Nainital, August 30: The 15th Nainital Monsoon Mountain Marathon, themed ‘Run for Uttarakhand’, took place in Nainital, attracting hundreds of runners from across the globe.
Jyoti from Haryana clinched the first position in the 21-kilometer category. In an interview, she expressed, “It was a wonderful event, and I secured the first position here. It felt tough at times, but everything was well-organized. The management and volunteers did a great job.” Jyoti is a senior national medalist and is currently on duty with the Railways in Raebareli.
Encouraging young athletes, she advised them to believe in themselves and maintain consistent practice.
Prabhu, a runner from Kotdwar, shared that the 21-kilometer run in Nainital was not new to him. He has completed this distance multiple times. He noted that the route was filled with climbs and descents, but the refreshment arrangements and overall organization were commendable.
Prabhu is a three-time national medalist and has set records at the Khelo India meet. He has participated in marathons in Almora, Roorkee, and Udham Singh Nagar, among other places. He emphasized that the government support for athletes in Uttarakhand is helping to advance the sport. Financial assistance is boosting the morale of new players, encouraging youth from villages to engage in sports. He believes that with continued support, athletes from Uttarakhand can perform even better on national and international stages.
Jayanti Thapliyal, from Pauri Garhwal and currently stationed with the CRPF in Meerut, secured first place in the 45-plus category. She mentioned that during the first three kilometers of the run, she questioned her decision to participate. However, as she progressed, she began to enjoy the route. Despite the climbs and descents, she completed the race and won in her category.
Jayanti has competed internationally, participating in events in Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, and the USA. She also took part in the Boston Marathon in 2024. According to her, while running routes may vary globally, strong practice can help tackle any challenge.
This was Jayanti’s first experience in Nainital, and she hopes to return in the future.
John, a runner from Kenya, also participated in the hilly race in Nainital. He thanked the organizers, stating that while the route map was good, the course was extremely challenging.
For John, this was his first experience running in the mountains. He shared that he lagged behind for the first 10 kilometers but tried to increase his pace afterward. However, he began to feel muscle strain and pain. Despite this, he persevered and managed to secure second place.
John has previously participated in international races in places like Kashmir, Pune, and Bengaluru, but most of those routes were flat. The climb in Nainital posed a completely different challenge for him.
Alongside the race, John was captivated by Nainital’s beauty. He described the town as stunning and praised the hospitality of its residents. He noted that the people of Nainital are cheerful and warmly welcome visitors.
Leave a Comment