The Genesis of the Ultrawarrior Series
For years, Indian endurance running was dominated by city marathons on tarred roads. But a small team of dreamers at Rungreen believed there was an untapped community of runners hungry for something rougher — switchbacks, rivers, ridgelines, and the kind of finish line that rewards grit, not just pace. Out of that conviction came the Ultrawarrior Series, and Rishikesh — yoga capital, adventure capital, gateway to the Himalayas — was the only place worthy of being its birthplace.
On a cool February morning in 2019, ninety runners from across India gathered along the Ganges. The brief was simple: leave the comfort zone behind. Run trails carved through Sal forests, climb to viewpoints overlooking Lakshman Jhula, descend through gravel switchbacks, and earn a finisher's medal that meant something more than mileage.
The Course – Forest Trails, Ganges Views, Himalayan Foothills
Rishikesh sits at roughly 372 m elevation in the Tehri Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, where the Ganges exits the Himalayas onto the Indo-Gangetic plain. The Ultrawarrior Rishikesh course was designed to capture three distinct terrains:
- Riverbank singletrack hugging the Ganges with views of rafters and ashrams
- Forest climbs through dense Sal and Sheesham canopies
- Ridge sections opening to panoramas of the lower Himalayas
- Technical descents on loose gravel demanding focus and footwork
Aid stations were stocked with electrolytes, fresh fruits, and the legendary post-run kichdi that became a tradition of the series. Course marshals from local trekking communities ensured every warrior was accounted for.
Why Rishikesh Was the Perfect Launchpad
Rishikesh is more than a tourist town — it is a living ecosystem of yoga, rafting, trekking, and spiritual practice. The audience already drawn to Rishikesh for adventure was naturally aligned with the philosophy of the Ultrawarrior Series. Three factors made it the perfect host city:
- Existing adventure infrastructure – camps, instructors, rescue teams, and outdoor gear ecosystem
- Year-round runnable weather in winter months without monsoon trail damage
- Cultural depth — runners arrived for a race and left with a transformative trip
Who Were the 90 Warriors?
The 2019 starting field was a deliberate mix of seasoned trail runners from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru running clubs, first-time adventure athletes from Lucknow and Kanpur, and a handful of international participants drawn by Rishikesh's global reputation. Many had completed road marathons but had never raced single-track. The Ultrawarrior Rishikesh edition gave them a controlled, supported, life-changing first taste of trail racing.
The Legacy – From 90 Warriors to a National Series
Within months of the Rishikesh debut, Rungreen took the Ultrawarrior format to Nainital, Chail, and Lansdowne — building an annual circuit of hill-station adventure runs. By the third Nainital edition in 2021, the series had grown to over 200 participants per race. The blueprint laid down in Rishikesh — small-batch, high-quality, community-first trail events — remains the DNA of every Ultrawarrior race today.
The Future – Mukteshwar Ultra 2026
The next chapter of Rungreen's mountain running story is the Mukteshwar Ultra 2026 — a multi-distance ultra-trail race in the Kumaon Himalayas. Built on every lesson learned since that first Rishikesh edition, Mukteshwar Ultra is an open invitation to the next generation of warriors. Registrations are open.
Organise an Adventure Trail Run with Rungreen
Whether you are planning a corporate offsite trail run or an open public race, Rungreen's marathon and trail event management team handles route design, permissions, timing, medical, and finish-line production. Get in touch for a proposal.
