Bison Ultra 2026 – Trails, Friends and Another Adventure
🏁 Overview
📍 Location: Yercaud, Tamil Nadu
📅 Date: 7 June 2026
📏 Registered Distance: 60 KM
🏃 Completed: 50 KM
⛰️ Type: Technical Trail Run, ITRA certified
Bison Ultra is one of those races that keeps drawing us back to Yercaud year after year. It’s not just because of the beautiful trails or the challenging course, but because the entire weekend feels like a reunion with friends, familiar faces, and the trail running community.
This year, a group of us travelled together from Bengaluru for another weekend in the hills. The race didn’t go exactly as planned, I completed 50K instead of the registered 60K but I returned home happy. Trail running isn’t always about finishing the planned distance. Sometimes it’s about making the right decisions, staying injury-free, enjoying the journey, and coming back with memories worth sharing.
This blog is a collection of those memories from the road trip and bib collection to the forests of Yercaud, the long climbs, the volunteers, and the conversations that make every ultra memorable.
🚗 Journey to Yercaud
Bison Ultra has become another race we always look forward to. This year our core group — Naveen, Lucky, Meyappan, Suresh, and I had all registered for the 60K.
Joining us were my colleagues Arun (who had also travelled with us for Ooty), Ankit, and his friend Ashwini. They decided to make the journey a little more adventurous by riding their Royal Enfield bikes all the way to Yercaud. All three had registered for the 18K.
Two more runners from our common running group also joined us — Amarjeet for the 60K and Anshul for the 45K.
We travelled in two cars. I drove Gemini, while Suresh drove MG EV. Everyone gathered at our place, and we finally started around 6:30 AM.
I was hoping to find a coconut water stop on the way, but no luck this time. And coffee… well, I wasn’t having any anyway. 😊
We had planned to have breakfast at ABD (Ananda Bhavan Delight) near Krishnagiri, but the EV charging station there wasn’t working. So we continued further and eventually stopped at Selvi Mess on the outskirts of Salem around 9:30 AM. By then our two bikers had also caught up with us. It was a good opportunity to introduce everyone properly before continuing the journey together.
From there, the climb towards Yercaud began.
Driving through the Yercaud hills is always a pleasure. The Tamil Nadu roads are generally very well maintained, making the drive enjoyable. Of course, like every hill station, you occasionally come across drivers who don’t quite understand hill driving etiquette, but thankfully those moments were few.
This time we stayed at Hotel Mango Hill, just a short distance from the lake. It turned out to be an excellent choice. The valley facing rooms were spacious, peaceful, and probably one of the best stays we’ve had during a race weekend.
After checking in, we had lunch at the hotel, which was surprisingly good. The weather was pleasant, with a light spell of rain making the hills look even fresher. We spent some time relaxing, chatting, and simply enjoying the place before heading out for bib collection at Heaven’s Ledge, where the race weekend officially began.
Before leaving, we also spent quite some time clicking photos around the property in all kinds of poses. 😊 It was a fun start to the weekend and set the mood nicely for the race ahead.
🎟️ Bib Collection & Pre-Race Evening
Heaven’s Ledge was around 18 KM from our hotel, roughly a 40–45 minute drive. We took both our cars, while Ankit, and Ashwini enjoyed the ride on their Royal Enfields.
Heaven’s Ledge wasn’t new to us. In fact, during couple of the earlier editions of Bison Ultra, we had stayed there. It remains one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen. Perched on the edge of the hills, it has a small open ground overlooking the vast plains of Salem and Krishnagiri. Surrounded by coffee plantations and away from the main road, it has a peaceful charm that’s hard to describe.
As usual, our first stop was the bib collection. We met many familiar faces, including Madhav and the Cisco Runners team, who have been an integral part of Bison Ultra for many years. They quietly do an amazing job behind the scenes, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
Like every running event, the evening quickly turned into a reunion. We met many runners whom we keep bumping into across different races. There were handshakes, quick chats, catching up on recent events, and of course, plenty of photographs.
