Pune’s tryst with the wild

800 youngsters to race from Katraj tunnel to Sinhagad fort across seven densely forested hills in the Sahyadris on the night of July 31u00a0If braving the night on the muddy, rocky and forested Sahyadri mountains in heavy rain is your idea of fun, we have news for you. The National Education Foundation is inviting participants for Enduro3, a Monsoon Night Adventure Race (MNAR) in Pune, which will begin at the Katraj tunnel top at 8 pm on July 31 and end at Sinhagad fort on the night of August 1. During the expedition, which will take place in the night, visibility will be extremely poor but there will be the excitement of walking through dense forests, said Prasad Purandare, the race director and trustee of National Education Foundation. The National Education Foundation is a pioneer of adventure racing in India, which helps participants imbibe values like camaraderie, team-building, leadership and rational thinking, Purandare said. Kunal Kari, Sanika Divanji and her brother Rohan, who comprise one of the many three-member teams participating in the race are thrilled. It is a great experience doing 20 km over 15 hills in the night during the monsoon, said Kari. Latika Joshi, a management student, said, I am participating in the adventure race after I watched and enjoyed Akshay Kumar's Fear Factor on TV. Such adventure racing events check your endurance levels, and help girls who have tremendous inner strength to pit their wits against challenges in the wild.