Athlete Guide 2019 Table of Contents

Home , Sinhagad, Torna Fort

ATHLETE GUIDE 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS

WELCOME………………………………………………… 4

MARATHON SCHEDULE………………………………. 5

PREPARATION TIPS….…………………………………..7

COURSE DETAILS………………………………………..9

AID STATION CHART…………………………………..12

ROUTE DESCRIPTION………………………………….13

CUT OF TIME……………………………………………..14

DROP BAGS………………………………………………15

GEAR………………………………………………………16

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER…………………………….17

TRAVEL & ACCOMODATION………………………..18

RUNNER’S FAQS………………………………………..19

SUPPORTERS……………………………………………..21

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 2 TRAIL RUNNING

SHOES l APPAREL l GEAR WELCOME RUNNERS,

The Maharashtra Tourism Department, Pune Forest Department, Maharashtra State Archeology Department, Pune Rural Police, the people of Haveli, Bhor, Velhe, & Mulshi, Pune, Ghera Sinhagad Van Samiti, members of Western Ghats Running Foundation & organising volunteers and all the supporters, welcome you to the 2nd edition of SRT Ultra Marathon taking place on 8 December 2019! The second edition is all the more special for us as the diversity is increased two fold. We announce the welcoming of mountain and trail running enthusiasts from 11 countries, 22 Indian states, and 57 different cities to run on this history filled route.

The premise of SRT Ultra marathon is nothing short of an epic battlefield. As the route on which this marathon will take place is a route that takes you back at least 2000 years in history. The name of the marathon itself is taken from the forts that connects this route. Sinhagad, Rajgad and Torna, have stood connected with each other since time immemorial. The route is filled with beautiful trails, fields of paddy and vegetables, mountain ridges, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, forest, flora & fauna, variety of animals, distinctive heritage huts, amidst hustle & bustle of village life which can be seen by runners during their high endurance ultra race.

It will be apt to say that the civilisation that was the part of this route, is pivotal in giving Maharashtra its deserved identity, made possible only by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his creation of Swarajya in 1700s which means “rule of the people”. The people of this land have always and are continuing to believe and follow this ideology since the last 3 centuries. The SRT route has always been a heritage walk, with the magnificent Sinhagad, Rajgad and Torna forts that stand tall in between this route, telling the stories of the rich and glorious past of Maharashtra.

Today, the SRT Ultra Marathon route is identified as the Sahyadri ranges, part of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for biodiversity. This route is the magnum opus of trail and mountain running marathon of Pune, Maharashtra and its surrounding areas.

This mountain running marathon is organised & conducted by the trustees & volunteers of Western Ghats Running Foundation, with the support of communities residing in the talukas of Haveli, Bhor, Velhe, Mulshi, Daund and Pune. We request you to give a moment to think about the volunteer hours required to conduct this mountain running marathon in the remotest part of Pune. We would appreciate if you appreciate our volunteers during your ultra run.

We also welcome your feedback on our email, [email protected]. We will ensure that your suggestions and inputs will be taken into consideration for strengthening the SRT Ultra Marathon as a race. We would like to make use of this as a premise to develop mountain and trail running as a sport in the Sahyadri ranges of Maharashtra, and grow a trail running community in India.

Welcome once again to Sinhagad, Rajgad & Torna forts.

Best wishes for race day!

Harshad Rao Organised by Race Director SRT Ultra - 2019 Western Ghats Running Foundation

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 4 MARATHON SCHEDULE

DATE: 7/12/0218 BIB COLLECTION

3:00 PM RUNNERS COLLECT BIB VENUE: KONDHANA GUESTHOUSE GHERA SINHAGAD FORT ATKARWADI PUNE 411025.

4:00 PM PRE RACE BRIEFING BEGINS AT SAME VENUE

4:30 PM Q & A SESSION

5:00 PM SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER PETER VAN GEIT (BELGIUM) TOPIC:

5:30 PM EVENING TEA

DATE: 8/12/2018 RACE DAY

PRIOR TO 5:00 AM PARKING FOR RUNNER’S VEHICLES

5:00 AM REPORTING TIME AT FLAG OFF POINT ADDRESS: GOLEWADI SQUARE, GHERA SINHAGAD

5:30 AM PRE RACE ANNOUNCEMENTS

6:00 AM SRT ULTRA 53KM FLAG-OFF

6:05 AM S2R 25KM FLAG-OFF

6:10 AM SINHAGAD HVK 11KM FLAG-OFF

9:00 AM ONWARDS POST RACE LUNCH FOLLOWED BY AWARD CEREMONY AT 3 LOCATIONS

11:00 AM ONWARDS* SHUTTLE SERVICE FROM RAJGAD

2:00 PM ONWARDS* SHUTTLE SERVICE FROM VELHE VILLAGE HIGH SCHOOL & BHUTONDE PASS TO VELHE

6:00 PM SRT ULTRA MARATHON 2019 FINISHES

* SHUTTLE SERVICE WILL BE HALF HOURLY AND WILL DEPEND ON THE OCCUPANCY OF RUNNERS. ONLY ONCE THE VAN IS FULL, IT WILL LEAVE FOR SINHAGAD FORT BASE.

