There is nothing quite so gentle, deep, and irrational as running — and nothing quite so savage, so wild” said the ultra marathoner, Bernd Heinrich. For the 25-year-old Adyar youngster, Ashok Daniel, this is a way of life. This trail runner has come a long way, after running marathons and Ultra-Trails for the last eight years. After four big races in 2016 so far, Ashok Daniel is ready to conquer more. “I was an overweight kid in school without any interest in sports. When I began college, I wanted to get rid of the extra weight and joined a gym. I did my first marathon with the Chennai Trekking Club, where I ran 21 km. Later, when the Chennai Marathon happened for the first time in the city, running a marathon was also in my bucket list. A month ahead of the marathon, was the Bangalore Ultra. There were two loops — 25 kms each. Though I was apprehensive in the beginning, I ended up running 50 kms. And then there was no looking back,” says the youngster.
In August, he ran one of the most difficult foot races in Europe — the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. “It was the most challenging trail I had ever undertaken. Considered as Europe’s most gruelling race that covers three countries and two alpine summits, it was an unforgettable experience.” An early riser, Ashok’s day starts at 4 am, when he runs by the Besant Nagar beach. “Since most of my friends are runners, we run daily as a group. I also follow a healthy diet, and avoid processed foods. For the last one year, I am trying to be a vegetarian. It helps me recover quicker from injuries. When we do longer distances, your body needs to cooperate — and in the long term, this seems to be the healthier option.”
His recent trail, the Malnad Ultra, four weeks back, was another amazing experience for him. “I ran through the coffee plantations at Kemmanagundi near Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka. I finished the 2,800-meter elevation in 16 hours,” says Ashok, who is also an intellectual property rights lawyer! According to him, running in the mountains is a beautiful experience. “Even when you are tired, you can look at nature, and the spectacular sight gives you energy. I have to work towards being less injury-prone though... apart from staying away from injuries, a runner should be consistent.”
Explaining his diet during the trails, he says, “Eating during the race is important. For shorter distances, you don’t need to eat much — but for longer outings, you have to eat a little at regular intervals. A combination of dry fruits and regular fruits like oranges and bananas helps.” Though Ashok prefers to travel solo, during European races, he will have company — “In India, people do very few long trails. It is beautiful to run alone — you could be all alone at night with just the headlamps. And also, on top of mountains! It is really stunning.”
So, how does the youngster train in Chennai? “Unfortunately, we don’t have mountains in the city. I used to travel to Ooty, Kodaikanal or Yercaud alone, to train in the mountains. One should practise up there in order to take on the trails properly... other than that, we do not have the necessary infrastructure in our country.” (sighs) A determined and passionate runner, his workout regimen is the key to his success. “We need to develop flexibility in the legs to run in the hills, because the terrain is uneven. Your ankles and legs should be stronger for long distance runs. To be more flexible and to relax my muscles, I practice yoga for 15 to 20 minutes before I hit the bed,” Ashok explains.
Talking about what’s next, he says, “I have to improve as a climber — and in the next four-five years, I want to climb the Himalayas! After doing these long distances, I need to step up my game. I want to do solo climbing or with a partner. I don’t want to hire a guide, as there won’t be any challenges then.” Ashok has already chalked out ultra-trail plans for next yea, though. “I plan to be part of the Tour of Giants in September, in Italy. It lasts for six days. Since I am done with the UTMB, I am qualified for the event,” he concludes excitedly.
