Ladakh Marathon Trip - Day 11 - Final Day - SriNagar to Hyderabad

• The last day of our trip had finally dawned, we had the plan of leaving the hotel at 11 AM, for our 3:40 PM flight.
• Since we didn't have much to look around that day, we had the plan, but we realized at the end of the day, it was quite right to board the flight, the experience continues
• Had our breakfast ordered and delivered to the lodge , nothing other than Aloo parantha, by then majority of us were already tired of aloo parantha, but quickly munched some and had some packed as well, and head out to airport on an Innova.
• We left the hotel at around 11:30 AM, couple of vans, headed to the airport, as we hear from our driver that there are some security checks which would take some time, hence it was good to start early.

 

STAGE 1

• Along our way, our driver stops at a check post, which is potentially the start of the security check, which literally means, we will have to unload our baggage, put it into a scanner, get ourselves through the security frisk and again load baggage back to our vehicle.
• We wait at the check post for the second van to arrive, spent close to half hour out there waiting, then we put our baggage onto security check and get out with our baggage and board the car again to be driven another close to a KM, we unload our baggage, and head to the entrance of the airport.
• The story begins here, with many of us having done enough international travels and enough domestic travels, didn't know what we are going to experience in there, were patiently waiting in a line to get inside the airport.

STAGE 2

• The queue for indigo was long, suddenly there were 3 branches, one of the cop comes makes it to 3 more queues, merging into 1, then you can imagine what to expect at that point.
• Enough quarrelling,  non comfy scenes, few NRI's visiting were really pissed off and speaking about rules and being diplomatic and what not, super chaos, we managed to get to the mood, into the quarrel mode and after 45 minutes of time, we get to the entrance gate, with some frisking we get in.

STAGE 3

• Now we get onto the yet another entry level Security check within the airport, that is as usual, normal, we get through and wait for our baggage on the other side
• The security guy would stamp security seal on some bags and not on some, we were arguing him to get the security seal done, but he wouldn’t.
• Gupta who was really challenged with 30 folks storming into the queue, he was way behind, we were there waiting for him to come, while the cops ask us to move on
• With gupta in, we head to the counters, to get our boarding passes,

STAGE 4

• We head to the Indigo counter and requesting for a group check in, managed to get all 9 of ours, with some confusion we get our boarding passes.
• Being confused some amarnath yatrees who had set his id cards into the check in baggage, our ticket issue was delayed, finally we get all our bags checked in and with our boarding passes we get in.
• While we walk along, one of the indigo folks stop us and say that we have to check in the baggage which are really our cabin baggage. Since it was sealed in the first security check, we again get there to check in those baggage again.
• We were really pissed off by then, I remember consistently doing a international transit at Heathrow airport in london with the whole family in 17 minutes, here it took 1.5 hours to get from outside of the airport to getting the boarding passes. Story is not over there

STAGE 5

• Now comes the real Security check which we typically have at the airports, we get through that, security guy demanding Security seal for water bottle which was in my cabin baggage, first time ever I hear such a weird rule.
• I was directed to the verification counter, I uncover the contents of my laptop bag, get the security seal done and again step into the airport, soon enough to be directed to a place where we have to identify our baggage again(So really ILLOGICAL), we did that stupid thing again, showing our baggage stickers and got it verified.
• That was another half hour job, totally for us to reach near to our gate of boarding it took 2 hours from outside the airport, the WORST every airport entry experience I have ever had.
• We were really tired and glad that all that stupid procedures are over, got something to drink for ourselves and set in for some group photos
• There was a cat running around and few birds chiping inside the airport near our seats :) people fighting for seats where there would come the so called air from the ducts, man… enough with that airport, NEVER AGAIN THERE.
• We were all wearing the Ladakh marathon t-shirt, to add fuel to our already tired souls, somebody asks which group of amarnath yatra you folks are…? , bad about the organizers to not even mention anything about the run, leave about mentioning half or full marathon.
• We board the flight, happy enough while our pilot announces that we are waiting to get the army clearance to take off, and that was another 25 minutes of wait on the runway.

