After defeating Afzalkhan of Bijapur, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was chased by SiddiJohar. He escaped on the route of Panhala to Vishalgad, while a brave army led by the warrior BajiPrabhu Deshpande held guard at Pawankhind. Every year, trekkers and runners retrace this historical route from Panhala to Pawankhind. This inspired Ruggedian to begin a trail Race on this route.
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The name Pawankhind itself suggests a place made sacred by the sacrifice of the valiant martyrs and bravehearts like BajiPrabhu Deshpande. You can be a part of this thrilling piece from history and it aptly organised around India’s Independence Day. While August 2018 is some time away, whole Kolhapur and rest of Maharashtra is preparing for Ruggedian Ultra Marathon to be held in February 2018.
The concept of this marathon is conceived by Akash Korgaonkar, an Ironman finisher himself. Akash began his fitness journey as a child. He remembers how his family always stressed physical fitness more than academic success, and how that inspired him to embark on his journey. He was always into sports, playing badminton at university and zonal levels.
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But he realised that his future lay in athletics when he completed the MTB Himachal cycling race in 2006. He knew he had chosen the right path when he became the first Ironman in south Maharashtra in Zurich.
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.22-mile marathon run, raced in that order and without a break. It is widely considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world.
After achieving the prestigious title of Ironman, Akash began the Ruggedian race as a fun project with his friends. The Pune Obstacle Race was huge event at that time, and he chose Kolhapur for his event. The larger purpose was to bring a fitness culture to his hometown.
But the response from the people was so great that the team made it into a regular feature. Many people were inspired by the story of the martyr BajiPrabhu Deshpande to traverse this route on a hike or run.Now runners and athletes from world over come to Kolhapur for this marathon. In fact, the Shivaji race has become a style statement among the marathon circles.
The Ultra Marathon, happening in February, is one of the greatest events of its kind. With competitive trails of 50 km, 42 km, 21 km, 10 km and a fun non-competitive race of 5 km, this is the biggest event. Being an ironman himself, Akash has ensured that all the pacers in the marathon will be Ironman Finishers, making it a first in marathon history of India.
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There will be entertainment zones at every 2.5 miles, and 2 days fitness expo making it a holistic event for all runners. Like never before, participants will be provided expert training before the run. It will be a great chance for any novice or professional marathon runner to experience this historic route.
So, join the Ironman in one of the biggest marathon event of the country at Kolhapur.
Read Also: 7 Amazing Marathons Around The World
