Mumbai : The monsoon is on! Some people are already looking for their monsoon adventure activity. Ruggedian Lifestyle Pvt Ltd has announced their much-awaited event of the year – the monsoon trail race. The company that promotes alternate sports in the country is back with the Rugged Sahyadri Ultra Trail Race.

The event is scheduled on 5^th August; 2018.The total distance of the race is of 50 Km. However, for this race also plans to give beginners a chance, thus there will also be a 10 Km race from Panhala Fort. The race trail has been chosen from the historic location of Panhala Fort to Pawan Khind. Apart from its historical connection this trail is a beautiful one along the Western Ghats. The trail will cover muddy tracks, village backroads, way through the jungle.Weather can be unpredictable, and monsoon being the season, there are high chances of rain. It can also be cloudy and foggy. The registration for this event is on and will continue till 1^st August.

Rugged Sahyadri is a self-supported race. The organizers will not have any volunteers to help you along the course. You will have to find your own way by following the GPS. Participants are also expected to carry their own supplies for the day, along with an extra set of comfortable wear in their individual backpacks. When the race ends at Pawan Khind there will be refreshments for the participants. After that Ruggedian arranges to drop the participants back till Kolhapur.

Events like these are aimed at promoting the fitness culture. The popularity of these events are also growing because more number of youngsters are showing an interest in fitness activities, that too outside the gym. In a recent trend, they have been observed to have developed a love for fitness combined with adventure. This seems to be a good shift of youngsters choosing fitness activities instead of only late-night parties and booze. This trend has caught attention with Bollywood stars and cricketers working out extra hours for a fit and attractive physique.

Millennials believe that taking part in these sports help them break the monotony of their daily life of college and office. Lalit R. Parakh, an employee of PwC, Kolkata says, “My sister introduced me to alternate sports. I also hit the gym, but it never gives me the satisfaction that I get from marathons and trail runs. Running drives out all the negativity and brings out positivity and confidence in me.” Parakh also plans to start participating in cycle races this year.Although it is the youngsters that have shown immense interest in outdoor fitness activities, alternate sports have no restriction of age. Rugged Sahyadri welcomes people of all ages to take part in this fun and adventure activity.

Regional Manager, MTDC, Pune Mr Deepak R. Harane says, “Kolhapur is blessed with the rich history and legacy of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj. The natural beauty, forts, and dam built by Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj surrounded by cascading waterfalls, create majestic natural surroundings that are a great attraction for tourists.

Strong and historic fort of Panhala is accessible from Kolhapur city, which reverberates with the spirit and courage of legendary warrior and martyr Bajiprabhu Deshpande. Shivaji Maharaj courageously escaped from the clucthes of Siddhi Johar with the help of Bajiprabhu Deshpande, who sacrificed his life for the cause”.

He also says, “The fort of Panhala and the iconic route is a reminder to our generation of the bravery of Bajiprabhu Deshpande. With the ‘Rugged Sahyadri’ Run from Panhala to Pawankhind, Ruggedian has taken a great initiative to pay homage to our ancient heroes and help the youth of today stay in touch with their heritage.

We feel Panhala fort, which is filled with beauty of nature & Kolhapur district, should be seen impressively on the maps of Maharashtra and India therefore, ‘Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation’ is whole hardheartedly supporting & assisting ‘Rugged Sahyadri’ Marathon”.

Akash Korgaonkar, the founder-director of Ruggedian, says, “Rugged Sahyadri is designed for all the tough people out there. It urges people to take the challenge up for this self-supported race. Beyond toughness, Rugged Sahyadri has also been conceptualised for the adventure lovers. If you have never run a trail race, and are contemplating to give it a try, this is your perfect opportunity to begin it with Rugged Sahyadri.”More details regarding the event can be found on their website. Ruggedian also organizes alternate and lifestyle sports like – hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, marathons, and many other outdoor activities.