My 1st Trekking at Nagalapuram Hills, Andhra Pradesh

My 1st Trekking

DATE: December 25, 2011

ROUTE: Ramapuram, Chennai – Porur – Poonamalle – Thiruvallur – Utthukottai – Nagalapuram – Aaree and Back

PLACE: Nagalapuram Hills, Andhra Pradesh, India

Anbu Mani and  I were discussed two days before about Nagalapuram trekking. If we are free at weekend. We will go to Nagalapuram, i.e., our plan.

On December 24, Saturday night we both confirmed the Nagalapuram trekking plan.

On December 25, Sunday, I woke up at 3:30 am and was ready for trekking and rode to Anbu’s Home at Ramapuram and from there, then we have travelled to Nagalapuram by his Bike [up and down - 180 km].

Morning Weather was very chill and cool, we were had frozen.

Anbu was going to this place the second time,  it’s the first trekking to me, with no idea (about route or area). So, I have followed Anbu.

We reached Uttukottai around 7 am and had breakfast and waited for Chennai Trekking Club Members, but if they went to another place or took another route. So we continued our travelling.

We reached Aaree and we walked from Aaree village to Hills 3~3.5 km.

At the entrance, there is a lake, filled with water (winter season that’s why lake otherwise only half or a quarter of its capacity were filled, nice view), then we walked toward forest. It was very beautifully and very peacefully…

          Anbu told me about his previous trekking experience and singing (shouting J) song, make a noise!!!!!!…

Around 1:30 pm, we reached (searching waterfall but failed to find) at some point, we lost hope finding the waterfall, also hungry and a little bit tired, so we both had the discussion and decided to return…

We ate fruits, Biscuits, Bread, dates, and etc.

While coming back, we both took bath at the stream, the water was so chill and refreshing. The moment I fell on the water, I feel the strange thing in my body, all my tiredness, leg pain, hungry were filed away. What a pleasant moment!!!

We enjoyed all moments during the trekking…

With full of happiness and freshness in body and mind,  we came back to Chennai…

CHENNAI BREVETS 200KM

MADRAS RANDONNEURS presents

Associate with Tamilnadu Cycling Club

CHENNAI BREVETS 200KM

ROUTE: From Uthandi Toll Gate near Chennai (ECR) to Pondicherry Toll Gate and back.

DATE: December 18, 2011, 5:30 am to 6:55 pm.

Brevets is an international cycling event, where the riders must complete long distances in a particular time frame. The distance is 200 km and has to be completed within 12:30 hrs. Otherwise, you stand disqualified.

For the first time, the event was conducted in Chennai and about 39 riders participated, many of them are members of Tamilnadu Cycling Club.

In 2011, my dream was to ride at least 200km for a long-distance ride.  The longest distance I have ridden was a 183km (TOT-2010 launches) ride in 2010.

I have been trying for the last 6 months to go for a 200 km ride, but could not do this due to my running commitments.

So when I got an opportunity to realize my dream, I participated in the event “Chennai Brevets 200km”.  Since it was my last chance in 2011, I told myself that “I WILL NOT MISS THIS EVENT”.

On 18th December, I woke up at 3:15 am and got ready for the day.

 I started riding from Velacherry (Room) to Uthandi toll gate and I reached at around 5:00 am.

After completing some formalities for the event, we celebrated NEVILLE’S Birthday.

The event was flagged off by Mr Srinath Rajam and Mr Balasundram (Balaji Cycle).

We started our journey at SBI Bank ATM, Uthandi Tollgate at 6:35 am, weather was amazing and it was breezy.

First 100km,

I started with Neville, Gopalan, Yuvraj and we did a 1-minute one-person leader rotation. This means, for every four minutes, I will follow a leader for 3 minutes and then be a leader for a minute.

We reached Mahapallipuram A2B restaurant and we had breakfast.  After breakfast, we continued the ride.

During the first 100 km, Upto 70^th km we maintained an average speed of 24~26 km per hour.

I had water every 10~12 minutes and ate some Fruits, Chocolates.

I was a little tired and had to slow down.  So I missed my group at 70^th km.

I reached Pondicherry Tollgate on 10:50 am.  I have completed the first 100 km in 4 Hours and 15 minutes.

I did some stretches and took a rest for 20 minutes.

 

Second 100km,

I started with Suresh, Tamilarazan and Kriruba.

The return journey was a KILLER. ECR (East Coast Road) had a very heavy headwind and it was a struggle fighting the winds all the way back. At times the wind was so strong that it was pushing from someone off the road.  

We could not maintain an average speed, but we managed to keep riding.

I drank water every 10 minutes, a few cups of coffee, juices, fruits and Chocolates.

