Why do they run !?

Why do you want to climb mount Everest?

"Because it's there !" answered a respected mountaineer, and that has become the legend of the spirit of mountaineering.

Before I was not running I used to ask myself the same question regarding running.

Why do these guys run so much? What's in it ? They must be crazy.!

To answer our question, hardly we knew that we were destined to meet a psycho (and in fact a lot of such) when the two causes met at the SUMMIT 2015, which was held in the mountains of Saputara, and team PRAYAS gang was asked to volunteer.

Just a couple of years down the line to that, I along with all my team PRAYAS gang, am into running,  participating, and contributing to the cause.

Why do I mention this now?  I am reminded the same by a small gang from our Surti Runners family that is headed to Himalayas as we speak. Why? To underline the answer to that question above, by doing a Himalayan Ultra known as Uttarkashi 220, organised by The Globe Racers. 

Leading the pack, the maverick of the Surti Runners, Dr Ashish a.k.a the Psycho, doing 220, and drafting behind his whirl wind, there are Jatin, Chintan, Mihir and Khyatiben, doing their 100 Ks, each of them are no lesser in grit and adventure !

While I still clearly visualise the similar dare by Dr Nehal earlier, smiling his way through in sandals down the steep slopes of Masoori crewed by Sandipbhai, I didn't think I would get to be any closer to this phenomena that I would actually be inspired to do it some day !

The brief company of the god's own soul Bhupi sir at SUMMIT 2.0 was an inspirational encounter that gave all of us an insight into an ultra runners mind and heart. And here he is leading from the front ! Almost obviously.

And with the ultra man Amishbhai joining as support team, the team is poised to melt some good mountain miles.! Trying to match the craze are the crew to the runners namely Sushmaben, Harshil, Birjubhai, Samir (Sam), Keyurbhai, and Sameer Kavani.        

No matter how arduous it sounds, with a cumulative 34,000 + feet of climbing and just as much descent in a single stage race, the gang is up to it and its broadly written on their determined yet smiling faces!

Cutting through the lower Himalayas and rallying through spectacularly scenic villages, this race is actually a mountaineer's delight, and the mountaineers turned novice runners of team PRAYAS are actually fascinated by this adventure. 

Least can we wait for the day when we will also do this, and we cross our hearts we will, the juvenile mountaineer in us talks to the infant runner in us, ..."don't ask ever again that why do they run !", as we wish all the best to the SURTI RUNNERS brave hearts !

All the very best runners who are looking to be mountaineers, from the mountaineers who are looking to be runners ! team PRAYAS and the SURTI RUNNERS family wish you all the best for the ultra !

Go high, Go long, Go Blue !

Don't forget to bring back some clouds from the top destination cloud 9, that is our mountaineering school, the NIM, Uttarkashi , The FINISH Line !

a new life !

A super day at Team PRAYAS shelter..!! 3rd May it was.


6 releases in one day.

2 monkeys

4 dogs.


All inpatient with bad wounds or fractures stayed with us for quite a long time, and they healed....and went back to their family, to their homes.


Just see how they are showing their relief and happiness by seeing their relatives, the two-legged animals who used to feed them and take care of them, and were there to call team Prayas when they were in need.

They called on to keep a tab on their healing and recovery just like the relatives and family do.

And the monkeys came into the need of medical attention due to accidents. Electrocution or accidental fall brought them in and expert handling was much needed to get them back to an able position.

Shelter team, volunteers and ambulance team, A super teamwork, to help the trust of the four-legged be restored in the two-legged animals.

Please enjoy the happy moments.

Case 1: Front leg fracture, a sad face!

Stayed with us for 26 days...

Case 2: Injured on the neck and ear. Stayed with us for 19 days 

Case 3: A Bad Tumore on the Tail.

Stayed with us for 26 days 

Case 4: Back leg dislocation

Stayed with us for 19 days

Not only they have gone back as healed ones, they have gone back as healthy vaccinated dogs so safe for the society and other dogs, as well as whenever the opportunity presents, they go back as sterilised dogs, so they do not contribute to the stray dog population. 

The monkeys were released in the appropriate location as discussed with the forest department after healing them for electrocution and accident case. a release which is at night has lesser clarity but we can see the monkey jumping out for freedom for the rest of the life, with injuries healed and also vaccinated.  

The most heartening part of the videos is the connection of the people who called us with the dogs we healed. See the attachment of the stray dogs with their caretakers and family. The humanity lives..!

Run along !

An Indian crossbreed dog was rescued by ambulance team with about to die condition from KRIBHCO township. Owner abandoned him. He was brought to the shelter and healed and then ambulance team went back to release the dog at the same place. 

