Something I had yearned for in trail races is a route that is not just a one way up and down the other way. There are some that offer this sort of a route but no route comes close when compared to the one set up in the Mawla Ghati of Pune. I participated in the 25km category of the 2026 edition of Mawli Ghati Trail Race held between 5-7 June. This race was the first one to offer a 200 mile category in the Sahyadris and even got double digit participation which according to me is remarkable. Other categories included 100 mile, 100k, 75k, 50k and 10k. There was something for everyone!
The Route
Multiple medium sized hills makes this route very interesting, for an amateur runner like me who mostly walks on uphills and pushes on downhills, it becomes quite a ride! It's an out and back route with 100% trails except a road crossing before the 12.5k return mark. Without rain or slush, the terrain is not technical and hence not difficult to get through. There are only a couple of stretches which have a wider portion of quick sand and loose rocks where one needs to be a bit careful.
The Weather
Monsoon this year is delayed and many people who were expecting rain were disappointed. I, on the other hand, was glad that the terrain was dry as there is no way one can run through it when wet and is bound to come back broken with multiple falls. This, however, leads to an increase in temperature. The sun kept hiding behind the clouds which was much appreciated by all but when it didn’t, it kept reminding you that you were doing this in June with no shade whatsoever and the direct exposure kept sucking everything you had in you which made this race challenging for me.
Expo
The expo was at Teakwood resort. Tripole was hosting a stall at the expo and as always, it was lovely to meet the runners before the race day. One thing that stood out was the breadth of the geography from people who had come for this race. People from all southern states had come for this race, such is the appeal of Mawla Ghati. I always wonder why there weren't many north Indians and why trail running hasn’t picked up so much in the north as it had in the south.
Stay
Being located in a remote area, stay options are limited and all the resorts get filled up quickly. I would advise anyone planning Mawla to book way in advance. Otherwise there is always an option to carry your tent and pitch it before the start line :)
Race Organisation
The area is quite remote and logistics are a real challenge. the race director sufficiently warned of the limitations of the aid station and he meant it. The aid stations were not fully or even sufficiently equipped with resources which a lot of people were complaining about. I always lean towards a self sufficient form of train running so I wasn't disappointed at all. I too was on the receiving end of this when I had decided to not refill at the half way mark and instead do this at the 5k mark on return when I met with empty bottles. Having carried enough hydration in the first place, I still had some water left and had to ration it all the way till the end. Breakfast included poha and lunch was khichdi.
Gear
One thing I am getting used to on these trails is my trekking poles. This was the first time in a 5+ hour effort that my legs weren’t sore for a single day, instead my shoulders were because of using poles throughout the effort. And a sore shoulder is way better than a sore leg! Things I was carrying:
- Voir Hydration Bag
- 2 Litre Bladder (only water)
- 500 ml flask x 2 (filled with energy mix)
- Trekking Poles
- Poncho
- Energy Gels x 5
- Extra pair of socks
People who attempted the 50k and 75k told us about the beautiful, raw and untouched landscape that followed after the 12.5km turnaround for us, and that makes me want to pursue higher distances. Perhaps next year, when we return!
Strava Link
— https://strava.app.link/myyMLcxSm4b
