Brute 4.0 - Switching the vantage point of the run #belike

The first edition of BRUTE aka Basar Running Ultra Trail Experience had me in aww of the hospitality offered by the generous people at Basar and since then the urge of going back to this nature reserve has been on the list of travel and run destination. And here I am, featuring yet again on the BRUTE 4.0 creatives with a sense of belonging to the running and adventure community that leave no stones unturned to make this event am amalgamation of nationalities.

At https://brutebasar.in/, the vision has been clear from day one - 

With BRUTE we seek to build Basar and Arunachal Pradesh as a global ultra-running destination, aiming to acquire over a million tourists, encompassing both Indian and international travellers, runners, backpackers, vloggers, through its annual ultra-running festival. The festival entails holistic health and wellness, tourism, culture, commerce, cuisine, lifestyle, music, and arts.

Year 2024 had to be different at BRUTE 4.0 and enrolling in the 30km category did give the much needed respite in terms of the effort that needs to be put in for the race. This wasn't going to be the race for me but a experience to relive the cherished moments when it all began. 

Being a sweeper gave yet another goal to ensure the homecoming of the debutant runners. With time at hand, the opportunity to click the nature's best behind the lens quickly became a go to hobby 😊. 

The cheering alongside the village trails were on a all time high and I took the timeout to capture as many faces as I could. The slow strides and ample breathing though the lanes ventured into my favourite running jargon - Time on feet. This very technique help your body and mind graduate in to distances that you may have never done before. But yes, after all the goal settings are a must to help you direct your passion in the right manner.

The elevation scene doesn't seem appropriate these days from my Garmin Solar Instinct and currently unsure of the fix. The route elevation recorded for the run varies around 1600-1700 and mine just overshot by 300-400 😬. Not the right way to part ways with the watch it this continues to be a pattern. 🧐.

Nevertheless, the elevation gains will not be discussed here as much as I would like to write about ones self awareness while taking trail running as a passion sport. Trekking and Hiking are considered the natural ways of exploring the nature trails and is often a best practice in understanding the know how's of the terrain you plan to explore. Jumping the guns on these trails or trail running to be very specific comes with a lot of perseverance and now that it is a sport, the competitiveness in it often grows in your surroundings. Your response to such transition given the fact that you opt for trails to challenge yourself needs to be well calculated and often guided to avoid or learn from the mistakes commited in this process. 

Social platforms are smart enough to brain wash you with the charming nature of sport and could infact make you feel fancy but there is a lot at bargain at times. Sports will keep you fit but the engagement model with your favourite sport is what makes or breaks the deal. Like I always say, goal settings are of utmost importance. These goals too are a derivative of mindfulness of being and keeping a healthy lively hood.

About the event, Brute trail gives a varied mix of dense forests often encompassed by wild flora and fauna and ofcourse reptiles that you don't often witness in other trails runs. It's a good platform for debutants that have set UTMB race goals. The trails are often narrow and you are bound to watch every step. It does get technical in patches but yes, your core and back strength helps you avoid those sudden falls during the run. I have always carried the running poles to avoid further injuries to the back. It's been over a decade with those now and has helped face some treacherous terrains across the globe. The weather was much cooler ranging from 12 degrees in the mornings and evenings to 25-29 degrees during the day time. The sun gets scrochy at times and since you are in the land when the sun rises first, you are also going to be mesmerized with the moonrise. You bet, you are left asking for more. Food for vegetarian and non vegetarian is not an issue. There is ample food for both. Often served with meat and spoilt with choices, non meat eaters may be able to chuckle the taste glands as much but yes, the varieties of leafy vegetables will leave you spell bound. 

Reaching the destination Basar, can be a little tough and would advice to have company for the travel. You could land in Dibrugarh and take the taxi to Silapathar and from there on its a shared sumo transport. This mode would cost you around 2000-2500. If you happen to take the taxi direct to Basar from Dibrugarh airport, it can cost you anything between 5000-7000. If you land at Guwahati and take the evening train to Silapathar from Guwahati and then take the shared sumo to Basar from Silapathar. This can cost you around 1000-1500. All this is exclusive if the flight or train expenses you may incur to reach either Dibrugarh or Guwahati. Timings to be noted for shared sumo as the last one leaves at 4-5pm. Homestays in Basar can only be booked via the race organizers as many are not publicly hosted on any booking platform. Contact details along with homestay charges will be shared in advance to make the bookings. You could also ask your homestay to help in arranging the transport facilities. You can always bank on Gichi Resorts, or Hilltop stay or Eku resort hosted by Dakge Riba with utmost hospitality.

Thats Dakge Riba for you. Your reliable host. He was honoured for job well done in earlier edition of BRUTE.

