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Ankush kr

@arsa_e_daraz

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This story didn’t begin on the start line, it began 4 years ago.When it comes to ultra running, I’m still just a kid with a dream of running longer & longer distances. Hell00135 was another step toward that dream. I’ve been thinking a lot about this adventure before finally sitting down to write about it and I still don’t think I’ve the right words. ‘cause more than a race, this was a journey..A 4-year journey.I wanted to attempt Hell00135 back in 2023, but I didn’t have the confidence. After crewing Peter that year, I realized that not starting the race was one of best decisions I’ve ever made. I wasn’t ready then.Even this year, 2 weeks before the start, I still wasn’t sure if I’d stand on the start line. Maybe I’m just blessed to have incredible people around me. I started the race with expectations, goals, & a picture in my mind of how my first 135miler would unfold.Not everything went according to plan.And that’s okay. Ultras are all about solving problems. Some you solve and some stay with you until the finish line. There were moments when I felt strong & completely in control. There were moments when I genuinely wondered if I’d even make it to the finish, especially during the descent from Baralacha La. Those 7k felt endless. And somewhere between those highs and lows, I was reminded why I fell in love with running in the 1st place. For the 1st time, I truly understood that endurance isn’t about never breaking. It’s about how many times you’re willing to put yourself back together while still moving forward.When I look back now, I don’t think about the pain in my ribs. Honestly I deserved that one. I’d experienced it before, knew it could happen & still ignored it. One small mistake almost cost me the race. When I look back now, the things I remember aren’t the heat, the suffering, the sleep deprivation, my 1st ever blisters in an ultra, or even finishing 4 hours slower than my target.I remember the people.How a kid’s dream somehow became the dream of 100s of others. How @lakhan.charan stood beside me throughout the race like a guardian, wanting nothing more than to see me live my dream.To be continued in comments…. by @arsa_e_daraz

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9 days ago

The race we anticipated most this year was the Hell-oo-135. It brought together a strong mix of experience from Europe and India: the Hungarian duo Istvan and Blasko: a fitness coach of over 30 years and a serious long-distance athlete; Maik Becker, who finished the Hell 480K last year and signed up here at the last minute just for fun; Ankush, who has served this highway for years and helped other athletes, including the course record holder, chase their dreams on it; and Shubham, who wanted to seriously test himself at this distance in the Himalayas, already carrying triple-digit ultras under his belt. Honestly, it was hard to know who would win right up until the final hour.In the end, the highway favored the one who had served it the most. Ankush was the first man in at this year's Hell-oo-135. As we know, Ankush plays the game of distance racing conservatively in the early stages of a race. He was one of the favorites, but the Hungarian duo and Maik gave him a real fight. For the first half of the race, things didn't seem to be going to plan, he faced severe gut distress in Rohtang and beyond. But once the heat of the barren Lahaul landscape kicked in, he began to regain his strength at Tandi and moved into P2 behind Maik. That's when we knew he was back, and that keeping him out of contention simply wasn't going to happen. What followed was a cat-and-mouse chase between the Hungarian duo and him all the way to Keylong Sarai, where he made several strong bursts to pull away from the competition and eventually finish at P1.Continued in comments.... by @arsa_e_daraz

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20 days ago

I’m just a kid with a dream🤪Life became a little easier the day I stopped waiting to feel comfortable and started getting comfortable with discomfort.There was a phase in my life when even stepping outside the house felt overwhelming. I spent so much energy avoiding situations that made me anxious, uncertain or afraid.But somewhere along the way, I realized growth doesn’t happen inside comfort zones. So I started taking small steps, one at a time. Slowly those small steps turned into bigger ones & fear started losing its grip.This year, running Hell00135 at GHRF is one of those steps toward the dream.There’s something magical about the Himalayas. These races don’t just test your body, they change something inside you. The training pushes you, but the acclimatization journey is an adventure in itself, cold winds, high mountains, snowfall and moments that send chills through your body even before the real game begins.Maybe that’s the beauty of chasing dreams, you don’t return as the same person who started.Here are a few moments from the acclimatization journey for my next race…. by @arsa_e_daraz

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a month ago

“You see, the more at peace you become, the less you tolerate chaos…”That quote has been sitting with me lately.Running ultras has taught me something I didn’t expect- peace isn’t always quiet or comfortable.Sometimes it looks like endless kms of road, tired legs and long stretches alone with your thoughts. Other times, it’s found while running with friends, sharing kms, conversations and laughter, only to discover that in the spaces btw words, your inner voice becomes even clearer.Out there, you learn what actually deserves your energy.You learn that not every opinion needs a response.Not every misunderstanding needs an explanation.Not every place or person, deserves your presence.The more time I spend covering long kms, the more I realize how valuable a calm mind really is.Protecting your peace isn’t about shutting the world out, it’s about being intentional with where your energy goes.And once you find that alignment, you start moving through life the same way you move through an ultra.Steady.Focused.And a lot less distracted by the noise… by @arsa_e_daraz