 

• With our last leg of nonstop nonsense, we were mocking chatting, sharing experience in the airport and before we could realize we reach new delhi.
• Due to the delay, we were really close to get the next flight, we also wanted something to eat since most of were hungry, quickly grabbed some pizza and boarded our flights.
• After an hour and half we safely landed at hyderabad, collecting our bags, we step out of the airport, to our surprise, we had a grand welcome with a huge posted unfolded welcoming us back, all set up by Madhuri's sister and JB, sweet of you folks to welcome us with such an act.
• Waving bye to few of the folks we set on to our home, happy enough, contended about the trip.

 

• Truly a Memorable one! With the awesome Company of Hyderabad runners family, obviously with the co-operation and sacrifice from the respective families to let us out for 11 days!

Ladakh Marathon Trip - Day 10 - Kargil to SriNagar

• We set out early on, close to 6:15 AM, we have our tea and we start, with a plan to attempt at River Rafting, which our driver promised to get a rafting trip along our route to SriNagar
• Early on we had a pit stop, with some great solo snaps and scenic early morning sunrise pics, we cruise on again. With our principle of not taking too many stops, it worked out really well, not feeling the hardships that we had earlier in our trip.

 

• All were really drained I suppose, all were in their own slumber mode, had fun capturing the various poses of people in sleep mode :)
• We were sighting the burnt tents down in the valley where people were stationed for the amarnath yatra, that was signs of us nearing Sonomar, where the chopper ride and normal trek route starts for the Holy Amar
• We stopped at Sonomar for breakfast, this time we headed to the JK tourism hotel and had our large order done and waiting.

 

• While Gupta and Sridhar go to the enquiry desk there and started to enquire about chopper ride to amarnath, happy enough they came back with the news that there was chopper rides to amarnath in an hour's time and with a tentative plan to reach back sonomar by 3PM, with some initial hesitation, everybody agreed to take up the chopper ride except uday.
• We had our breakfast, dump all the luggage into a room at the JK center, with uday waiting to rest for some time and we head to the place where the chopper tickets were sold and would take off, which was close to 3 kms away.
• Within no time everybody reaches out to parents and get approvals and what not, all were really excited to the potential ride to Amarnath, but only after reaching there and enquiry did we know that there is no chance of getting a ticket immediately, and the return trip was not guaranteed to be on time.
• With all of us having the flights the next day, and with the certain plan of staying at the amarnath site over night, no body was ready, we all headed back to the room and loaded our luggages back to our van and we set out to our last option of a River rafting, Uday had a sudden change in plan, he had a flight at 4:30 PM that day, hence had to skip the rafting trip and took a ride on his own to the srinagar airport directly.
• Our driver Fareed rides for quite a while, to the extent that we ended up reminding him that he has to stop for a river rafting trip.
• In some time we reach a spot where we saw quite a few rafts being lined up, and close to 8 folks who have never done the ride before headed out for the rafting ride which was a 3 k sail, which potentially looked like a Rapid 2 ride

 

• We snap and record video of all our folks along the route of the sail, we stop at the end point, had enough snaps, all first timers enjoying it, get their clothes changed, and all were immediately set for lunch
• We again capture a hotel nearby and had a list of orders until everybody was really full, had a heavy lunch and there we go, close to 80k left to Srinagar.
• While many were into their slumber mode again, I started to collate all the photographs from every person, so that it would be easier to share to folks.

