Dr Rajesh Jauhri, Mhow
A veteran of the Indian Army and a guest
athlete even in his sixties, Brig Sanjay Dikhit returned triumphantly from his
grueling adventure at the recently concluded Malnad Ultra 2025, the 9th edition
of the country’s premier trail-running event in the Western Ghats.
Brig Dikhit’s journey began with a 3,100-kilometre motorcycle ride from Mhow to Chikmaglur to the event start, a prelude that
underscored his determination. He then plunged into the 100 km ultra-trail run,
known for its punishing terrain winding through dense jungles and sprawling
coffee plantations. The course, designed by the organisers, features two loops
of a 50 km track, with over 95% of the route traversing trails rather than
roads.
Brutal elevation swings, a total ascent of around
3,801 metres and a comparable descent, defined the challenge. For Brig Dikhit,
nature added every possible variable to up the ante: heavy rain struck at the
70 km mark, followed by creeping fog that reduced visibility to near zero.
Running in pitch dark with only a headlamp for company, he navigated slippery
slopes and slippery roots, slipping and falling three times. Remarkably, he escaped
with nothing broken, but his shoe didn’t survive. He had to swap to a fresh
pair at an aid station.
A wrong turn around the 38-km point cost him
another 30 minutes, and nearly an hour in total as he retraced his path. By the
end, rather than 100 km, his GPS recorded 103 km. The final descent, steep and
treacherous, proved "murderous," but somehow, he clawed his way to
the finish line, beating the official cut-off time.
Out of 128 starters in the 100 km category, only 79
made it to the end, and Brig Dikhit stood out as the oldest among them.
Organised by the volunteer-run outfit behind Malnad Ultra, the event draws
seasoned trail-runners from across India and beyond, offering a “mountain level
4” challenge meant to test endurance, grit and mental resolve.
Brig Dikhit later described the experience as
“scenic but tough”, a unique mix of nature’s splendour and brutal adversity.
Running through remote forested plantations under rain-soaked treetops,
battling darkness and fatigue, he added that doing it solo, “with no buddy,”
made the achievement all the more personal and meaningful.
In a sporting world where youth often dominates
endurance events, Brig Dikhit’s feat sends a powerful message: age may slow
you, but spirit and perseverance forged in the disciplined life of an army man can
still carry you across the most daunting finish lines.
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