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India’s Trail Running Boom: 3,000 Join Bengaluru Mountain Festival to Escape Urban Chaos

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

This past weekend, the Bengaluru Mountain Festival (BMF) returned for its eighth edition, drawing a record-breaking 3,000 participants to the rugged trails of Avati, near Devanahalli. As urban professionals increasingly seek an escape from the chaos of city life, trail running is emerging as a powerful way to achieve both physical fitness and mental clarity.

Hosted by Mountain Festival Adventures, the event featured races across 5K, 10K, and 21K distances, attracting seasoned athletes and first-time trail runners alike. Unlike conventional road races, which test speed and endurance on flat asphalt, trail running offers a different challenge-demanding strength, focus, and adaptability while immersing runners in nature.

A Sport That Builds Both Strength and Stillness
Trail runs are not just about physical endurance; they’re about stillness of mind,” said Yashas, Co-founder of Mountain Festival Adventures. “In nature’s embrace, participants can leave behind the chaos of city life and discover a level of calm and focus that road running simply can’t offer.”

The sentiment was echoed by Amber McIlraith, winner of the 10K women’s category, who described the race as a transformative experience. “Coming around the side of the mountain to see the valley and rocks was a sight I’ll never forget,” she said. “Trail running builds muscles you don’t work in the gym or on flat city runs. The runner’s high you get is unmatched.”

Maitreyi, another participant, found the race to be a unique test of endurance and willpower. “The moment that stood out most was nearing the finish line, thinking I had only 600 meters left, and then seeing an uphill climb ahead. The adrenaline rush from the tamte drums kept me going and made the experience unforgettable,” she shared.

For Raghav, who completed his first-ever 10K trail race, the event was about pushing limits. “I’ve run road races before, but this was a whole different beast. The inclines, the loose rocks, the unpredictability-it forced me to be present in every step,” he said.

Abhishek, a martial artist who is a regular road runner and winner of the 10k men’s category, was struck by the mental challenge of trail running. “You can’t zone out like you do on a road. Every step requires attention, and that’s what makes it so rewarding. It’s meditative in its own way,” he explained.

 

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