 

• As I finish my write up for the pending days, we sighted Dal lake again, a different view of dal lake on a sunny afternoon. We head to the same hotel where we went on our onward journey.
• Everybody freshens up  in an hour's time we head out to the srinagar town, to get some shopping done, we walked towards the zero point bridge, take a bus to Lal chowk, started our stroll along the streets
• For all obvious reasons, locals could sense the tourists, there are enough people by your side along while you walk, asking if we need shawls, dry fruits, and other authentic local produce
• We stop at the dry fruits shop, enquire for quite a bit, and start our purchase spree of black current, almonds, dry garlic and almost every one item in the store :)
• We walked a bit more, looking out for sweet shop, our second group arrived and were clearing out the dry fruit shop.
• We head into JK handicrafts only to realize that all the items are marked up 100 to 200% as opposing to the local shops, quickly we enquire and head towards the sweet shop to taste the so called Rasagolla which few of our group members were bragging about.
• We had a sudden change in plan head out to an exhibition near dal lake, we head there in an auto, purchased few local made handicrafts and stuffs and we went in search of a nice hotel to dine at.
• Soon we settle in a hotel, which seemed to be best around, we were on our last stretch of eating spree, we ate so much for close to a bill of 6k for 11 folks, we ate so much and still had something left over to pack enough.
• Not a single soul was ready to walk back to the hotel, we hitch on auto and all set back to our hotel rooms, only enough energy left to change clothes and hit our beds

Ladakh Marathon Trip - Day 9 - Trip Back to Kargil

• This was the day which many were really not wanting to come, for couple of reasons, the awesome time at ladakh was getting over and travel back by road via kargil again to Srinagar.
• Man… the onward journey was so tedious, that we longed for the drive to end at times, but the return road trip was not bad as expected
• With all bags loaded up, we graduated from Xylo to Tempo traveller :) all piled up and here we go, declaring the start of another window seat fighting saga :)

 

• We stopped at the Magnetic Hill, the name given to that section on the road where there is Zero Gravitational force, with Gear in neutral, our Van with 13 people in it, started to roll UP Hill, that was an unique experience.
• We briefly stop for breakfast, with almost everybody limping or being tired, most of them were asleep, I was busy documenting the day's happenings all along the route.
• Our saga of emptying the shops along the way continues, we stopped for lunch at a place, where we ran out of Maggi packets, people wouldn't stop, rajma chaval, Bread Jam left over from previous day, were all emptied and everyone of us were really loaded with food :)

 

• With the way we were cruising along the route, except for 2 stops, we were set for a early reach at Kargil, we again go to the Army Workshop, where we had our accommodation set.
• We had high tea, with some snacks prepared by the cook at the army canteen, and dinner preferences being given, we thought of getting out for a while, roam around.
• We went to the army CSD canteen, to get some army patterned tshirts and some other supplies, then we went on to the Plateau Baba Temple

 

• Unique name! Isn't it, brief story about the temple was , When there were firings exchanged at Kargil during Operation Vijay, a noble soul, who was called Baba, kind of emphasized to build a temple there with shrines of Shiva, stating that it would safeguard the whole place
• As said, they set up a temple and not a single bomb landed in that particular plateau, following which folks started to believe in this guy and post his time the Army has taken over and full time Army havildar is acting as a poojari, performing daily Pooja.

 

• We were offered some dry fruits and each a cup of tea, that a good gesture from that poojari, from my experience with this guy and the folks at the Line of Control where we went, they were really longing…. To meet and exchange their views and talk with more people.
• Truly salute those souls stationed out there, and the pain they go through by their Solitude and also the risk and the extreme weather those folks go through.
• We went out to our dramatic Kabab venturing into the town of Kargil, only to realize that there were enough varities of non vegetarian kababs. With multiple order and cancellation, we finally settle with one small pack of kabab. With few requests from folks on the van to walk around the streets of kargil, it was all dramatic, finally we sneak away from the spot in some time.

 

