such as the IAU 50Km and IAU 100km World Championships and multiple IAU 100km and IAU 24 hour Asia-Oceania Championships.

Still, it has not been an Olympic sport. Santhosh, who is also a selection committee member, is waiting for the day when ultra-running will be an Olympic sport. “So far, I know, initiatives have been taken for ultra-running’s inclusion in the Olympics. It might be that the 100-kilometer ultra-running event can be included in the Olympics.” revealed Santhosh.

The Indian team which will participate in the 24-hour world Championship have financial support from NEB sports pvt Ltd. and Enerjiva. Santhosh sounded confident, concluding, “Once the game becomes an Olympic sport, then the popularity will increase rapidly. Thirty-three countries are participating in the 24-hour world championship. It must increase and then we will also gain the attention of more media and obviously financial support.”