9km uphill, a blazing sun: Runners in Satara tested by an unusually hot day

Pune: All marathons test physical endurance and mental toughness, but the 21.1-km Satara Hill Half Marathon has one punishing twist: almost immediately after the start, runners find themselves on a nine-kilometre uphill route, leading up to the beautiful Kaas plateau. This means every participant is battling extreme fatigue, even before the halfway mark.“Once that climb starts, is when you realise how demanding this race really is,” said a runner from Pune. “Your breathing becomes heavier, your legs stiffen up, but you keep telling yourself to continue.”Another participant said: “One starts to think about the finish line during the final two kilometres. You can’t do that in this race; you must conserve energy. The mind’s saying ‘run faster’, but the body’s pleading for you to ‘stop’.”As many as 7,709 runners pushed themselves to their limits on Sunday, finishing what is widely regarded as one of the toughest half marathons in the country. More than 180 participants dropped out midway. The event even has a category for runners over 75 years of age; several of them completed the course in under four hours.A major hurdle this year was the weather. Marathon organisers said the event usually sees some light showers and clouds, but on Sunday, the sun was blazing. About 2,000 volunteers were deployed along the route with hydration points at regular intervals. Organisers also set up a 20-bed ICU facility, brought in nearly 100 physiotherapists from medical colleges in Satara and Karad and had eight cardiac ambulances on standby.“We had record registration this year, so extra precautions were taken to ensure the safety of runners. It was indeed sunny this year during the race,” said Vishal Dhane, vice-president of Satara Hill Half Marathon, which is now in its 15th year.Participants came from across the country; there were four foreign nationals too. Organisers said several hotels in Satara city were fully booked for the event.District collector Santosh Patil, who flagged off the race, said the event has become an integral part of the city’s culture. “It’s also along a stunningly beautiful route. We will do everything we can to see this event is on everyone’s calendars for years to come,” Patil said.Santosh Kadam, a teacher from Ambajogai in Beed who crossed the finish line in less than two hours, said it felt like a “momentous achievement”. He’s run the race three times before. “And Sunday was the first time I finished in less than two hours. I’m delighted,” Kadam told TOI after the race.