• While we went back to the army camp, we saw Captain Manish playing Volley Ball, with his whole team.
• With our experience of playing volleyball during our onward journey, we were more interested to play again, that too with the army folks.
• Quickly we change our attire, we headed to the volleyball court. I was immediately offered a spot in the team of manish.  The guy whom I played with earlier, knowing about me playing, graciously offered a spot :)
• Manish was so furious already, demanding his team to play proper passes , but unfortunately he was kicking the ball more so often.
• While I moved to the front line, manish sighted me and was briefly enquiring me about the race. The irony being he advised the whole HR team to not run and would face serious problems if we tried to push ourselves and run a 42k.
• I so badly wanted to go tell him that we all finished and that too in great times, which I literally blurted out to him on face, saying "Opposing to your views, we all finished strong with great times". He was kind of in his amused mood to just take my comment.
• Playing 5 games, the only thing that stood in my mind was the way Leaders behave in Army Vs Corporates, The way the captain was commanding his team and he behaving his own way, was something that I couldn't just not avoid commenting on.
• We played till we could see the ball until around 7 or so, then had a quick shower in that damn cold water, with a stick in hand to woo away the dogs… :)
• Had a great planned dinner, the fortunate Non-Vegetarians had their feast while veggies had to be contended with some carrot and beans :(
• With the intervention of our teacher taking disciplinary action on the whole team we were forced to hit our bed early :), with an ambitious plan of starting early by 5:30 AM. Again swooshing the dogs, many we realized there were easily around 30 dogs around the place where we had our rooms, so scary…

Ladakh Marathon - The Race Day !!

• After the cautious rest the previous day, all were set to meet in our hotel lobby at 4 AM.
• We had a bus plying from the adjacent hotel to the start line at 4:30 AM, all of us walked to board the bus, while we had a brief stop to have some banana and tea
• Soon our buses departed at around 4:45 AM, our "First Marathoners" personal SAG by Mr /Mrs Sridhar, also started along with the buses to the start line. Appreciate the brave souls who woke up and set right on duty only to do a SAG.
• As we were heading towards the start line, runners in the bus were discussing on who will come last and literally trying to compete to the last position :)
• While I was still contemplating as to what time that I could target for the race, I was asked by shiv about my target time, was expressing my contentedness even if it is 4:30, although my secret target was still 3:45.
• In another 25 minutes, we reached the start line the Druk's school which is the school where the 3 Idiots film was shot.
• We could see many runners stretching and jogging around, many enthusiastic school children were all raving enough to run, it was moderately cold and windy which made us feel it even more.
• Totally there were 90 participants of which there were only 9 full brave marathoners who dared to challenge themselves against the altitude and that includes two ambitious women attempting their first ever full marathon.
• All 9 of us were from Hyderabad runners group. After few snaps were dressed appropriately to get warmed up.

START LINE

• In spite of the conditions, I stayed with my plan of running with my singlet with my arm warmers on, just when I transitioned to my running attire, there were enough questions about feeling cold or so, including the students of the school staring at me :)
• Went out for a quick 1k jog stepping out of the school, came back, did 6 to 8 fast strides in the school ground, feeling the warmth, I was all set for a solid start for the race.
• Wishing everybody good luck and emphasizing to finish strong to our debutantes Madhu and kiranmai, I was all set.
• Ashish, the race director calls in the head Lama of leg and director of the school to speak a few words and start the race. The head lama wished everyone god luck and thanked for giving the kids of the school an opportunity to run. Followed it with brief talk with the lama, while he was enquiring about our whereabouts and few snaps, we were ready to the race to start.

 

• There we go, at around 5:45 the race was on, I started strong, not trying to shy away from any pace less than 8:20/Mile, there were quite a few 10k runners, many from the local army battalions, few school students and honeymoon couple, racing there :)
• There was this one 10k guy who was driving me crazy with his pace, until I realized that he was just doing a 10k and felt better about myself :). I was feeling great, the mood lightened up when there were these school students interacting and still asking about if I don’t feel cold or so :)
• There were around 5 students running along with me at my pace and felt great to have some company, that too those rosy cheeked cute school kids around you, I was cruising along, only to realize that I did run my first mile @ 7:33 per mile, which is too fast from my target pace 8:15.
• I consciously slowed down, cheering those school kids to keep up the pace and continue on, soon I reach the first water stop, only to see that it was a beeline for water, people all around the table, there was no chance to grab the glass of water and run, I had to literally stop, grab a cup, and then began to run

3Mile/5K Mark

• Dropped my pace to close to 8:25, where I thought that I can stay for longer than my planned 8:15/mile pace, kept going strong, easing through some miles, passing through the water stations, felt great and kept my pace around 8:25/Mile
• Soon I saw a bunch of runners against me going super strong, led by the foreign national who was running crazy, realized at the end of the race, that he completed his 10k in 36 minutes !!
•  To my surprise, I was ahead of all 21k runners and obviously all the 42k runners, just confirming the same, I was all alone after the 5k mark, was progressing well.

