Into The Mind Of The Ultra Runner

When it comes to extreme running, people say toughness is what really counts. they’re right, but what’s equally important is mindset. the legendary Brij Mohan “breeze” Sharma embodies both.

- Vaibhav Raghunandan

The first time I saw Brij Mohan Sharma—or Breeze Sharma, as he likes to be known—was at the official race briefing of the 2016 Run the Rann in Dholavira,Gujarat. It was late evening and most runners wanted to get to bed early, what with race day looming. The organisers had opened the floor for any questions participants may have. The ultra marathoners—those running the 101-km or the 161-km races—came up with most of the questions. Would there be water on the trail at night? Would there be a checkpoint with food? What if their torch batteries ran out?

And then Breeze came up to ask his. Because he was a legend in running circles, a reluctant celebrity, he was asked to come right up to the stage to ask his question. A long-haired, hippie- looking man covered in tattoos and wearing a bandana, dressed even at this time of the night like he was ready for a run, stepped up. The absurdity of his question highlighted the improbables this man has dealt with: would there be snakes on the trail and, if so, what should one do when encountering one?

But it wasn’t such an absurd question. Because absurdity is about comparison. Put two things together, two arguably absurd things, and the winner is absurd, the loser significantly more normal. But, running 161 km in 33 hours and 28 minutes in the Rann of Kutch in February is absurd by any standards.

Unless it is topped by running 217.2 km in 40 hours and 47 minutes in the July heat of the Badwater basin in California. That’s the absurdity of Breeze Sharma’s brilliance.

CHASING THE MAN...