173km, 45 hours, zero sleep: How Bengaluru woman conquered tough Japan trail race
The ultra-endurance event, which began on June 27, saw 135 runners at the start line, including eight international participants. Only 63 managed to finish, and Ashwini stood out as the only non-Japanese athlete — across both men and women — to complete the 173km course, which also involved a punishing 9,000-metre elevation gain, higher than Mount Everest. She was the 10th woman overall to cross the finish line.
"I completed the race in 45 hours and 42 minutes, carrying over 6kg of mandatory safety gear, plus food and water that brought my pack weight up to 8kg.
As a vegetarian in Japan, I couldn't depend on local aid stations, so I carried everything I needed for the entire race. The dropout rate was huge — 72 runners did not finish — which shows just how brutal the course was," Ashwini shared.
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The Deep Japan Ultra 100 course featured three major mountain climbs — including Mount Asakusa and Mount Sumo — and was set on a treacherous terrain about 300km from Tokyo. "There were snow patches on one summit that we had to cross three times, and several sections were so steep we needed ropes and chains to climb or descend," she said.
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The weather added to the challenge, swinging from humid and cloudy conditions on day one to blazing 33°C heat the next.
There were no camps or sleep breaks — just aid stations sometimes spaced 28km apart, unlike the 10km intervals common in Indian trail races. "I didn't sleep for two nights. I tried for five minutes in a nap room, but I just couldn't. We were on our feet the whole time," said Ashwini, who was funded by Tekion, an automotive retail tech company under its 'Tekion for Good' CSR initiative.
Full-time focus on fitness
Ashwini is a full-time running coach. A former IT professional, she quit her corporate career after nine years to pursue fitness full-time. "I was athletic all my life — I played field hockey in school — but realised I was better at endurance than speed. While others focused on minutes, I wanted to see how far I could go. That's how I got into ultrarunning."
Her passion for endurance races dates back to 2019, during the Malnad Ultra (110km) in Karnataka.
"I still had energy after running 100km. That's when I started dreaming about doing a 100-miler," she said.
In preparation for Japan, Ashwini trained extensively. "I was already preparing for a 100-miler in the US earlier this year. My weekly routine involved 70-90km of running, strength training at Invictus Performance Lab, and long weekend runs across different terrain. The team helped me work on uneven surfaces, muscle control, and injury prevention," she explained.
One of her biggest mental boosts came during a training event — the Backyard Ultra — where runners completed 6.7km every hour until only one remained. Ashwini clocked 28 hours and 187.8km, setting an Indian women's record. "It helped me mentally prepare for Japan — how to manage fuel, push through fatigue, and stay calm under pressure."
According to Ashwini, her family was her biggest support system. "My husband and in-laws were incredibly supportive throughout this journey.
My mother-in-law manages things at home when I'm away training or racing. It's been 14 years since I got married, and their encouragement means the world to me."
"With this accomplishment, I hope more women feel inspired to prioritise their health and take care of themselves. It's my wish to see more of us on the trails and in ultrarunning — because women are born with an unlimited supply of endurance. It's just about discovering our abilities," she added.
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