Soon it was time for the race briefing. Coach Kay walked us through the route, hydration points, cut-offs, and a few last-minute updates. Sitting there with nearly 100–200 runners in the middle of a coffee plantation, listening to the briefing as the evening settled in, felt quite special. I don’t think many races offer an experience like this.
One thing that stood out this year was the weather. Unlike previous editions, there was no rain during the briefing, making it much more comfortable for everyone.
There was, however, one thing missing. 😊
No evening tea, coffee, or the famous chilli bhajji!
Coach Kay, if you’re reading this, we definitely missed them. I am sure many runners would agree that a hot cup of tea (or coffee) with fresh chilli bhajji in the cool Yercaud evening would have been the perfect way to end the briefing.
Back at the hotel, we shifted into race mode. Bags were packed, gear checked one last time, and nutrition kept ready for the morning. Before calling it a day, we spent some time playing indoor games and enjoying the bonfire arranged by the hotel. After a light dinner and a short walk, it was finally time to sleep. The alarm was already set for 4:00 AM, and the trails were waiting.
🌅 Race Morning
The alarm went off at 3:30 AM. As expected before a big race, sleep was decent but broken. Everyone was ready on time, so there was no last-minute rush.
One thing that has changed over the last couple of years is our pre-race routine. Earlier, we often started on an almost empty stomach. Over time, we’ve realised that eating even a little before the start really helps.
So now, we make sure to carry simple things like bread, peanut butter, jam, and tea bags. Just enough to get the body going. I still don’t eat much before a run, but this time I had a bun with jam and a few sips of hot green tea.
The weather was pleasant. Thankfully, there was no rain in the morning.
We left the hotel in two cars and one bike. I was driving the Gemini, taking it slow through the narrow roads. There were runners everywhere heading towards Heaven’s Ledge, and with the low visibility before sunrise, it was better not to rush.
Parking was surprisingly well managed, and soon we were at the start area. Runners had already started gathering, and the atmosphere was wonderful. There was excitement, laughter, last-minute gear checks, and of course, plenty of photographs.
Like every year, we deposited one drop bag. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever used my drop bag during any ultra so far, but it always feels reassuring to know it’s there. We also kept a spare set of clothes in the car for after the run.
As usual, there were many familiar faces. We met runners, exchanged greetings, wished each other luck, and clicked a few more photos before moving towards the start line.
Every race brings a little nervousness, and this one was no different. My biggest concern wasn’t the distance it was staying injury free. I have a habit of taking an occasional fall on technical trails, so my first goal was simple, finish the race without getting injured. The second goal was to stay within the cut-offs and enjoy the day in the forest.
🏃 The Run
🌄 The Start
The race started with the familiar rough climb from Heaven’s Ledge. It is only around 500 metres, but after overnight rain it had become a bit slippery. With nearly 300 runners across different categories starting together, it was naturally crowded.
One thing that really stood out this year was the number of participants in the 18K category. It was nice to see many young runners taking up trail running. Traditionally, most trail events tend to have an older age group, so seeing fresh faces on the trails was definitely encouraging.
After the initial climb, we entered a new road loop introduced by Coach Kay. Earlier, this section was only part of the 60K route, but this year everyone got to experience it. The route started with a long downhill on the road before gradually climbing back to Heaven’s Ledge, where the first aid station was set up.
Because all categories were on the same route, this section remained quite crowded. I was taking it easy and didn’t mind the slower pace. The first few kilometres of any ultra are usually about settling into the day rather than chasing speed.
One thing I missed that morning was my usual stretching routine. By the time I parked the car, locked it, deposited the drop bag, met a few runners, and reached the start line, there simply wasn’t enough time left. Fortunately, the body felt fine and there were no early niggles.
Back at Heaven’s Ledge, I had a quick sip of ORS, another sip of water, and then it was finally time to enter the trails.
The first section through the forest was mostly downhill. It felt wonderful at that moment, but there was one thought quietly sitting in the back of my mind — we’ll have to climb all of this again while returning to the finish… and that’s probably not going to be as much fun. 😊
🌲 Into the Forest – Archdale Estate
Once we entered the trails, the race slowly started finding its rhythm.
