Marathoner Ashwini Bhat on running the ultra mile

The Hindu

5 hours ago

It is 4pm, and Ashwini swipes her card as she exits a gym at Millers Road, greeting us with a welcome smile. 'I train here thrice for nearly three hours every week,' she says. Not too long ago, the 39-year-old participated in the Backyard Ultra Bangalore, running for 28 hours and setting the national record for women at 187.6 kms in the process.
Backyard Ultra is an ultra-marathon event that was founded in 1910 by Gary Cantrell from Tenessee, USA, that requires participants to complete one loop (one kilometre) in one hour in order to enter the next loop. The unique feature of the race is the lack of a finish line; the race is declared over when only one participant remains to complete the loop.
The Bengaluru edition of the race took place recently. 'In this format, the most interesting thing is that your family and friends can come and support you, so more than an individual pursuit, it becomes a community activity,' notes Ashwini, who finished second.
Life before the race
Ashwini Ganapathi Bhat recalls being athletically-inclined since childhood, engaging in field hockey and other sports since her school days, but she ran a marathon for the first time as an IT professional at an event organised by her company. 'We are used to races being about finishing first, but I was intrigued by the distance. It was never about how fast I could cover the distance, but how far I could go.'
The fascination with distance led Ashwini to quit her job in 2016, and after a year as a professional photographer, she decided to become a full-time runner.
'I realised quite early on, that I have a lot of endurance, which helps one last longer in a race. That is how ultra running happened,' she says, explaining the switch from small distance runs, trails and marathons to ultra events.
Running, for Ashwini, has primarily created a global community that looks out for each other and induces perseverance in one another. 'Once, I had to travel to the United States for a hundred-miler, and needed an affordable place to stay. One of my friends reached out to the Bay Area runners in San Fransisco, and a total stranger messaged me,' she said, describing her introduction to Ajit Narwal, a fellow Indian runner who hosted her with his family for the next 10 days.
'Running has become a common ground that connects us; it defies all boundaries making it easy for you to connect with somebody because everyone suffers, and everyone goes through similar setbacks and challenges on their growth curve. So when I meet a runner, it's easy for us to converse and strike up a friendship. That is something I am grateful for — of strangers being a blessing.'
She further acknowledges the constant support of her husband and in-laws, who cheer her at every event.
Consistency is key
Prepping for an event such as the Backyard Ultra, requires immense grit and determination, physically, emotionally and psychologically. This is why, Ashwini says, her training routine had to include multiple layers and immense discipline.
'You can practice running for hours, build body strength, etc., but the actual conditions at the race can never be simulated. The weather can affect you, your body can experience discomfort, and your shoes can cause blisters. The terrain, the time and the tension, all of these aspects need presence of mind. Learning mental techniques can help you to face the moment, bear the pain, and build a mindset to tell yourself — you've done it before. It happens. It is okay.'
She notes that although she has been a self-trained runner for the past decade, she now trains with gyms and performance trainers, who have meticulously charted out a routine that helps her keep her body and mind in sync, building endurance on the field. 'I have learned to listen to my body and understand it better now,' she says.
Ashwini observes that a challenge she faces daily is keeping up with her routine. 'The struggle is only in those five seconds when you decide to say 'Yes' or 'No',' she says, affirming that being consistent is the only reason she has been able to reach where she is today.
Towards greater distances
Ashwini reveals that her greatest motivators are other women who tell they were inspired by her. 'Women have a natural endurance; that is just how our body works, and if I have encouraged someone to try, then that makes me happy.'
She is also a trainer and coaches other runners, applying her experiences and studying researches on various training methods. 'Even while running the Backyard Ultra, I would observe the techniques different runners were using, and constantly consider how I could apply them while training others.'
On the running front, she aspires to participate in the Mumbai edition of Backyard Ultra, scheduled for next year. 'I am someone who looks at it from a long-term perspective, I would like to be a runner throughout my life. That is my dream. I want to be able to say 'Yes' everyday.'