Noida man, 42, completes 70-km Adi Kailash run in 12 hours

For 42-year-old Noida businessman Sameer Nehra, completing a 70-km run around Adi Kailash was not just an endurance test. The route took him through a remote Himalayan valley at an altitude of around 15,000 feet, where temperatures dropped to -18°C and low oxygen levels made every kilometre more demanding. He completed the Adi Kailash Parikrama Run in 12 hours and 17 minutes. Nehra, who lives in Sector 105, Noida, took part in the event organised by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board from October 24 to 26 in Uttarakhand's Vyas Valley. The run began at Jyolingkong and ended at Gunji, in the remote Dharchula region of Pithoragarh district. The distance was challenging, but the conditions made it harder. Nehra said that participants had to reach the location a day or two in advance to get used to the altitude. They stayed at a military camp before the run. A spiritual experience along the route For Nehra, the run also carried a personal and spiritual meaning. In an Instagram post shared on his account, @sameer_ultrarunner, he said he had missed the event the previous year but was glad to finally complete it this time. “Finally completed the Adi Kailash Parikrama Ultra Run! I missed out on this event last year due to certain reasons, but this year I finally made it,” he wrote. Describing the experience, he added: “It was an amazing experience, beyond words! I truly felt a deep connection to Lord Shiv Ji throughout the run. The beauty of the surroundings and the spiritual atmosphere made it unforgettable. Om Namah Shivay.” When the body gives up, the mind has to take over Image courtesy: Instagram/@Isameer_ultrarunner Nehra said staying hydrated and dealing with physical exhaustion were among the toughest parts of the run. At a certain point, he recalled, his legs became so tired that continuing was difficult. “It's the hydration, and then there is a point when your body becomes completely exhausted and your legs stop functioning. That's the really tough part. At that stage, it becomes a mental game. You are running using your mind because your legs have stopped responding,” he told in a conversation with Hindustan Times. He admitted that thoughts of quitting did cross his mind during the challenge. “It's not that you don't feel like giving up. The thought that ‘let's just quit, I can't do this anymore’ definitely crosses your mind. But you have to push yourself and say, ‘No, I have to finish this. I've already committed to it’,” he said. Nehra's preparation includes running for two hours every evening. He has also been participating in marathons for several years. Having completed the 70-km challenge, he has already signed up for another endurance event, a 160-km marathon. For Nehra, the 12 hours and 17 minutes on the mountain marked the completion of a challenge he had missed the previous year. His next target, however, is already set.