For a long stretch, I was running on and off with my old running buddy Jaysingh, whom I had met during Bison Ultra. We had finished the 50K together back then, so it was nice catching up again while covering a few kilometres together. That’s one thing I enjoy about the running community you may not meet for months/years, but when you do, the conversation starts exactly where it had ended.
This section had some beautiful technical trails through the forest. Since there were a large number of 18K runners this year, many of them were experiencing trail running for the first time. I could completely understand why they were stopping every now and then the sunrise through the trees, the valley views, and the forest itself were simply beautiful.
With runners moving in both directions and many stopping to enjoy the scenery, some of the softer trail sections became a bit slippery. It slowed everyone down a little, but honestly, that is part of trail running.
Up to the Archdale Estate turnaround, there were still plenty of runners from the 36K and 45K categories around. But once I crossed the 45K U-turn, everything changed.
The crowds disappeared.
From that point onwards, it was mostly the 60K runners, and the trail suddenly became much quieter. The conversations faded away, and it was just you, the forest, and the trail ahead.
This year, I had decided not to carry my hydration bladder. Instead, I kept things simple with one 250 ml water bottle and one 250 ml ORS bottle. It worked surprisingly well because Bison Ultra has excellent aid station support. Coach Kay always makes sure runners are well looked after, so there was never any real worry about hydration.
🔥 The Toughest Part
Immediately after leaving Archdale Estate, I knocked my foot twice on the same toenail which was injured during one of my earlier races. Thankfully, my trekking poles did their job and stopped me from taking a fall. Moments like these remind you why poles are so useful on technical trails.
Soon the trail opened onto the road, and that’s when the real challenge began.
The long uphill road section under the afternoon sun was tough. The heat had picked up considerably, and running became difficult. By now, runners were well spread out. There were only a handful of 60K runners ahead and behind me. I think there were around 30–35 runners in the 60K category, and by this stage we were probably among the last group on the course.
I couldn’t see anyone from our group — Naveen, Lucky, Meyappan, or Suresh. At this point, everyone was running their own race.
The next major section was Stanmore Estate, which I feel is one of the toughest parts of the Bison course. It’s quiet, technical, and mentally demanding. The route consists of two loops — one clockwise and the other in the opposite direction.
At the aid station, I first met Suresh, who had already completed one loop and was happily having idly and sambar for lunch! 😊 I quickly refilled my water and ORS bottles, enjoyed a few slices of watermelon, and started my first loop.
A little later I met Meyappan, who was also beginning his first loop. During the second loop I crossed paths with Lucky and Naveen, who were already close to finishing theirs.
Each loop was around 4 KM. The forest was beautiful, but by now the combination of heat, trails, and long periods of running alone was beginning to take its toll.
After completing the first loop, I stopped briefly at the aid station. Most of the food had already been consumed, but there was still a little pongal left which I ate with lemon, and tasted surprisingly good after so many hours on the trail.
By the time I finished both loops, Meyappan was already back at the aid station. He looked tired and for me, biggest challenge wasn’t fatigue — it was the heat. It had become difficult to maintain any meaningful pace.
After leaving Stanmore Estate me and Meyappan were mostly together, I made the most of every downhill section on the road and tried to run wherever possible.
By then I had started doing the math.
From previous experience, I knew the final climb back to Heaven’s Ledge was long and demanding. Even if I crossed the next cutoff, finishing the remaining 10 KM within the available time would be extremely difficult.
So my focus quietly changed.
Instead of worrying about the finish line, my immediate goal became reaching the Orange Bus Stop cutoff before 3:00 PM, completing a strong 50K, and making a sensible decision from there.
As I approached the checkpoint, one of the volunteers shouted, “Run… just run!” There were barely a couple of minutes left.
I picked up the pace and gave it a final push.
But when I reached the checkpoint, I was around 30 seconds over the cutoff.
Coach Kay was there with his famous stopwatch. 😊 Anyone who has run his events knows that a cutoff is a cutoff. One second over is still over, and I genuinely appreciate that consistency and fairness.
