I still remember very well what was written on the tee-back “WHY WALK , IF YOU CAN RUN”. I ran the in following morning for a full kilometer. I still remember my heart was panting so heavily after this adventure that it could have been heard from a kilometer. On my way back to home, probably on back of  endorphins rush, I promised myself, I will run  Mumbai marathon one day. Mumbai marathon was concluded recently so it was on the back of my mind. This was about 5 years ago. For next about three years I could not break 5K mark and the dream of running a marathon started to fade away. Hopes were renewed in 2010 when I graduated to half-marathon but running Mumbai marathon remained a distant dream.

26^th of July 2011 was a game changer for me, it was on this date I decided that I will run Full marathon in Mumbai. I registered for SCMM on the same day.  How long can I live with dream unrealized. I also knew that my longest run of 21K till date will soon become history.  I still remember my 25K run a week after registering for SCMM full. I was in great pain and it took about 2 hours to recover after lot of stretching and hydration. It was only the first step of journey that I had embarked upon. Another event happened right after it. KTM online registration was announced, my friend Karthi from Bangalore advised that I should register for full. I did as I thought it will benefit me in two ways. It will speed up my preparation for marathon and I’ll experience the distance a bit early. I did complete Kaveri Trails. It took me 5:07 minutes to complete the distance. My respect for the distance increased manifold. You can Read my blog for my KTM experience.

If you run a marathon you feel like doing it again. First I thought of doing Pune, but negative feedback prevented me doing it. I registered for running and living Gurgaon marathon. The run was on 18^th December and at the start temp was near 8 degree. On the back of temp and running mates that I found I was able to do it in 4:25.

Though I had experience of 2 marathons, I knew very well that Mumbai marathon was going to be different. I had participated in half in previous two years and on both occasions at finish line I was completely exhausted. Having done my first 2 marathons in last in last four months and churned out highest ever 122 miles in December, Mumbai still remains a challenging as ever.

MUMBAI

Sanjary Hotel wasn’t good at all but, it’s was chosen due to its proximity to SCMM start as it was near charni road station behind Opera House. Went to expo in the afternoon. I met Mehesh Thota there, a very good runner from Karimnagar.In the hotel  met sanjeev Gaurwho also checked in same hotel. In the Expo I also met Bruce of 4:30 bus. Had conversation with him regarding the race day strategy. I felt his strategy is not going to work for me and decided not to run with him. I expressed my sincere gratitude to him. These are people who run for others.  I'll run a bus someday.

Went to Sidhiivinayak with Mahesh to lay myself in front of almighty. Had dinner at Kamath’s  near the temple.  We were back at hotel at 10pm.

RACE DAY

Mahesh had a good sleep as if he was allotted my sleep quota as well. I could only rest and kept myself in waiting mode for alarm to buzz. Finally woke up well before both the alarms can get to act. Timer chip was laced in the previous night, now it was time to pin the Bib and the hope of doing well .Three of us Mahesh , sanjeev Gaur and me left the hotel exactly at 4:50am. Hotel attendant, half asleep, wished us good luck. Taxi, walk and jog, we were in the holding area by 5:15.

The atmosphere in the holding area was amazing. A huge confluence runners from all parts of India. I was thinking how lucky Mumbai is, as it is going to witness so many dreams being realized today. For many of us running is no less than religion. I met many of these devotees, who were readying themselves for the prayers which are to begin at 5:40. 

Just Before the start was declared, I reminded myself two things. Since you are not running with Bruce you have to reach finish line before Bruce does it. Second you have to prove that your Gurgaon performance was not on the back cold weather. In a way it was a validation test for  my decision  of not to board 4:30 bus and my guegaon performance.  I set myself a target anything less than 4:25. I also put 2 split targets. Half in 2Hr, 30k in 3hr. I found space and pace both in the first few minutes itself. Soon I spotted mayank in KTM tee and Brojen in the Tee he put in the dailymile. Brojen opted out for a while. I had earlier ran with mayank in ADHM for 5 odd K. Brajesh an experienced marathoner, mayank and I started to churn out miles at pace near 5:30Min/K. We were targeting 4:15 finish. We ran together Till 15K. Mayank is very methodical while Brajesh’s experienced was clearly visible in the conversation we had.  At that point of time I realized I was running a bit faster than planned also the hydration was having its effect. No toilet was in sight; I felt really bad but had no choice but to take nature’s call on the sea link. Relived now I was ready to take as much water I wanted,  though none of it was available on the sea-link. Soon saw the amazing sunrise on the sea-link, I felt like stopping to see it.

 21K was done in 2Hr, I was bang on the target and loudly declared it to the cheering mumbaikars “Half Done!”. Trying to keep pace of around 6min/K was the challenge now. 30K was done in 2:56 it was 4 minutes ahead of target. I saw Mr.Ragunathan, 63, a great inspiration and a colleague of mine running ‘BAREFOOT’. He was probably 3 K Behind and running with great ease. He has adapted to bare footing only recently. I think he was the fastest among those who ran barefoot, clocking an incredible time of 4:54. Ragu sir’s this act inspired me to set another target, go and break the proverbial wall at 32K and don’t take any walk break till 35K. I did as ordered. As the Pedder road approached, I reminded myself what Brajesh has told only a while ago. “You can slow down on the climb but your effort level should remain same”. The uphill task was made easier by cheering mumbaikars. Pedder road journey is one which touches heart. I could not refuse the biscuits I was offered by kids while cheering. I put these biscuits in pocket for future use.  On the pedder road decline I saw increase of activity and then the motorcade , so they are coming. We were asked to clear the road for them and run on the left. All the cheering which was meant for them I took it as mine. Finally when Ram Singh crossed me, I stopped for a while and applauded ‘Go ram singh go!’ . I was soon given a ‘Gu-Gel’ , I don’t know it was meant for me or I was mistaken by volunteer as one of the elite. I never had tried ‘GU-Gel’ previously , so “Don’t try anything new”  gave way to “What else can provide you energy at 37K” thought. I took it all and told myself in true bollywood style “GU-Gel ki kasam ab main finish line se pahle nahi rukunga”. I faced only some trouble while negotiating the last 500M with half-marathon runners. Big timer at finish was showing the time as 4:20 as I hit the finish line mat. 

Mr. N P Ragunathan Finished at 4:54 Hatts off to him

After finishing with Gerald , Suresh and Mani-- Photo courtesy Gerald