GRINDSTONE 100 miles (September 20 – September 22, 2023) race experience while it’s fresh!
Start time: Friday 6 pm September 20
Normally, I do not start my race report like this. But I am doing anyway by praising our god ‘Swapa Khwa Aaju, Bhaila Dhyo and Nasa Dhyo’ (Newari words). They were in my mind throughout the course and difficult times.
Going into this race, I knew it was difficult, it was treacherous, and it would be nonstop action of running/walking without sleeping for two days. It didn’t get its name ‘Grindstone 100M’ for any reason (actually we ran 104 miles). I felt like all the runners were put into a GRINDER. Out of 300 brave souls, only 186 came out of the other end, fully battered, broken, still standing tall in their wobbly legs. The course was a treacherous technical trail, full of pointed rocks and tree roots. And to make matters worse, the rain, unrelented wind and fog made life even more miserable. The rocks were covered with moss, and the rain made it worse. It was slippery, narrow, and unstable. There were so many relentless never-ending hills and uncompromising steep downhills that, at one point I told myself, “Please give me climbs only, no more downhills”. The downhills started tightening my quads and running in flat was getting difficult.
This was the longest run I had ever done without my family or my running brother ‘Govinda Awale’. I missed you running together. The race started at 6 pm on Friday September 22nd, 2023 in beautiful Natural Chimney Park. Before the race, I was calm and stoic, fully knowing what’s ahead of me. Runners traverse through the park for about 1 mile before disappearing in the long-awaited arms of mother nature ‘the trail’, I would call ‘Grinder’. The initial excitement had carried most of the runners together for about 10 miles before thinning out. I was in good shape, in a good mood and was doing really good. I was averaging about 15-16 mins per mile for the first 40 miles navigating through unrelented hills and downhills the first night. I felt like running during the night is much easier than during daytime as I couldn’t see how far I had to climb or go downhill. You can see as much as your head lamp brightens. That minimized the pressure, anticipation, and all I was doing was keep moving.
I knew going into the race, there was a high chance of rain, but I was not expecting wind. Around 12:30 am Saturday, the fun began. The wind started picking up the pace and it was relentless, unforgiving and I could hear the entire jungle howling. To make matters worse, it became so foggy, I could barely see 10 feet ahead of me. I couldn’t do anything; we couldn’t do anything. I just kept running, praising what mother nature has to offer. When I came to 46 miler aid station, I sat there fully exhausted. I ate a few bits of Chicken bake and French cookies from Costco that I bought the night before. After a 20-25 mins rest, I got up to run again. However, after about 200 feet, I returned to change my clothes as I was shivering with cold. One of the best decisions that I had made and that can be a life or death situation. After 45 mins of stop, I disappeared for a long waited 4 miles uphill and then 3 miles steep steep downhill. This is where I almost broke down mentally. This is the only place where I could get a phone signal. I finally got a chance to talk to my kids Rayna, Aatish and wife Anju. I was emotional and tears started flowing through my eyes. I hung up the phone as I couldn’t take it anymore. Hearing their voices lifted my spirit and I started barking downhill to the aid station. It was the same relentless pattern many many more times, I couldn’t keep up the count. I was looking for Dowell’s Daft Aid Station so bad. I had to reach there somehow, some way as I knew Govinda was waiting with Dhaal Bhaat and warm clothes. I gave him a big hug and told him I missed him with a quavering voice. It was so good to eat the best food in the entire world. After changing to warm clothes, I started climbing another 5 miles and 4 miles downhill to see Govinda again at Camp Todd Aid Station (2nd last station). After 15-20 minutes, I embarked on climbing another 3-4 miles. This is where I met Mike Smith from Santa Fe, New Mexico. I didn’t talk to him that much, but we converse here and there. Our goal was to push and pull each other for the final 15 miles. Both of us started climbing the hills gingerly, but nonstop. He is a very very strong person in the 65 – 69 years category. This was his 206th Ultra Marathon. I am so amateur compared to him. The last 4 miles was downhill dirt and paved road. The last two miles on the paved road seemed like an eternity. We were desperate to see the blue Hoka blue flags to the finish line. Finally, after 1 mile or so, the race volunteer showed us the trail to the finish line. I was so tired, so exhausted, yet so happy that I could smell the finish line. I could hear the loudspeakers, cowbells and people cheering. Govinda had thoughtfully left the Nepal flag at the entrance to the finish line. I picked it up, hugged it and ran towards the finish line raising the Nepali flag high to the arms of Govinda and cheering of people.
Just like any other Ultra races, this race is full of pain, agony and euphoria packed in one bottle. I completed a treacherous 104 miles journey without sleeping for 2 straight nights in 34 hours and 47 minutes. Feels so satisfying and good.
People often ask me, why do you run so much? Why do you put yourself in so much physical and mental pain? To be honest, I don’t have an answer and if I do, it will be different every time. Quoting Courtney Dauwalter ‘my hero’ ‘The Ultra God’: “My motivation for the sport is never about a finish place or finish time. What are we capable of? What can humans do? I want to test that as much as possible. Our brains and our bodies are incredible, and when we sync them up and put them towards one cause, it’s pretty cool what we can find out about ourselves.”
Personally, I want to motivate, I want to inspire my kids, my family and my community. If I can motivate one kid to get out of the couch and have them on the trail or play ground, I would feel accomplished.
I want to thank my brothers Sahadev and Dinesh (2023 BMW Berlin marathon finishers), Rajesh, Jiten, Anna Haddad and all NDRC / PRC running friends for persistent hill training in Nepal, especially, Rajesh Jiten and Anna. You all were awesome. Thank U NECC Himalayan Warriors for running with me. Proud to represent Nepal Education and Cultural Center – NECC, Chyasa Manka Khala
Thank you to the race volunteers who took good care of us in such a weather. Salute to you all 
Finally, I missed my sister Maya and family and my kids Aatish and Rayna and wife Anju at the finish line.
Till next time, stay tuned.
Gears used:
Clothes — Craft tshirts and tights, Arcteryx mid layer , Inov8 rain proof jacket, Balega blister free socks
Watch: Garmin fenix 6x Pro Solar
Shoes: Inov8 TrailFly Ultra G 300 Max
Backpack: Solomon
Trekking pole: Black diamond
Supplements: Hammer Endurolyte Extreme, Nuun tablets, one pouch of Roctaine
Best food: Daal Bhaat Aalu (Nepali rice, lentils, potatoes)