I told Coach that, realistically, I had already accepted that continuing wouldn’t make sense. Covering the final 10 KM with that climb in just 90 minutes wasn’t practical, and my plan had already shifted towards finishing a good 50K safely. He understood exactly what I meant.
That was the end of my race.
The volunteers helped us into Coach Kay’s vehicle for the drive back to the finish area. The conversation quickly shifted from cutoffs to the route, the weather, and everyone’s experiences from the day.
Looking back, I was genuinely happy with my 50K. Of course, a small part of me wished I had found a few extra minutes somewhere during the day to continue towards the 60K.
But that’s trail running.
Sometimes the biggest achievement isn’t completing the planned distance — it’s knowing when you’ve made the right decision.
Maybe next time. 😊
🏁 Back at the Finish
After reaching Heaven’s Ledge in Coach Kay’s vehicle, the first thing I did was head straight to the Ortho One massage area. I had used their services earlier at Ooty Ultra, so I already knew how much a good stretch after a long run helps. It was definitely worth it.
After the massage, I spent some time at the finish line. A few runners had already finished, while many others were waiting for their friends. The race team was busy welcoming finishers and making sure everyone was taken care of.
I knew exactly how tough the last climb to the finish was. Since the runners pass close to the finish area before the final uphill, I walked about 100–200 metres down the trail and waited there for our group.
The first familiar face was Amarjeet, who came through with around 20 minutes still left before the cutoff. A little later came Suresh, looking strong with about 15 minutes to spare. Finally, Naveen appeared with less than five minutes left on the clock. It was great to see both of them complete the full 60K.
I kept shouting “Lucky!” into the forest, hoping to hear a reply, but there was only silence.
When I walked back to the finish line, I found Lucky already there not on foot, but in one of the sweep vehicles. He had crossed the Orange Bus Stop cutoff, but just like me and Mey, he knew there wasn’t enough time left to complete the final climb. Since he was also recovering from a foot injury, it made sense not to push beyond the limit.
In the end, our group had a wonderful day on the trails.
- Suresh, Naveen, and Amarjeet completed the 60K.
- Anshul completed the 45K.
- Meyappan and I finished 50K.
- Lucky covered around 55K.
I was also very happy for Arun, Ankit, and Ashwini, who successfully completed their first-ever 18K trail run. It’s always nice to see more runners stepping into trail running, and I hope this is just the beginning of many more adventures for them.
Most importantly, all of us finished safely and without any injuries. For me, that was probably the biggest achievement of the day.
We had food, chatted with fellow runners, thanked the volunteers, and slowly started winding down. The race was over, but the conversations about the trail, the run, and the day had only just begun.
Finally, we got back into our cars and headed towards the hotel for a well-deserved evening.
🚗 Back to Bengaluru
From Heaven’s Ledge, we drove back to our hotel. Since we had already checked out early in the morning before heading to the race, we no longer had our rooms. Fortunately, our biker friends had kept one room as they were staying back for another day.
One by one, all of us took a much-needed shower, changed into fresh clothes, and slowly started feeling like normal human beings again. 😊 We spent some time together sharing race experiences, laughing about the day, and, as always, discussing what could have been done differently. Those conversations after an ultra are almost as enjoyable as the run itself.
Around 7:00 PM, we started our journey back to Bengaluru in our two cars, while the bikers stayed back in Yercaud.
Our only stop was at ABD on the Salem–Bengaluru highway for dinner and to charge the EV. Compared to the onward journey, the drive back was much quieter. Everyone was tired after a long day on the trails. I was focused on driving, chatting occasionally, and enjoying some good music along the way.
Most of the group got down near the Electronic City Metro station, and by the time I finally reached home, it was around 1:00 AM.
That was the end of another wonderful weekend in the Yercaud hills.
Every time I visit these hills, I silently thank them for allowing me to run there one more time and, more importantly, return safely.
Until next time… goodbye, Yercaud.
💭 Reflections
Looking back, I am quite happy with how the day went.
Did I complete the planned 60K? No.
Am I disappointed? Not really.