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 5

PREPARATION TIPS

Know the history of the race route; know about the forts Sinhagad, Rajgad and Torna. Prepare yourself mentally to face mountains having maximum of 1400 metres+ of altitude. Prepare yourself physically to run on mountains having minimum vertical elevation of 700 metres above sea level in one go. Practice your training runs on hills and most importantly on trails. Know the course. Download and install the separate .GPX files from our website on your devices. Know the race day weather. Weather conditions will be cold in the morning, hot in the afternoon, and cold at twilight. Sunrise: 6:54 am and sunset: 5:58 pm. Average temperature will be 25 degrees celsius. Have the right gear to run at SRT Ultra. Shoes having lugs, traction and enough ankle protection are essential to face the Sahyadri trails. Extra pair of socks is recommended for an intermediate change. Prepare your hydration for semi self supported races, i.e. carry sufficient items to last you till the next aid station. Strengthen your endurance. UV protection sunscreen lotion would be helpful along with some anti chafing cream. Race day trail will be mostly dry. It is a mix of technical, soft, hard ground. Keep extra pair of essential clothing for post race change. Find the right balance between road and trail. If you run too fast on the road, you will wear yourself on the mountain ascents. If you run too slow on the roads, you will be stuck in a traffic jam on the mountains. A strong road run will establish your place on the mountain ascents, think about giving it one! Uphills have rock patches, you will require some strength for a little climbing with your hands. Ropes have been installed for added balance & protection. Do not use too much pressure on the rope. Respect one another when climbing up or down while using ropes. Railings have been installed by the State Archeology department, make use of them. Nagphani mountain after Sinhagad is a traverse having loose ground for around 300 metres distance. Our volunteers will be there to guide you. Tread carefully in this section. 53Km runners will pass double walled fortifications of Rajgad. Lookout for deep water tanks, stay on the course. Volunteers will be stationed here to guide you. After you return Suvela Machi, descend at Sanjeevani Machi is a steep downhill climb, ropes have been installed here. Make use of them. Volunteers will be stationed at this point. After the Sanjeevani machi, the intermediate cut off point will be there at Km 34. This is Aid Station no. 4. Before Torna fort there is a climbing patch at Budhla Machi. Runners can climb without any support, but we have installed ropes for added protection. Expert volunteers will be stationed here to guide you. Conserve water for your yourself here (Km 42 - Km 45). Some sections of the SRT Ultra Marathon route are similar to Sky Running. It means that you will be exposed to great heights with immediate falls in ravines. Our volunteers will warn you to lower your running speed in these sections. Enjoy these parts fully. Just make sure your footing is carefully placed. Downhills on the route are for flying, just keep your eyes on the ground. Know and respect the mountains, you will get their embrace in return. Have fun and enjoy the atmosphere, the Sahyadri ranges have their own enigmatic beauty. Remember one thing: Practice!

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 7

COURSE DETAILS

SINHAGAD HALF VERTICAL KM: 11KM

ROUTE MAP

ELEVATION PROFILE

Route Summary: Starting line - Golewadi Square - Atkarwadi village - Sinhagad trekking path - Pune Darwaza - Narveer Tanaji Malusare Tomb - Return back from same route towards starting line - Finish of Sinhagad Half Vertical 11K.

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 9 SINHAGAD TO RAJGAD: 25KM

ROUTE MAP

ELEVATION PROFILE

Starts at 6:05 am | Ends: 12:05 pm Maximum Time: 6 hours Starts at Golewadi Square | Ends at Gunjawane Village Ascent 1200 metres + | Descent 1180 metres + Highest Point 1296 metres | Lowest Point 633 metres Total distance: 25 Km | Aid Stations 2 at 5.5Km and 16Km

UTMB 1 POINT - 260 FINISHERS POINTS

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 10 SINHAGAD RAJGAD TORNA: 53KM (3 UTMB POINTS)

