Dehradun Ultra 2026

Balancing Act - Board Exam and Marathons

Since winter is the peak running season in India, I had already planned for Bodh Gaya, which took place just before the start of the CBSE Class XII examinations. Shortly after, I discovered the BSF Marathon in Amritsar. Logistically, it seemed possible—it was three weeks after Bodh Gaya, and Aarush would have a one-week gap in his exams. I figured I could sneak out on Saturday, run on Sunday, and be back in Bangalore by Monday after enjoying some post-race Amritsari kulcha.

However, Aarush was very keen that I shouldn’t go, so I opted out of Punjab for this season. When I started discussing Dehradun, which was happening just three days after his last board exam, he coolly agreed. As long as my run dates were after his exams, he was okay with it. After securing “blessings” at the dinner table around February 23rd, I registered for the race with about three weeks to go.

Logistics and the Delhi Detour

There is a non-stop flight (or one with a short stop in Delhi) between Bangalore and Dehradun. I opted to fly to Delhi on Friday evening and take the Shatabdi (the fast seating train) on Saturday morning. The plan was to catch up with Ratnadeep, a good old friend from college, and then return on Monday with a short gap in Delhi.

As the race day approached, I posted in our college group to see if any Delhi/NCR guys were free on Friday evening. Only Supreet responded, inviting me toward Gurgaon, but the rest were muted. I was about to book a stay near Connaught Place, but I called Ratnadeep first to see how he was doing. To my shock, I found out he had been diagnosed with smallpox.

With that, I changed my mind about the Delhi stay. I had to wait until the last minute because Tatkal reservations only open the day before the journey. On the fateful day, after dropping Aarush for his last exam, I rushed home and prepared for the Tatkal booking—checking internet speed, ISP, and browser settings. Luckily, since it wasn’t full school vacation time yet, I managed to secure a night train booking. Now, I would reach Dehradun in the morning and skip the socializing in Delhi altogether.

The Pre-Race Injury Scare

The week before the race was rough. I finished a long run on Saturday and was supposed to do a short 6-8 KM run on Sunday. I was feeling lazy on Sunday, so I didn’t run and just walked out of the apartment to get some breakfast. Suddenly, I was hit by back pain so sharp it felt like my rib cage had collapsed. I somehow managed to get breakfast from the nearest point, realizing I was in deep trouble.

I tried to rest all Sunday, but the pain wouldn’t subside. That night, it got worse, so I took a painkiller. I managed to get through work on Monday, but the pain was intense. On Tuesday, I went to my deep tissue massage therapist. He did his best, putting significant pressure on my back, and warned me I might feel soreness from the treatment. He was right—I felt more pain Tuesday night from the massage than from the original injury. It was a week of disturbed sleep and zero running; I couldn’t even manage 5-6 KM to see if my body was ready for the upcoming ultra.

Transit: Old Delhi and the Night Train

Friday’s flight to Delhi was uneventful. I took the Metro from T1 to Hauz Khas (Magenta Line) and changed to the Yellow Line. Interestingly, when I booked the ticket via Google Maps, it only booked me until Chawri Bazar instead of Chandni Chowk. Since I had plenty of time, I walked along the Old Delhi roads to the railway station. It was an eye-opener to see the wholesale shops—dry fruits, fruits, betel nuts, and hardware.

I had a small snack for dinner and rested in the paid A/C hall since my train was quite late. The journey wasn’t great; a few kids were co-passengers, and they were the “crying type” who troubled the whole coach. The train emptied out almost completely at Haridwar at 6:00 AM. This train runs at its own pace, taking 3 hours to cover the 50+ KM between Haridwar and Dehradun. Since I had nothing else to do, I finally caught some peaceful sleep.

Arrival in Dehradun and the BIB Hunt

A fellow passenger mentioned the Rapido service, and it was a lifesaver. I did all my traveling with Rapido. Since I had only a small backpack, I booked a two-wheeler ride to my hotel. The driver’s GPS must have been off, as he dropped me about 700 meters past the hotel. I just walked back once he dropped me at his map location.