6 Mile/10k Mark

• It was all merry until I reached the 10k mark, where I was helped with some enerzal for the first time, I missed the enerzal at the 5k mark, just because the water station was all surrounded by runners and did want to waste time there
• Soon I take a right turn only enough to see that there was a lead vehicle, basically an ambulance from Jammu and Kashmir Police, which was standing there and I also see the start of the so called rolling hills.
• With at most confidence and thinking about my 6 week double hill workout days that I had in training, I kept going strong, the very sense being treated special, lead with a lead vehicle, made me feel great
• Even 2 kms, the police vehicle would stop, once I reach the vehicle, they again start, and it kept going all along till turn around point at 21.5k

11miles/17k mark

• At around 17k mark is where I remember seeing the start of dry area with zero vegetation, start of hair pin bend kind of turn, and I see the police ambulance standing on top of the hill, realizing that I will have to start pushing, mentally prepared myself to face any hill, slowly started to climb them

 

• Post climb, it was an awesome view all along, I get my first gel, waiting to hit the next water station to get some water, the first time I felt the exhaustion a bit, literally started to stop at the water stations from there on, had water and enerzal and started to hit back at my speed going downhill.

13 miles/21 k Mark

• Feeling the thought of nearing the turn about point, was going strong still, being guided by the police folks stationed there, and also strictly following the signs put up by the race organizers, I hit the half way point
• I was verified my name and location to get it knocked off in their list, I confirm my details, hydrated and when I was about to start, something really amused me. I was clocking 1:50 at half way point
• A really concerned police constable from within the ambulance who has been seeing me run all along till there, offers me a chair and kindly with deep concern, asks me to sit and take rest for some time :) never before incident :)
• As I started to explain the concern in resting like that, I was mentally happy starting to run back towards the finish line, with an out and back route, that feels good and I was keeping my pace strong.

 

14 miles/24k

• At around a mile or little over while I am returning, met shiv on the way, he was looking great, wishing him all the very best, I kept going
• Had a relief to see some faces, after being running all along in the deserted valley, soon when I was climbing one of the hard hill few meteres before the upcoming water station, I saw Gupta and Balaji, they both were in a happy mood, going great, happily chatting, wishing them I kept going. Soon to be followed by devayani, exhanging wishes I move on.
• Stopped at the water station, literally stopped for almost few seconds to regain my breath, then hydrated well, by when our official photographer was already snapping multiple snaps, I really wanted to smile, but I was already beaten up by then, I still had another 10 miles to go, and few more hills to tackle
• After that stretch was a nice flat long stretch, where I was offered a banana by the mobile SAG guys, quickly had a half banana, and sipping some water as I ran, kept going.
• Soon I sighted our debutant marathoner, Madhuri, walking at ease, she looked confident, was just checking on her condition, she sounded confident as well, wishing her, I maintained my pace, I was literally starting to slow down, but managed to maintain my pace

16 Miles 25K

• Before I hit the next water station, I see Mr/Mrs Sridhar, with their supplies waiting to help out kiranmai who I soon met downhill, which she was walking up to climb the same, with her encouragement, I kept going on.
• Had a quick does of enerzal and stopped to snap to the official photographer, I again started to maintain my pace.

20 Miles 32k

• I went through all the small rolling hills along the course then, and soon was approaching the more critical 20miler/32k mark where usually runners get to know if they are hitting the wall or not
• I was feeling great with my physical strength, no pain, no cramps, all intact, but my breathing was totally out of sync, out of control

 

• The moment I stopped at the water station, I couldn’t stand, was coughing loud, almost started to get blurred vision.
• Without a second thought, I started again and kept moving along.
• I was mentally preparing myself for the last 6 miles/10k, already started to count every half mile.