ROUTE MAP

ELEVATION PROFILE

Starts at 6 am | Ends: 6 pm Maximum Time: 12 hours | Intermediate Cut Off Time: At Km 34 - Aid Station no. 4, Time: 2:00 pm IST. Starts at Golewadi Square | Ends at Velhe Village High School Ascent 2320 metres + | Descent 2260 metres + Highest Point 1400 metres | Lowest Point 640 metres Total distance 53 Km | Total 5 Aid Stations: at 5.5Km, 15Km, 25Km, 34Km and 44Km

Route Summary: Starting line - Golewadi Square - Atkarwadi village - Sinhagad trekking path - Pune Darwaza - Dev Taake - Kalyan Darwaza - Nagphani mountain traverse - Vinzar village - State highway 65 -Cross river - Sakhar village - Gunjavane village - Rajgad fort - Padmavati machi - Suvela Machi - Sanjeevani machi - exit via Alu Darwaza - Rajgad Torna trekking path - follow coloured markers on mountain ridge - Torna ascent - Budhala machi - Konkan darwaza - Torna fort - Mengai temple - Torna descent - Velhe village - left towards Gunjavani dam - kondhavale village - State highway 65 - Velhe Village School - Finish of SRT Ultra Marathon.

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 11 AID STATION CHART

TOTAL 5 AID STATIONS WILL INCLUDE: WATER, UNIVED DRINK MIX (ORANGE FLAVOUR), LEMONS, ORANGES, BANANAS, GLUCOSE BISCUITS, POTATO CHIPS, CHOCOLATES, DATES, SALTED PEANUTS, FIRST AID KIT, SPRAIN RELIEF SPRAYS, STANDBY AMBULANCE.

*We will provide water in jars and decanters with steel glasses at aid-stations. If you wish to, then do carry your own silicone container/glass for hydration.

POST RACE MEAL: POST RACE MEAL WILL BE PROVIDED TO EVERY PARTICIPANT ONLY AT GOLEWADI SQUARE (11KM), GUNJAVANE VILLAGE (25KM), VELHE VILLAGE (53KM).

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 12 ROUTE DESCRIPTION

The Sahyadri ranges contain various mountain forts which have only a few structures left. The terrain on these forts through years of war and destruction have become highly technical and challenging. We break down the route of the 3 forts on the SRT Ultra according to their difﬁculty and terrain type.

Sinhagad: this first mountain fort on the SRT Ultra is a hiker’s paradise. Many trekkers can be found hiking Sinhagad on any given weekend due to its proximity from Pune city. Difficulty 8/10. Gradient: average 30 degrees incline Terrain: Easy going in the beginning. Highly Technical in the middle. Medium incline at the final rise. Rocky, muddy, scree.

Nagphani: this second mountain is at around 11 km. Runners do not have to climb this mountain. This a traverse where runners will go through the right side of the mountain and then descend towards village Vinzar. Difﬁculty: 8/10. Gradient: average 35 degrees decline Terrain: tricky patch of approximately 300 metres distance. This is a traverse through some bushes. Loose and slippery soil right up to the clearing of the mountain ridge. Tip: Move steadily near ravines. Rope installed at the descent.

Rajgad: running on this third mountain fort is like reliving the history of Maharashtra. Once the capital of Swarajya, this fort was the centre of maharashtra’s civilisation for more than 300 years. Chhatrapati Shivaji ruled his kingdom from Rajgad. Difficulty: 6/10. Gradient: average 30 degrees incline Terrain: A vast spread out fort, but the SRT route only has around 30% of the fort covered. Easily runnable trail, final part of the fort is a small climb. Has railings. Tip: Move steadily at Sanjeevani Machi fortification, there are a few water cisterns. Rajgad descent has ropes installed for easy climb down. Make use of the ropes.

Torna: Torna is the final fort ascended through the Budhla Machi at 39Km, it is the 1st fort captured by Chhatrapti Shivaji at the age of 16. The fort is highest in Pune, and was used for weapon & supply storage in the past. Difficulty: 8/10. Gradient: average 35 degrees decline Terrain: again a vast fort, runners will cover more than 75% of the fort during their run. Highly technical terrain, rocky terrain. This fort has the maximum number of railings, make use of the railings 100%. The descent goes right up to the finish line. Tip: Rock patch at Budhla machi is very tricky, climb of around 100 metres elevation. Ropes are installed before the ladder for added protection, but one can climb without the use of ropes easily. *Torna is the only fort exposed to huge falls, just keep your eyes on the trail. There will be ample volunteers to guide you through.

Road: around 15 kilometres of the route is tar road, but the quality of the road is as good as a trail. Runners can use the road section to cover up time & distance for a strong ﬁnish.