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2 months ago

If the goal is the experience, then you’re always collecting something valuable.Most of the pressure we feel comes from needing things to work exactly how we planned them. Needing the race to go well. Needing the project to take off.But more and more, I’m shifting my mindset to “I’m here to live this fully, whatever happens.” And that completely changes my energy.I feel that if you chase only outcomes, you’ll constantly feel behind like I initially did when I finished 7th. It took me time to process it. Having a bad day is okay. Not performing at your best is okay. Not getting the outcome you wanted is okay. But neglecting the experience isn’t.If you chase experiences, you’re always moving forward and whatever happens becomes part of the story you’re building.Dhauladhar Ultra was part of my story. I had been to Chainna Pass multiple times, always wondering what lay beyond it but I had never crossed it. Finally crossing the pass & running down toward Rajgundha and Barot Valley was such a beautiful experience. What an incredible place.Knowing that all the runners ahead of you are your favourite people, and chasing them is one hell of an experience.Getting served by your favourite people at aid stations… not just hydration, but humour too feels special.When you’re surrounded by such beautiful people & beautiful places, focusing only on outcomes starts to feel so small.This run made me realise that one of the healthiest habits you can build is learning to focus more on experiences. The results will eventually follow…Position- 7thDistance - 60k 1810m D+Thank you so much for this beautiful experience @thehellrace @fakkadkalam @bawanderlust 🙌🏼And thanks to @sumeetgupta_25 @just_1_more_mile @anirban.sengupta @manoj.verma.3538039 for all the guidance and shared miles… by @arsa_e_daraz

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2 months ago

I didn’t fall in love with running ‘cause it felt good.Most days, it didn’t. It was cold starts, hot days, heavy legs and every excuse in the book trying to talk me out of it.I fell in love with it ‘cause it demanded something more from me.Consistency over comfort. Discipline over motivation.Showing up-especially when I didn’t want to.Running didn’t just make me stronger physically.It taught me how to stay when things get hard.How to keep going when quitting feels easier.How to prove to myself, over & over again, that I can do difficult things.‘cause the truth is when you learn not to quit on a run, you stop quitting on yourself everywhere else too.And that???That’s what changed the trajectory of my life…#running #ultrarunning #ultrarunninglife #mountains #trainingdays by @arsa_e_daraz

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2 months ago

A road runner choosing a 3 day stage trail race as training for his Race A sounds weird, doesn’t it❓ My first thought was the same. But there’s a strange freedom in doing something unconventional, so I went for it.And it gave me a completely different experience.Yes, views were stunning. Who wouldn’t want to cover places like Rishikesh, the Prayags, Badrinath, Kalpeshwar, Bansinarayan, Dumak, Rudranath, Tungnath, Chopta, Deoria Tal, Ukhimath with endless bugyals & mountain peaks all around- covering 104k with around 8000mtr of climbing( not 113k with 10k mtr D+ mentioned on official site).This race was different from others, not ‘causeof stats but of ethics.In 8 years of running ultras, this was the 1st tym I witnessed so many runners cheating. Taking shortcuts, using ibuprofen like orange candies, performance enhancing drugs and more.As someone who deeply loves this sports, all this was uncomfortable. Instead of focusing on next day’s challenge, I found myself thinking about all this. Ironically, this event was organised by Indian Army @indianarmy.adgpi @suryadevbhoomiofficial , RD @coachrahul @cyrunssports himself has years of experience in running & organising races. Yet there was silence, and this time the sports was allowed to lose.Still, the race taught me a lot. I got to use trail skills I had worked on since my last trail run almost 2 years ago. Happy to have finished, but sad to see ethics and sportsmanship fading away.What is the point of finishing, rankings or winning prize money if you’re lying to yourself ❓I wanted to write a race report, but it turned into a rant🙃What I’m supposed to write if results were manipulated. Runners took shortcuts & missed checkpoints. Aid stations were poorly equipped. There was even discrimination while serving water, extra if you’re from defence. Medals were given to DNF runners, while finishers were left without medals.So here I’m, writing this after waiting days for finish line pics & medal.Sadly, I’ve neither. Continued in comments😅 by @arsa_e_daraz

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3 months ago

The beautiful consciousness of being alive…....#thesleepingbuddha #rimbick #sandakphu #moutains by @arsa_e_daraz

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3 months ago

“Under bright skies, the trails are set. On 4th April, India’s fiercest trail runners rise for one battle—one glory. The course is marked. The start line awaits.”#thebuddhatrails #thehellrace #hellrace #notfortheweakofwill #teamhellrace by @arsa_e_daraz

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4 months ago

Funny how a small shift in perspective can change everything. The moment you accept that you can’t control it all & focus only on what’s within your reach, peace quietly walks in.You learn to forgive, not ‘cause people deserve it, but ‘cause you deserve peace. And suddenly, your heart feels lighter. Nothing in life will ever be perfectly the way we imagine… yet the hope, the longing, that’s what keeps us alive. That’s why we create, dream and chase something beyond this moment.And still, what we have right here is what we live for.This was the day I chose myself again. I walked away from the noise & chose calm.Between silence and sky, I left it all behind…#rannofkutch #travel #ultralife #goingplaces by @arsa_e_daraz

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4 months ago

Crossing the finish line is where it all catches up.Not just the race. But every early morning, every long run, every doubt you pushed through. You hold it in all day. And then at the finish, you finally feel it.That release is why we do it.But for me, the start line is always more special.Because standing there takes guts. Once you’re there, chances of finishing go up.But getting there… that’s what takes your soul.Fort to Fort Ultra @themarustorm felt exactly like that. I wasn’t thinking much about the finish. Standing at the start itself gave me confidence-“Yes, I’m here.Yes, I want to compete.”Like T. S. Eliot said“And the end of all our exploringWill be to arrive where we startedAnd know the place for the first time.”That’s how this feels.Podium feels good. But the start line empowers you.Grateful to @ultrarunner129 and @shiv_8848_ for this opportunity.Next time, the journey begins again from City Palace. by @arsa_e_daraz

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4 months ago

Team has reached Dholavira. Stay tuned for more updates...#teamhellrace #hellrace #thehellrace #whitesandultra by @arsa_e_daraz

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4 months ago