By the time I reached the final cutoff, I had already accepted that attempting the last 10 KM in the available time wasn’t the right decision. The final climb to Heaven’s Ledge is demanding even on a fresh pair of legs, and after nearly 50 KM in the heat, it would have been more about taking unnecessary risks than enjoying the run.
This year’s Bison also reminded me how much the weather can influence a trail race. The forest sections were beautiful as always, but once the sun came out, maintaining pace became much harder than expected.
One thing I was particularly happy about was staying injury free. Having knocked my foot twice during the run and knowing my tendency to fall on technical trails, finishing safely felt like an achievement in itself.
Looking back, I can clearly see where I need to improve. I generally run the second half of an ultra much better than the first half. By the time I settle into my rhythm, I often have enough energy left but not always enough time. Ooty Ultra this year showed me that improving the first few hours of the race can make a huge difference. That’s something I need to work on before my next ultra.
Another area is using trekking poles more effectively, especially on downhill sections. I have become comfortable using them while climbing, but I still don’t take full advantage of them while descending. With more practice and confidence on technical downhills, I believe I can save valuable time and energy over the course of a long race.
Most runners, including me, spend a good part of trail ultras walking on steep climbs. Unless you’re an elite runner, that’s completely normal. The trick is to walk efficiently, use the poles well, and keep moving consistently.
More than the distance, what I’ll remember from this weekend are the people, the road trip, the conversations, waiting for friends at the finish line, cheering each other on, and celebrating everyone’s effort regardless of the final distance.
I was especially happy to see Arun, Ankit, and Ashwini complete their first trail 18K. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of many more trail adventures for them.
Every race leaves something behind. This one reminded me, once again, that trail running is not about fighting the mountains, it’s about respecting them.
And that’s one of the reasons I know I’ll be back in Yercaud again.
🏃 Training & Preparation
The preparation for Bison Ultra was quite similar to what I followed for Ooty Ultra earlier this year, so I won’t repeat all the details here.
One notable change, however, was that this was my first ultra after giving up coffee. Since 25 April 2026, I have been completely caffeine free (I have written more about that in my The Decaffeinated Runner blog). I was curious to see how my body would respond during a long ultra without my usual pre-race black coffee. Fortunately, I didn’t miss it at all.
Over the last few months, I have also shifted more focus towards strength training, mobility, activation exercises, and stretching. I try to dedicate at least two sessions every week to these areas, and I can genuinely feel the difference. Recovery has improved, I feel more stable on technical trails, and even after a long day on the hills, my body felt much better than it did a couple of years ago.
The rest of my preparation remained fairly simple, consistent running, staying active throughout the day, walking whenever possible, climbing stairs, and eating mostly home cooked vegetarian food with eggs. So, just trying to stay consistent rather than chasing big training numbers.
If you’re interested in the details of my training approach, nutrition, and preparation philosophy, I’ve written about it in my Ooty Ultra 60K 2026 race report, where I covered it in much more detail.
🎥 Video Journey
I’m currently putting together a short video from the race weekend. I’ll add it here once it’s ready.
📸 Photos
🚗 Journey to Yercaud
Our journey began with one of our favourite ultra-trip traditions—Shakarpala, a homemade Kumaoni snack that has become a staple on almost every road trip to a race.
🏨 Hotel Mango Hill
🎟️ Bib Collection
🌅 Race Morning
🌲 On the Trail
🏁 Finish Line
📚 Continue the Journey
If you enjoyed this race report, you might also like these posts from my running journey:
- ⛰️ Ooty Ultra 60K 2026 – A Journey Through Altitude, Effort, and Experience
- 🏃 Running Diary 2025 – Five Runs, One Journey
- 🌲 Bison Ultra 2023 – My First Bison Ultra Experience
- ⛰️ Ooty Ultra 2023 – Experience & Reflections
- ⛰️ Ooty Ultra 2022 – My First Ooty Ultra Experience
- 🌿 Malnad Ultra – Running Through the Western Ghats
- 🏔️ Nag Devta Parikrama Run – A Community Initiative from the Himalayas