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 13 CUT OFF TIME

There will be an intermediate cut off time at 2:00 pm only for the 53Km SRT Ultra Marathon Category.

Location: @ 34Km

Description: @ Aid Station no.4.

Time to reach COT: 2:00 pm IST.

Duration: 8 hours from flag-off time. i.e. from 6am onwards.

53 km participants must ensure they reach Aid-Station 4 before 2:00 pm for a smooth passage towards Torna fort.

*The marathon will be over for runners beyond 2:00 pm, at the above mentioned Km 34 check point and it will be considered as a DNF. The DNF runners will be taken to the ﬁnish line via shuttle service after 2:00 pm from Aid Station no. 4.

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 14 DROP BAGS

There will be a drop bag facility for runners at 3 locations. Bag tags will be provided to runners according to their bib numbers. It is the responsibility of the runners to submit their drop bags at the baggage counter on time. The 3 drop bag locations are as follows:

1. @11Km Golewadi Square: Drop bag facility for 11Km, 25Km as well 50Km runners.

2. @25Km Village Gunjavane: Drop bag facility for 25Km as well 53Km runners.

3. @53Km Village Velhe: Drop bag facility for 53Km runners only.

Drop bags will be collected at the starting point of the SRT Ultra in between 5:15 am and 5:45 am. *53Km runners can submit 2 drop bags. One for 25Km and the second for 53Km. The 25Km drop bag will be transported to 53Km ﬁnish point.

Tip: Kindly note that the content of the drop bags should not have high value items. WGRF & SRT Ultra volunteers are not accountable for loss of any items. The drop bag facility should be merely for race support items.

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 15 GEAR

MANDATORY GEAR

1. Trail running shoes & socks for better grip in mountain terrain 2. Comfortable T-shirt & shorts/pants 3. Hydration pack/waist belt with half litre drinking water till next aid station 4. Cap, Headband, or Bandana to protect from afternoon sun. 5. Whistle for emergency 6. Headlamp (for 53K runners) for 1st hour 7. Sunglasses 8. Sunscreen lotion with UV protection 9. Mobile phone for contact 10. Photo copy of a valid identity proof

RECOMMENDED GEAR

1. Foldable trekking poles only (for 25km and 53K runners only) 2. Fruit, energy bar, gels 3. Electrolyte powder/tablet 4. Emergency cash like Rs. 200. 5. GPS watch/device with .gpx file of the route preloaded in it 6. Portable USB Battery charger for watch/phone 7. Extra change of clothes post marathon 8. Hand-gloves 9. Insect repellent

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 16 SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER

2019 edition of SRT Ultra marathon will have special guest speaker at the Pre-Race Briefing which will be held on 7th December 2019. Following are the details of the special guest.

Peter Van Geit is an ultra runner, explorer, alpinist, and minimalist. Born in Belgium, he is settled in India since 1998. He quit his job 2 years ago and is now into full time solo travel and exploration. He usually plans his ultra journeys covering several thousands of kilometres in the mountains.

Last year he ran 2000 km in the remote mountains of Northeast Vietnam. This summer he fast hiked the Indian Himalayas crossing 120 lesser known high passes across Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh spanning 3000 km and 1,50,000 metres of elevation gain.

He is currently on a mission to climb 200 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Sahyadri mountains over 2.5 months running across 4 trans routes and bike-packing through 9 regions from Nashik to Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra.

Peter will give a short talk on “Self Supported Journeys” hoping to inspire ultra runners to step up for their own alpine style journeys. he will talk about how to plan a self supported ultra journey, selection of minimalist gears, use of maps and navigation to find your own way in the remotest regions. Terrain and technical gears, wether and night shelter, as well as high altitude challenges, food ration, water planning and financing.

Detail: Self Supported Journeys - by Peter Van Geit Date: 7 December 2019 Time: 5 pm Venue: Kondhana Guesthouse

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 17 TRAVEL

For outstations runners, there are 4 ways to reach SRT Ultra Marathon. They all are fairly easy in term of accessibility. You just have to reach the Sinhagad fort base for Hotel Kondhana Guesthouse.