23 Miles - 37 k

• Man it was starting to sink in me, yes the very high altitude effect, coughing much more regularly now, the passers by looking at me and few checking on me, as to if I am ok and fine.
• I was now feeling the pressure in my head, the blurred vision effect increasing much more. I know that I was anyways off from my 3:45 time target, which was far from reach, but I at least wanted to make it before 4 hours at least
• Started to to walk for few feet and started to run, the first time ever I had walked on my race day, I had to and forced to do it, otherwise I had no confidence in finishing the race

25 miles - 40k

• As I reached the next water stop, more than me the volunteers were really happy for me, they were wishing my all the very best and even was checking to pull in the ambulance if required.
• I was literally feeling light headed then, I was holding on to the table and that drove the volunteers frenzy, had a two full cup of water and enerzal, I felt much better, assuring them that I will finish strong and no worries of my condition.

The Epic Finish

• After another brief walk I see AK47 walking, he was wishing too, with all their wishes and my so called will power whichever was left over :)  I started to pick the pace, feeling it really heavily around my ribs, still managed to go on
• Soon I see Ashish shah, the race director who was checking back on the route, he assured that it was just few meters away from finish, the moment I saw the main road, my joy knew no bounds really
• I started to sprint now, towards the Druks school entrance, I see a volunteer signing my arrival to the folks at the finish line
• I absolutely with all joy, and satisfaction, sprint across the saga finish line, with many of the hyderabad runners waiting there, not realizing that I was almost finishing where they were posing for the photographs
• Yelling at them, I went through the sides of the finish line and waved my victorious signage to the official photographer, who has been following me for over an hour now, thanks to his close coverage all along

 

• Finally there I am proving the folks who doubted my sub 4 hour ambitious target, wrong finishing in 3:58 minutes, with exactly 4 hours of stoppage time (at water stops, 4 or 5 short walks inclusive)
• I felt accomplished at the finish line, loudly cheered and congratulated by fellow Hyderabad runners. A happy ending to a horrible experience along the course.

 

• Glad that I finish strong, within my target time in great style, I couldn’t have done any better that day, I was pretty satisfied!

 

Ladakh Marathon Trip Day 7

• This was potentially a majority rest day, though we were told that we will have a local tour in the city or so
• We head out for an easy run at 6 AM, I was little late, hence had to run alone, sneaked through a different way where there were rolling hills, had a nice 5k and went on for a Yoga Session at 7 AM.

 

• We headed towards visiting the biggest monastery in ladakh, along with a potential visit to santi stupa, just few meters away from druk;'s school did our driver stop for a small monastery, but not many were interested in it
• We headed to Memis monastery, which was close to 45 to 50 km ride, that too in the return route from Pangong lake.

 

• That was quite a different place to visit in the first place, my first view of a monastery and their practices within.
• Monastery was really colorful, with a chinese effect to all the paintings inside and outside the monastery
• There were two main deities, one being Buddha, another unknown figure, and a kali temple
• There were lamas around and one of the lama was reading some scripts from the old papyrus kind of stuff which looked really ancient and authentic

 

• We stepped on to the first floor to have a good view of the whole area around the monastery.
• We had planned to be back to the cars after the visit by 12 Noon, but myself and shiv were lagging behind a bit, sneaked into the Museum there only 3 minutes to spare
• Quickly went through the exhibits in the museum and a brief view at the sovineurs and we reached our cars in another 15 minutes

 

• We headed back to the hotel , during the return trip we tried to see how the race is going to look like since we thought we were on the potential route
• We were to go to santhi stupa, but it was really late and within the constrained lunch time at the hotel, and we ended up going to hotel
  
  
  
  
• We had a heavy lunch and planned to have atleast 3 hours or rest, all hit their beds to get some rest in for the race the next day for which we had to start by 4 AM.
• We had our pre-race dinner with pasta scheduled at the adjacent hotel at 7 PM, we headed to that hotel and had a brief chat with Ashish, the race director about the SAG plan.
• With quite a bit of carb loading with pasta and potato, we wanted to hit bed early on so that we can have some sleep by 3:30 AM when we had to wake up to get to the race the next day

 

• At around 9:15 we headed to our hotel and with the pre-race chuckie made up, I hit the bed by around 10:15.