They are very much helpful but yes, everything will come at a cost and feel free to bargain in that process. Homestays can vary from Bamboo home to resorts to RCC homes with shared or private bathrooms and can be selected as per your choice. Try to be very specific in terms your requirement while booking to avoid any miscommunication. If it's a lot to think about, feel free to connect with me and I shall advise you accordingly. 😊 

So, goals shifted from hustling at the race to bustling in the nature leap and experience the ultra luxuries of trail running. This was easy to begin with knowing the hunger pattern when time on feet is tested. This could easily add a couple of hours more and fit to call it an aerobic run. Mind you the ITRA certified race is bound to test your strategies from the word go. The aid stations are bound to be 7-10 kms apart. The Virgin trails with grass cover and cold weather will keep you on your toes to fend for assistance at times. The trails shoes are going to matter a long way as the ups and down in these trails can be never ending. A elevation gain of about 1600-1700 meters in a 30km race could be daunting at times. There is no doubt you could love this race for its natural ambience and tree cover which at times if in silos can make you feel jittery in your knees. The trails are quite silent and can make you hear the tiny winy insects making the weirdest sounds in this planter earth. If all the above is your vibe, this isn't going to be disappointing at all. You will be served well. 

The trails path traverses from a school ground through the villages and the surrounding bushy mountain. These trails can stretch distance that can go beyond your beliefs. The streams nearby are natural source of water and hence your water refill worries can be parked in due course of action. That reminds me of the survival gears one can put on to ensure you are self dependent in the trails, be if water, electrolytes, food and medical support. International races mandate carrying all the gears necessary for guidance and ones well being because rescuing in the mountains are often tricky and time consuming affair. The elites from across the country were invited to the event and have left all spellbound with the efforts put it for such an extraordinary result at the race.

The bib collection and briefing just before the race also gave a glance of what meditation and yoga feels like to anyone who are participating in an event that can last for hours. It definitely can be a game changer. A good stretch to keep your muscles warm and a effortless breathing exercises is all that can keep you heart pumping the blood to every part of your body that contribute your execution on D day. Thanks to Bijoya for making the atheletes and people of basar aware of the much needed practices to keep well in the long run, by that I mean your healthy life. 

Sahana and Bijoya debut at Basar..

Sahanas first ever excursion in Arunachal Pradesh lead her in to tears of harmony and self realisation. With me as acting sweeper and pacer happened to go absconding in the final stages of the run. The idea was to not steal the thunder and learn the hardway I suppose. Apologies in abundance to make you feel lost but when found, you made every one proud. A teary finish - had to be it. Cheers to that.

Roshan and Lipi at their best...

The duo on the trail was a long sight and as usual, the performance was at par fir well deserved accolades.

New faces new trails 

Madhu in the center, a proud bsf jawaan. 

Special call out for Rutuja who came, lit the trail and conquered..

Results out here for reference:-

https://app.racetime.in/results/list?race=brute-4.0

With Kush among the curator of Brute doing what he does best at keeping up the energy levels of the gathering. Brute has come a long way now and aims at getting even bigger at the fifth edition.

And the one and only, Pushkar , the man who can make you famous in ways best know to him. He and his team capture moments of your life that will narrate you the future goals of distance running. The emotions are well captured and can play both the critic and appreciation card pretty well. That's the dept Pushkar and his team can bring out from behind the scenes. Follow his team here - https://www.instagram.com/unscripters 

Bomken Basar, who has been always more than eager to host this event in his beautiful village and the GRK community has come forward whole heartedly to support all the proceedings to make this event yet another success. We go back when we began our corporate life.

How the trails look, you should witness it yourself and be humbled.

Mornings and evenings are cold with temperatures ranging from 12-15 degrees. Days could range from 25-29 degrees and nights, choose not to step out because chill breeze and pitch darkness can give you bone chills. Trails shoes are a no brainer and are the only ones that can give you the much needed traction, poles can come for your rescue at times, especially you are challenged with back issues. Drifits tops and bottoms and windcheater, buffs to cover your ears if necessary as the trails still remain colder during the later half of the race. Bugs spray is a good to have and at times saves you from rashes from the wild. Sunglasses and sun lotion did not really matter this time as the weather was favourable for running. A few band aids can help in extreme cases, the route is also manned by ambulance on road crossing sections. There is no doubt, you will be taken care of and cheered to keep going to and yes, you shall complaint on the never ending climbs, hence one step at a time is all it takes, just keep at it. 😉

While iam gaga over the route and the elevation profile, kudos to Rajesh from racetime and Roshan for being the keepers of this run profile for it to be qualified for ITRA points. So, if you are signing up for this race, ensure you have registered on ITRA website too. Your index will keep growing as you continue to venture in to globewide trail races. Let it just naturally graduate with you. A point to be noted, the distance category you run, please be prepared that it is often bound to have an additional mileage up to 3-4 kilometres as times and is a usual scenario on trails. 

Finish scenes announce your names when you cross the line and be thankful to yourself for yet another over the top experience. Food and transport is offered at the end point and Lai ho nature's park will not fail to impress you either while you are at rest in the shelter.

Mind you, the after party is yet to begin and the stage as always is often set for the closing ceremony at BRUTE. This has been a tradition and will always be. A way to thank each and every one for you to show up from cities far away and you help put up a show that can cherished for times to come.

And how could we forget the race pre nights loaded with organic intake of food and protein 😉.

The route recces often help you wander around and allows you to get comfortable with the ambience or rather call it acclimated. 

And if you still wondering who the mascot of the event is, this handsome fella out from the wild and there favourite food to lick is salt and are completely harmless.The name is MITHUN.

Quote for thought - None this time. Just welcome yourself to BRUTE and tell us how it was.