1. BUS: Direct. There is an hourly bus service direct from Swargate, Jedhe square, that will drop you at the location. Bus name: Swargate to Atkarwadi, Donaje. Location: in front of Natraj Hotel. 2. TRAIN: 1 change. You will have to catch a bus from Pune Railway Station to Swargate Bus Stand. Catch the direct bus from Jedhe square to Atkarwadi. 3. AIRPORT: 2 changes. You will have to catch a bus from Pune Airport to Pune Railway Station. From there to Swargate Bus Stand. Catch the direct bus from Swargate Jedhe square to Atkarwadi. 4. BY ROAD: Direct. Google Maps App is the best way to reach Sinhagad fort. Set your destination to “Kondhana Guest House”, once you reach the destination, you will be guided to park your vehicle. 5. RACE DAY TRAVEL: runners will have to reach on their own at starting point Golewadi square before 5 am on race day. Parking is allotted at the location on the ghat road. We request you to reach within time.

ACCOMMODATION

If you are looking for an accommodation package at the best possible price near Sinhagad fort, then do contact Ketan at Kondhana Guesthouse and book your self a room or a camping spot!

Ketan Jedhe: 9423012632 | 02024389029

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 18 RUNNER FAQ’S

How is the marathon timed? The results of SRT Ultra Marathon will be obtained through electronic timing chip provided to the runners. Runners are responsible for ensuring their assigned timing chip is attached securely to their bib and that they cross over all timing check points at start, top of mountains and finish line to receive a valid race time. Tampering with timing chip in any way will result in disqualification of the runner.

What time do I need to arrive at the starting line? 5 am. The marathon will start at sharp 6 am, parking facility will be closed at 5:30 am. Participants travelling directly on their own to the venue are advised to reach at 5 am for a smooth arrival.

What is the race day weather? (Source: Accuweather) Sunrise: 6:54 am Sunset: 5:58 pm Temperature: High: 28 degrees celsius Low: 16 degrees celsius Average: 25 degrees celsius Humidity: 41% UV Index: 5 (moderate) Wind: 9km/hr Gusts: 30km/hr Cloud cover: 55% Visibility: 10 km Weather summary: Morning:Cold. Noon: Hot. Late Afternoon: Moderately cold. Evening: Cold. Terrain: Dry

How is the route marked? Route is marked with orange strips along the mountain ridge line. Orange tapes will be placed at intersections and splits o the trail. Watch out for different sign boards placed on the route. Arrows will be kept at the road section.

Where are the ropes installed? @ Nagphani traverse - 11-12 km @ Rajgad descent - 32 km @ Torna Budhla machi ascent - 40 - 41 km

Where are the railings installed? Railings are installed by the Maharashtra state Archeology department on Rajgad and Torna. @ Rajgad ascent - 27 km @ Torna descent - 42 km

Do I need Insurance? Yes. Every runner must be self insured before they take part in SRT Ultra Marathon. Details of the individual insurance policy must be given to the organisers before race day, for cases of emergency.

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 19 What is the medical support? We will provide primary first aid kit at every aid station. There will be a team of stationary doctors and physiotherapists at different locations to deal with injuries and distress during the route of the marathon. BVG MEMS will be providing fully equipped ambulance services at different locations.

What are the perks for winners & ﬁnishers? T-Shirt for everyone Finishers medal for finishers only Winner Trophy Male and female for each category UTMB points for finishers (runner account needed on ITRA website)

Is there a post race meal for runners? Yes. We will be providing a pure vegetarian post race meal to every runner. Please note that there is a ban of meat and non vegetarian food items in the fort and school premises.

Where is the shuttle service? Runners will be taken to the starting line of Golewadi square from 3 locations. 1. Gunjavane (25Km): from 11 am 2. Aid-Station 4, at the Intermediate cut of time: from 2 pm 3. Velhe (53Km): from 2 pm

How to identify WGRF volunteers? Our volunteers will be wearing fluorescent green coloured shirts.

What else is going on in Pune on 8th December ? December month being peak marathon activity, there are a number of other races happening in the city of Pune. We advice runners to make use of google maps app and avoid getting stuck in traffic as there are a few marathons taking place at various locations.

Are there any regulations? Yes. For details check out our regulations page on www.wgrf.in

Closing thoughts? This is one of the finest gatherings that has ever happened in the Sahyadri ranges of Sinhagad, Rajgad and Torna. Remember, you are integral part of this coming together of different cultures. Do not stress out. Enjoy the SRT Ultra experience!

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 20 SUPPORTERS

MAHARASHTRA STATE FOREST DEPARTMENT MAHARASHTRA TOURISM DEPARTMENT

NUTRITION HYDRATION

MEDIA PARTNER HOSPITALITY PARTNER

MEMS 108 HELPLINE FITNESS PARTNER

INTERNATIONAL TRAIL RUNNING ASSOCIATION UTMB QUALIFIER RACE 2019

2019 SRT ULTRA MARATHON | 21