Hi Runners !

I hope that this reivew will help runners to decide if they want to run HM in pune in near future or not :)

History

I have heard lots of negative review about this race and could not find single positive review.  Even runners from Pune looked like running away from this event.   I am living in Mumbai and working in pune from last 1 years so I just thought to run because I love pune weather & I could see some of the known running friends from Mumbai who have registered for this event.

Registration & Bib Collection

Since they had online registration so it was quite easy to register  but only confusion was about Medical test to be given so I had called up the helpline number and they given me proper replied as  "I can bring medical certificate from my Doctor"  so I was not worried about it since I have gone through such procedure during  Thane Varsha Marathon

I went there on Friday to collect the BIB  at Nehru stadium and given my medical certificate and it was easy  except you need to check your BIB Number from the List which was stick on the Wall.  Since I had time I have written down known runners BIB No and send them SMS / msg on FB so they can save the time on saturday.   They have given new type of timing chip ( kind of bend ) and one Ganji  with Pune Marathon logo.  Later I found that they were giving BIB to all without medical /without medical certificate also.

Twist

I was all set for this race but on friday I got call that my Father in Law is in hospital so I need to rush back to mumbai. Now I was sure that I will not be able to run this race. On Saturday evening we took discharge from hospital and after that at  8 pm I asked my wife if I can run the race  and she said  YES.   I was having no idea as how i will reach pune but I went to Thane and found that there is  9 pm Mahalaxmi Express  - I took general Ticket and boarded the train which was full pack ,  After standing for  3 hrs 30 min I reached  PUNE mid-night  12:30 am and reached to Hotel Ajit at 1 am which was booked by Mr V Anand  ( I thank him very much to join him for stay ).  

Race Day

Woke up at  5 am  and then called up My room mate in Pune  who was also going to run with me and who was to bring my running cloths.  He look more time to reach venue due to road block and finally we both reached the venue which was just 2 min walk from Hotel.  We stand with other runners just to find that our race started 12 min before and now 10 K will start.  We both were just laughing and i said this never happen to me.  Now I was worried as  i  got all negative picture of this race as they do not control trafic and I got worried as how I will find the route if the trafic is on but  we decided to run with 10 k guys.   After few KM I could see  Mr Harbhajan  from mumbai ( he is good runner ) but on that day he was having hard time ( he finished in 3 hrs  15 min )  and then after few KM I could see HM runners who have started well before me so I could confidant and then started over taking one by one.

I took photos of water station  , supporters and on Junction to know what is the real story and found that they had good support till end  /  there were many childrens  cheering for  us.  I could see old ladies / Trafic police  clapping for us.   I had shake hand ( Taali ) with many childeren and they were so happy.

Only at end on Khadki Bazar road  - road was open for trafic but  I was ok to run there and found that they have removed the mate.  My timing certificate show data for 10k and for 21 it is showing  "Missing Data".  At end My self and Mr Anand asked the volunteers if they have some refreshment and they said they have  tea/coffee and we crossed the road and got water / biscuits and tea and coffee were over.  Mr Nikhil Shah was taking photos of all of us and it was nice to meet them all at end.

The Route was good and we had surprise flyover after 18 k and which slowed down the pace for most of the runners

Considering so many negative review  I felt that they did a good job  for HM. Next year I am going to run HM for sure to do by PB.

It will be upon individual to decide if they have to run for  this event (HM)  or not

Cheers

Chetan Gusani

Thane