Ladakh Marathon Trip Day 6

• Padma was planning to get the recording of yoga postures which would help runners, but unfortunately her battery was down, nor did I get up in time.
• Shiv, Gupta, Balaji and myself were set out to climb a small cliff that nearby, on our way we met Dr.Mala who was sharing her running experience and her husband's attempt at Comrades.

 

• We walked towards the small cliff, were gupta wanted his cover page picture to be clicked, was a nice view, post few clicks we start to climb that small cliff, reaching the top was already setting our heart rate up.
• What a nice view it was, indeed a nice one to cherish upon, as gupta was enjoying his lonely view at the lake, we found couple of Yak horns, with which we were snapping snaps.
• As I was trying to breath in and out, did I speak about brahmari and nadeeshwara pranayama, soon did shiv and kiran set out on their seats and were attempting brahmari. Nice relief post that.

 

• We were to pack our lunch and leave at 8:30 AM, so we started ascending down, while we met brunda and gang, couple of us set down to the lake, trying out some yoga poses, while gupta, uday and ashish did walk a bit towards the  3 idiots shooting location and back
• We finish our breakfast soon and set on to our respective cars, with lunch being packed and loaded, we were so particular, that we will not have long stops and set out our travel for the day at around 8:30 AM
• Within few kms, we stopped at the 3 idots spot, we removed our shoes and start to jog towards the small stretch of sand where it was potentially shot, nice view from there, with clear waters, I tried to step in only to realize that it was soon getting so deep and the sand was giving away, was quickly helped by shiv to pull me out.

 

• We had all funky snaps taken there, jumping, running pose, train pose and some solos, and soon did we jog back to our cars and soon we set on to the trip.
• We saw a lot of bikers on Bullet bikes, who were showing all their stunts to negotiate all the bad bumps and bad roads, yielding to all the bikers we were cruising at nice speed.
• We did stop briefly at our previous day's lunch spot to have a quick tea and some parle G biscuits, we were planning to have some maggi along the way, so we parted our lunch box with our driver, holding on to just one

 

• We were expecting to reach leh at around 4 or so, but we were doing really good to not spend lot of time at breaks and soon we reached a shop where we had a spicy maggi, was a nice treat to taste buds, in that cold climate, again we set out on our drive and started cruising.
• We took a short route on the way down, which potentially cut short a 10 km ride, while we were sneaking through a small village, where we saw all the cars in a queue, soon did we realize that the villagers were forcefully stopping the vehicles stopping with a tree's trunk :) and forcefully selling Tea, that was amusing
• Our driver just paid for a tea without having it and soon started driving along, in few hours we were on the manali highway, which we thought would be the potential race route. We were strategizing about how we approach each section and we saw the start point, which is the Druk's school, which again is where one of the scenes of 3 idiots shot.
• We were to collect our BIB numbers at around 5 PM, headed to the adjacent and collected our bibs and t-shirt, quickly got introduced to the other runners outside of hyderabad runners group.
• Since we had some time , we started walking towards the local market, we hit a so called German Bakery which was selling everything from Dosa to muffins :)
• We stopped at a tibetian market, where we found quite a few antique collectibles, and many small stone studded necklace and anklets, many of which were huge enough to be only used on an elephant :)

 

• Shiv sneaked into a leather shop were we found intersting stuffs, important one was the potentially fuel belt , that was amusing moment to see something like that.
• We got some medicines, got some raisins, while gupta had ordered some mammos and had some wait time, while did we window shop Adidax shoes and BMW shoes, funny to see such brand names and were making fun around it.
• Once gupta collected his mammos, we starting walking fast towards the hotel since the dinner was available only for an hour's time.

 

• We had our dinner and set out to our rooms to have a nice rest.