Those two runs- Rohtang and Manali

Manali was not a new destination for any of us! We (Pal, me and amresh bhaai) all were well acquainted with the place. When I came up with the plan for manali, everybody had his own reason to visit the place again. Pal needed a break from work and wanted to sit in the valley facing room with a cup of tea where nobody else but nature could interrupt him. I wanted to go because i wanted to travel. Amresh bhaai wanted to go because he desperately wanted a run which could be life-time experience. So, we decided to get into the volvo. The eyes got opened when continuous burbling sound of stream of beas river reached our ear. Wow! we were in the wide open green valley of Manali.

Fresh air! Green devdar trees! Flowing rive! What more we could have expected. After putting our luggage in the hotel we decided to go to solang valley! As per planning we kept our shorts in bag to do a 5K in solang. Thinking about it is itself more than exciting and we were about to do it. Almost 5km away from solang me and amresh bhaai decided to start. Pal was happy walking the distance. I would say its a tough run you are running at 2000m from sea level and its all uphill. We got tired, really tired. The only helpful hand for the whole 5K journey was fresh chilly air! Still it could not stopped our sweat.

                   On the way while doing 5K to Solang valley

We planned to walk while coming back to manali  as the view on the way was splendid and we all wanted to cherish the moment. We walked for almost 8kms until a gentle army officer gave us lift to manali. It was worth walking. We felt like traveller not like tourist!

Next morning we had the plan for Rohtang Pass. Not just to see it but to do a 10K on leh highway at 4000m! Guys 4000m!! Our cab driver was so cooperative that he drove us ahead of rohtang where you could see hardly a tourist! Snow wall was already built by the nature on both the sides of the road and thats all we wanted. Pal took the camera and started roaming around to take some natural snap. Me and amresh bhai laced up our shoes for the toughest but the most memorable run of our life. You will forget ADHM, SCMM all once you run there. No competitive running could match the fulfillment of this run. You dont actually run there. You find yourself, you connect with your soul, with your real self.

As the oxygen level was low and we were not acclimatized we decided to run at maximum heart rate which would fall under aerobic zone. We started on a free road with snow, snow and snow both the sides. After few meters our shoes got wet because of chilled water flowing on the muddy road but these silly things had not enough in it to stop us from reaching the heaven, heaven on earth. We did 10K, every moment of that 10K is still in my mind. I never felt that much rejuvenated in life. No accomplishment could generate that feeling. We got some headache because of low oxygen level but was worth getting it.

 On Leh Highway after Rohtang Pass

Pal took this when we were on 10K.

The trio at Rohtang

After the run we had some awesome tea and maggie! It was an awesome trip and would love to run there again but cant without a running buddy!

SUGGESTION:

No heroism when you run at such altitude. Always keep yourself in aerobic zone. Even that is going to break you.