Winter fatass running

I am so badly lagging behind my blogging, decided to club couple of my running experiences of this year in a single blog. This year has been great so far, I was lucky enough to join for some of fantastic courses all around south bay. I have been running around bay area trails for 6 yrs but still LOT more to explore.

1. Los Gatos Marathon (Fatass style) On 2/8
This was organized by Adam Blum and Sean Lang a fatass style trail marathon. Some geenrous volunteers provided us water, food at mile 5,13 and 18. Course starts from Jones Trailhead in Novitiate Park in Los Gatos and runs all the way upto Mount Sombrero. I loved the other side of Mount Somberero were the course opens up and beatutiful views of Santa Cruz mountains. I was glad to spend good time Talking to Keith Dubner. Considering I had'nt run much for past few months, was in good shapre towards the end and was very happy to finish in 5:35hrs. Post run chatting was fun, catching up with Pierre(winner), Adam, Sean and Jim Magill. Thanks Adam and Sean looking fwd to 2010 run.

2. 2nd Saratoga 50k (Fatass 50k) On 2/21
Another Fatass race of the season put up by avid trailrunner Keith Blum. It mainly consisted of 3 10 mile loops, running different part of Skyline to Sea Trail and Saratoga Gap trail. Again this run I started early with Keith Dubner. The course was made very easy by Keith's meticulous directions, we missed just 1 turnaround in the first loop. Overall a beautiful run the redwoods, the section near Castle rock park was my favourite. The last loop was a rush for me as I had to head back home just in time for my guitar class, that was lil stretch, but a fun day.













clear day in santa crus mountains

Teleported to Kathmandu

As I am listening to one of mesmerizing compositions of AR Rehman, Khwaja mere Khwaja from Jodaa Akbar, Iam instantly transported to my hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal.


I was just back from my Trek to from base camp, incidentally Jodaa Akbar was being relayed. This song just kept playing in my head as I was pondering over my failed attempt and how I could make it different. I so much want to go back one of the years, probably in next 3-5 yrs.

Someday. For now I am happy to be teleported through this song those beautiful mountains of Himalayas.

End of year Tag

I am tagged by my buddy Rajeev Patel. Though not much to write about my running for the past year but will share my other adventures.

1. What was your 2008 running highlight and running low?
As mentioned don't have any significant running accomplishments but my high for the year was Stok Kangri climb and low a DNF at Everest base camp hike due to altitude problem but it was very good learning experience and reality check for my future high altitude expeditions.

2. What race are you secretly planning on doing (or contemplating) for 2009 but haven't made it known to the public....until now.
hmm.. I don't want to do a 100M mainly due to time constraints, But secretly wish to do a probably Cascade or Headlands 100m.

3. Where would you like create and direct an ultra that (to your knowledge) none exists?
Surely there are lot of runnable sections in Ladakh and Sahyadri's in India. my dream event would be a 100mile run in the western ghats.

Another practical possibility would be a point to point 50 miler on bay ridge trail (east bay regional parks)

4. What is your "primary" race for 2009?
hmm.. I am most excited about a 1 week climbing class in Cascade mountains in Jul 2009.

5. What is the most exciting thing about your upcoming race schedule?
a new race Sonoma 50M

6. List your planned races for 2009:
Adam Blum's Fatass 26-mile run in Feb
Sonoma 50M in Mar
Miwok 100k(lottery dependent)
Ohlone 50K in May
Headlands 50M in Aug
Dick Collins 50M in October
A century ride

Tagging Padma/Kiran, Vinod Vishwanath, Nattu Natraj, Chihping Fu, Michael Kanning