One Track Mind

A Training Ground With A View—Six Mountain Getaways For The Running Enthusiast

- Shrenik Avlani

India’s rich geographical diversity means there’s always a hill station relatively close from any big city. Not only are they ideal spots for a short trip away from the everyday hustle, these picturesque high altitude towns can be the perfect training ground, whether you’re a newbie attempting your first 10-kilometre race, an ultra-marathoner going for a 100-mile race, or anything in between.

Lonavla and Kamshet, MAHARASHTRA  Apart from being conveniently close to both Mumbai and Pune—two cities where running communities are quite big— Lonavla and Kamshet are also relatively free from the pollution and traffic that is a regular feature of the cities. The Western Ghats are cool but not as much as the hill stations of the north, so early-morning or late-evening runs are ideal.

The comparatively cooler climes of the Western Ghats attract running enthusiasts from the city. In fact, in Lonavla, you might bump into model-turned-fitness evangelist Milind Soman. Veer away from the main roads and turn to trails around Rajmachi Fort or Shirota Lake to avoid tourists who throng the place on weekends.

If Lonavla seems too crowded for your liking, drive about half an hour east (towards Pune) to Kamshet and Pawna Lake. The tar road up the hill and through the villages or the muddy paths around the lake where paragliders learn to fly from October to April makes it a picturesque setting for runs.

Watch out for Tourist cars and cabs on main roads.

Coonoor, TAMIL NADU Iten, in western Kenya, is considered prime training ground by many distance champions. Back home, however, most of the country’s elite runners head to Coonoor. At about 6,000 feet, the sleepy town’s rolling hills and gentle slopes are just right for runners of all abilities.