Early check-in wasn’t possible, so I went back out for breakfast. I couldn’t find the spot I was looking for, so I ate at a street-side stall. To kill time, I went to a nearby McDonald’s for a second breakfast and a cold coffee (they didn’t have hot coffee available!).

Around 11:00 AM, I finally got my room, freshened up, and crashed for a nap. I woke up at 3:00 PM just as my alarm went off. BIB distribution was starting at 4:00 PM for a two-hour window, so I booked another Rapido. The journey took a twist: the direct road to the venue was blocked by a civil movement—a group of women gathered, singing local folk songs. The bike had to take a long detour.

The start point was quite far from the city. Once there, I realized getting a ride back would be tough, so I asked the driver to wait 15 minutes while I collected my BIB. He agreed but made no promises. Luckily, it only took 5 minutes. On the way back, he tried the closed road again, but it was still blocked. He eventually told me he would drop me right there because he didn’t want to take the detour again. It felt a bit unprofessional, but in India, this is common. I walked past the peaceful agitation and singing to the other side, then booked another ride to my hotel. By 6:00 PM, I was hungry and found a small burger joint packed with locals. The burger was genuinely tasty.

Race Day: The 50K

I had a super early dinner, arranged my gear, and went back to sleep. Surprisingly, I actually slept! I woke up at 3:30 AM, showered, and left the hotel by 4:30 AM. I caught another Rapido, though the driver grumbled about having to ride back from the outskirts alone in the dark.

The organizers were very professional. They finished the group warm-up and Zumba, and the race started at 5:30 AM sharp. It was still dark, so many 50K and 25K runners used headlamps or mobile torches. You could feel the uphill incline the moment we started. It was a constant climb for the first 5 KM, followed by some rolling hills, and then back to a steady uphill after 7 KM. It was an overcast day, so there wasn’t much of a sunrise, and I started feeling the cold—the kind of pleasant cold that forces you to keep running to stay warm.

The road is an alternative route to Mussoorie and is relatively quiet. Only a few cars, bikes, and cycling groups passed us. The road goes up until the 25 KM U-turn point. I could see runners ahead of me on those sharp hairpin bends. After the 20 KM mark, I saw the first elite runners coming back down at full speed.

After the U-turn, my legs and lungs found fresh energy. I overtook about four runners on the downhill. I calculated that I was within range to finish under 6 hours. I had hoped for 5:45, but that was too aggressive; ultimately, I finished strong at 05:55:09.

Post-Race Reflection and Recovery

After finishing, I sought help from the student physios for some stretching. They weren’t fully trained, but it was better than nothing. Most of the food was already gone, thanks to the shorter distance runners (5K, 10K, and 25K), so I just booked a ride back to the city.

One surprising takeaway: in the 50+ age category, the winner finished almost an hour before me, and the 3rd place runner was 10 minutes ahead. It just shows how many strong, “silent” runners are out there. If they started participating in more mainstream events, many so-called social media icons would have their egos bruised!

Back at the hotel, I had a basic veg thali for lunch and a long nap until 7:00 PM. I wanted to go out, but a massive downpour started, so I stayed in. I was missing a good cup of coffee—I had forgotten to pack my French press this time!

The Journey Home: A Sprint through Delhi

The drive to the airport was beautiful, filled with the colors of spring. However, the flight to Delhi was delayed, making me skeptical about my connection. My ticket was even flagged; when I scanned my boarding pass at the gate, it “beeped.” The staff had to confirm I didn’t have any checked baggage before clearing me.

The transfer at Delhi was a nightmare. I still don’t understand why we have to go through security again when changing flights within the same terminal. I had to sprint to the departure gate at the other end of the terminal and was one of the last passengers to board.

I had a “swag moment” on the final flight as was wearing my Khardung La jacket, and a fellow passenger asked if I had done the trek/ride. We had a nice chat for a few minutes; he had served in the North Eastern border of India, where I grew up, so we had plenty of common interests to discuss during the long flight home.