The dog had got so attached to the team that he came running parallel to the ambulance the whole distance approx 20km to Bhestan and stayed put against ambulance team members door.

They couldn't let him go again. 

since then this "black cheetah" is at the shelter and oh boy what a runner he is....he guards the shelter and whenever he has a hint of the words.." chal dodvana" ("Let's Run")......

..he is off to his lanky long feet and starts running along...

team Prayas has found running as a good sport now and many of Prayas team members run 10ks and HMs and in practice runs this guy gives them a great company. 

A love of a rescued dog is greater than anyone in this world they say..! 

Well.....here he is.

Running for the real sake of running! Mann-Meet ! and the shout out ...."Bardoli !"

The shimmering eyes, the galloping feet, the never fading smile and the curious expressions, is what best describes this duo!

Brothers in arms as they are, are the faces of future of running in this part of the running world.

I always shouted out “Bardoli..!” when the 10k runners makes fly by past us slow 21k runners after their delayed start of about 15 to 30 minutes in any event.! And each and every time I have shouted, they have raised their hands and waved acknowledging the cheer. ! This particular routine adds a great cheer in me and somehow and I don’t know why the nervousness of a race turns into joy then onwards!

In VCHM this time, there was some confusion at the race start, and when we were about to reach second km mark, we saw the antelopes of 10k lead pack darting ahead, and Meet was among them and we tried to cheer him too but he was too busy to listen !

Then after a very short while, there was this left behind antelope jettisoning past us, asking Amishbhai in who’s bus I was travelling, “ketla jan gaya aagal..?” (“How many have gone ahead?”)

Amishbhai replied instantly to the familiar voice without having seen that "it doesn’t matter now, just go!"

So it was a bit of confusion state we thought for 10k lead pack now, and then we were off to our own stuff for the run ahead, at a slow and steady pace.

Meet managed to get a podium, and Mann also tried best but his late start costed him the place in the lead. Having known this, I was sad that the deserving chaps could not get it. But it was just another race i thought !

Walking back to the stay places, we caught up with the duo and the most appealing thing that I notice which I always knew there was, was their innocence and a “just another race” attitude !

The shimmer in the eyes the same, the ring in the voice the same, the innocence in the smile the same !

Races come and go, these types, a very rare breed I would say, be the same!

Not only their bodies are light, but they don’t have any baggage in their minds too !

Stay this way guys !

God bless !

Valsad again ! - VCHM 2018

PB, in a bit of unprepared fashion, not exactly a strong finish, Thank you Amishbhai for a comfort pacing in the first 12k ! Having not practised hurts in the last laps for sure. Running low grade fever since 4 days earlier, its a strange experience how body reacts to stress, nervousness and adrenaline.

With Nishbhai and Ashish sir flying on the road ahead, its just an honour to have drifted to cut a couple of minutes from the Adani timing a little more than a month ago. !

Summit 3.0 gave me a sprained ankle and a truck full of exhaustion, and that could be felt through the days till VCHM.

I was a way too cautious in going in for full push due to the right ankle, so a guarded run anchored on the calmness and comfort with the pacer Amishbhai made me push through first 12K , chit chatting - well i was listening more of, and Amishbhai checking every now and then by asking his questions engaging the passengers in talks to gauge their comfort level. a casual but very effective way to help runners keep up with him mentally.

comfort level went up and down every now and then , and post 12K i asked permission for a try to go slight ahead as the visible down was coming. I could gain a little ground and that i think helped to cover up some minutes.

Much Much better ho sakta hai ..! (the comedy dialogue from the movie "Rock on" sort of situation it was ! Not a strong one as i would like it ! And strong enough to get a couple of minutes cut is a solace. !

Tried bandana and cap for the first time, and as they say don't try anyting new on the race day and thats so right...it affects your "race" a lot (read as "race-photographs...!") heheheheh !

Some issues with 10k start did not go well with the 10 k runners in our troup, so a bit sad, as VCHM is alla bout simple but good organising, and this time it was a lacking it seems.

Route as usual, the best we can have !

Had a big contingent if team PRAYAS running 10k and a couple doing the HM, and that is a huge happy factor for me.

Great Time Again

Ever since Ajay started to feel the pain of his illness, I had thought to share his pain by doing something that would put myself to equal hardship physically.
And somehow this 10kmph became the benchmark to do so.

Couldn't do running though started a lot many time when Ajay was going through hell. Started wrongly , left in between, then left totally as he went away.... in some strange sense of guilt, now today accomplishing it in a half marathon.

Dedicated to Aajay.