I successfully finished “Brevets 200km” at 11:25 hrs and we took snaps at the end of the ride.  I was dropped back to my room by Tamilarazan in his Car…

I like to thank Partha, Arun and the volunteer support team.

Thanks for the wishes and God blesses you all.

#21. Goa River Half Marathon (GRHM) — 2011 at Goa

Goa River Half Marathon (GRHM) — 2011 at Goa

On December 9th, I participated in my 21st Marathon event “GRHM – 2011” at Goa.

I completed my office work and called my family and friends before my Goa Journey. My family and friends wished me well and blessed me.

Before leaving, I went through the checklist for Garmin, Camera, Train tickets, Snacks, Water, and Dresses.

I reached Guindy at 1:30 pm to board the Vaso Express at 14.10 hrs.

My friend Anbu bought 2 tickets we both met around 1:40 pm at Guindy Railway station and proceeded to Central Station by a local train.

We reached Park Station at 14.00 hrs and sprinted to board Vasco Express at 14.10 hrs. The train left 5 minutes late and we were able to catch our breath after a few minutes.

After we boarded the train we started playing cards and we enjoyed Elagiri Hills in the evening.  We took some snaps of this amazing scenery from the train.  We reached Yesvantpur Junction, had our dinner and went to sleep.  Day 1 happily finished…

On December 10th, I woke up around 6:00 am and the train was on its way to HUBLI.

We had breakfast and we were ready to enjoy the travel from Castle Rock to Kulem hills.

It was very amazing travel with a lot of “S” band curves, tress on both sides, 20+ tunnels.  The train was going slowly and then we saw Dudhsagar falls. The travel through the mountains lasted three hours and we enjoyed this very much

We reached around 2:30 pm at Vasco railway station and went to the bib collection expo at Municipal garden, Swatantrapath, Vasco.

We collected Bib, Timing Chip and Goody bag, and we met Ashwin (RFL).

We test ran for Puma “Faas 300” shoes. The shoes were very nice to run.

We checked in the hotel and had a good lunch at a Udupi restaurant.

After returning to the hotel, we saw the movie “Death Race and 2012”.  We had dinner and prepared for the event.  Day 2 joyfully finished…

 

On December 11th, we woke up around 4 am and got ready for the event. We walked from the hotel to Municipal Garden and caught the event organizers buses to reach the starting point.

We warmed up for a few minutes and I thought about a plan similar to the Delhi Half marathon.

(First 10.5k average 12km/hr and second 10.5k increase my speed 12km+…)

The Half Marathon event countdown was started sharply at 6:00am. 9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…0... Start… All participants started running.  I’m also started running at my own pace…

The course was more up and down (like a hill runs), marked every km, every km aid station and good support volunteers.

I remember Jaga’s advice on hill running “Hills upwards: slightly down your head and short steps. Hills downwards: look forward and long step. It helps you maintain your average speed and also save energy…”

I took water breaks at 3k, 6k, 9k, 12k and 16k.

First 10.5k, I maintained my average speed. Midway I see Jaga and I told him “Your current position is in 21st place. So keep going”.

The second 10.5k, I ran with Suresh and at around 2kms, he told me “Break your records. After this, I got new energy and increased my pace and maintained my average speed and finally, I successfully finished 21.09km at 01:46:48 hrs.

I think this time there were no mistakes in my plan. I’m really happy that I participated in this event.

Later, all our participant friends met. My Friend Jaga (Bib No. 1200) finished 21.09km at 01:23:56 hrs.

After hearing some good music’s and we started to dance with co-runners and all of us enjoyed it.

The event was well-organized and we had a lovely team of supporting, Music’s and cheering volunteers.

We took snaps after having a gala time. We reached the hostel and freshened up to have lunch and caught the train.

The return journey was very tough; the train was linked from Goa to Bangalore separate compartment (1 AC, 1 UR, and 1 SL), the train was fully crowded.

We had one RAC seat and the other two were waiting listed.  

We went to sleep in the evening after we had dinner and adjusted to be seated.

I think around 12 am I got a confirmed seat and I went to sleep.

Next year if we go to the Goa marathon change the route Chennai – Palakatu – Goa and return. Day 3 gladly and tiredly finished…

On December 12th, we reached Bangalore around 8:00 am and we caught Sanghamitra Exp. at 9:00 am from Bangalore to Chennai.

We played cards sometimes and we discussed the upcoming events and reached Chennai at 3:00 pm.

We finally went home with the memories of our event. Day 4 successfully finished…

 We got a new friend and runner from Chennai Mr Srinivasan, who is eager to participate in many upcoming events.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/134452367