Manipal: He is planning an endurance feat almost as big as his name. Meet Sheikh Sahenawaz Sarwan Shameem aka SSS Shameem, assistant professor in the department of computer application in Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Manipal. Shameem is trying to do what no cyclist has done so far - cover the entire length of India - Kanyakumari to Kashmir - K2K - twice and totally a massive 8,000 km in 28 days. He starts his feat on May 23 at Kanyakumari.

A native of Odisha, where cycling is a norm rather than an excuse, it was only after Shameem came to Manipal that he took to endurance sports. He is as easily in to long distance running, having done marathons - half and full as he is in to long distance cycling. What makes his resolve to attempt the K2K all the more challenging is that he is trying it out at a time when all of India is experiencing its peak summer. If things go as planned, he will complete it on June 30.

Incidentally, Shameem did a 1,500 km ride from Bengaluru to Odisha in December 2015 and is no stranger to the pains and gains of undertaking such a ride. Buoyed up for this ride, Shameem told TOI that he intends to spread the message of humanity and love on the route that he plans as well as raise funds for the underprivileged yet talented sportsperson that abound in the country. "The K2K is also about these two pet themes of mine as it is about gritting it out," he says.

In a post on his website www.ride4pride.weebly.com, Shameem says: Double_K2K is a simple, straight journey from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, & a return on same route. And, if this journey is completed successfully; it might probably be considered for LIMCA Book of Records (till date, as per my survey, no-body has tried Double_K2K). "Cyclists have completed successfully the one-way ride from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, but never the double," he adds.

The planned journey will start from Kanyakumari on May 23 and head straight north ward. Crossing the entire length of Tamil Nadu, Shameem will reach IT hub of India - Bengaluru on May 25. The journey will continue through Andhra Pradesh & Telengana, to reach India's other IT-hub - Hyderabad on May 27. Then, he will progress through Nagpur, Gwalior and Agra to reach Delhi on June 2. He will then enter India's athletic sporting talent hub of Punjab and Haryana.

Past these two states, Shameem will then enter Himachal Pradesh & Jammu-Kashmir. The first leg of the journey will end at Leh, with him touching base at Leh after 4,000 km at the most scenic place in world Leh on June 11. Shameem plans to make the return journey on the same route, provided conditions are favourable. The joy of completing K2K will see him enter Limca Book of Records.

K2K in figures: Covering K2K makes for very simple mathematics, if one can say so: 200+ kms/day for 38 straight days. Make it even simpler to say - 20km/hr for minimum 12-14 hrs per day on paper, and an actual of 15-17 hours of journey-time on bitter, ground reality. All these engineering calculus spares only a maximum of 7-8 hours off for all other necessary needs, including Sleep. Very difficult; but a strong belief made it all possible.

The journey will take him through 13 states (twice each), 54 districts, 57 cities, some of the National Highways, few state-highways, and all totalling up to 35,000 meters of bone-breaking elevation gain, with approximate of 35,000 meters of tricky downhill sections.



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