Hi, Friends, and Fellow Runners, this is my modest two penny attempt at writing a report on how I fared at the Mumbai Half marathon.
My preparations were basically a long streak of daily running from Gopalapuram to Marina and back (8kms) and joined the group in running the ECR on 06.01.08 and the different route on 13.01.08. On Friday we left, we here meaning myself and Guna, by the Chennai-Mumbai mail departing at 2250hrs,it was a big risk to reach the venue of the run 3 hrs before but the alternatives were, well, lets' say more expensive!! This particular method was easy on the purse albeit risky. Guna and myself met on the train and we discussed the run strategies, my strategy or plan was to run at a pace of 9-10kms/hr till 18-19kms and make a bid to cross the last 2-3kms in a dash if there is any energy left. On the day journey we took rest, then slept, rest, sleep, polished a dozen bananas between us, ate the plain thalis, other foodstuffs like samosas were avoided. The bananas were for potassium, energy and fibre to clear bowels. Fellow veteran passengers on this train assured us that the train has a knack of arriving on time in spite of being more 3 hrs late, that was reassuring because it was running late by an hour or so. The prediction was true and the indeed the train arrived at CST dot at 3.30am,we moved to the waiting room, did our ablutions, my friend in Mumbai came at 5am with the bib no.and the goody bag at CST. Vignesh was carrying Guna's bib no. and was to meet at the venue only at 5.30am.
After changing into running kit, we gingerly stepped out of Mumbai CST an imposing landmark as anybody would tell you, there was a buzz in the air and we could see some of our fellow runners also coming our way. As usual there was this confusion between the map and the gate nos, the security was allowing only people with bib nos in the ground which was quite large and spacious, facilities for VIPs, elite runners (read invited runners like the Kenyans) had shamianas, while the aam runners had the sky as roof. A volunteer looked sour and unhappy at being enquired as to where the baggage area, dunces, they must have thought of us, can't they see with their eyes.
Well, the baggage counters were well manned, I took out the two 200ml bottles which contained the mixture (2 teaspoons of glucose, a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of sugar) mixed half a lemon in each and topped it with water, so my rehydration, salt, energy replenishment kit was ready, the baggage was deposited. The ground was now swelling and filling with people and the public toilets had long queues they were some kind of wagons that could be towed away, so you can realize what a messy affair it was and the area had a stench. We had met Vignesh by then and Vignesh introduced us to a lady who only 54, was coming from Gurgaon and was aiming for 2hr finish. She had done quite a few marathons in Macao, Korea etc, that was enough to give me a complex. There was another person who was wearing a veteran tag who was also aiming for 2:05 finish, gulp, these golden oldies. It was pitch dark still, the sun in Chennai rises these days at 6.36 am or so but in Mumbai it is much later. The announcement came for the runners to go into the holding area which seemed to be the same for everyone though they had mentioned chip/transponder holders will be given preference. Our plan, that is three of us, was to run in a file and lock our legs in a rhythm and the distance is covered more easily.
It was very crowded and the collective action of people on the march gave rise to dust. Soon the group of people started moving and we realized that the run had started on dot and it was another 100mts or so before we reached the starting point where I espied Tina Ambani in the VIP gallery waving to the crowd, that meant hubby Anil was running the half. The time in the watch was still 6.42 am, that's pretty good, an on dot start. The crowds were there cheering, the drums were on and it was a carnival atmosphere. The run was pretty good; we veered to the left of the road to the margins where the TV/news cameras were positioned, in the hope of being captured by the cameras as proof of our run to convince skeptics. The speed was 9kms per hour as per my calculation, Vignesh, myself and Guna sticking to each other. We passed the famous Hutatma Chowk and Flora Mountain without seeing the landmarks because of barricades and the crowds. After Churchgate the run turned to left on Marine drive and in front of the Air India building the hoarding said -For Once, don't fly, in fact all the hoarding along the route were tuned into the spirit of running. Water points while going were more than while coming back. The run was smooth, we could talk and even do a jig at the music which was being played at certain places on Marine drive, at the 5th km mark, Guna found the pace too fast for his liking and waved us ahead, so Vignesh and I stuck together, as part of sightseeing I pointed out the famous Chowpatty beach on the left, at the end of Marine drive we turned inwards towards Pedder road, by now the sun was well up and about, at the turn it was about 9 kms or so and the hour mark on the watch was coming up, the sound of sirens and the car opposite with the timer watch on top meant the 1 hour finishers were on the way back and soon enough they were there, a Finn and an Indian in hot pursuit, who eventually won the half. For want of a better word, I can say they really whizzed past, I thought they were sprinting to the finish. Meanwhile we were still just about reaching the halfway mark. The Pedder road uphill flyover was the first break on the speed, still the run was comfortable, we could talk to each other, acknowledge the cheers of the crowd. I also saw we had a downward slope which could prove treacherous on the way back, very prophetic, it turned out to be. I had starting sipping the 1st bottle from the 5km mark and repeated that every km. Meanwhile the first group of hobby runners (Sunita Godara would call us that) after the pros had gone had started coming from the opposite side, I could spot Milind Soman, Guna saw Anil Ambani on the opposite all finished under 2 hrs, I think.
Meanwhile the Worli sea face opened up and we could spot Haji Ali shrine to our left, it seemed very comfortable, the glucose was taking its effect. Vignesh too seemed ok, under the flyover we turned back that was 12th km jus 9kms to go, this is good going. As we approached 13th km, Vignesh too asked me to go ahead, that left me alone to pace on my own. I think it slowed me and I couldn't find anybody into whose stride length I could slide into a rhythm.
The drone of the helicopter meant that the full Monty was on and we could catch a glimpse of the Kenyans and the Ethiopians, soon, the car with the timer on top came with the lead group of runners all Africans, no Indian in sight, boy, they just seemed to glide on the road, smooth long strides, seemingly effortless.14th came, going good, the 1st bottle was over and the second one came on, then the Pedder road uphill climb came, that was really energy sapping, now I was crawling at 6kms per hour, the end of the uphill and the another on the flyover was a big relief, I didn't want to charge downhill for fear of hurting the knees. The sun was up and shining bright, thankfully due to the high-rises which cast shadows the effect of the sun was mitigated. I also saw and waved to Narayan and Rajesh going for the full on the opposite, I saw Abhijit also busy in his strides. The Pedder road climb had a telling effect on energy sources, now the km marks were longer in coming, at this juncture I missed familiar company to talk and get over the mental aspect.
Since it was tiring it was difficult to concentrate on the fun aspect, the mind as usual started playing games, come on walk, take it easy, said one part, the other part was singing an old Hindi song, which is my mantra on such runs…which goes somewhat like this……. ruk jana nahi tu kahi haar ke, kaaton pe chalke milenge saaye baharon ke…meaning. Don't stop now feeling defeated; the road to flower beds is strewn with thorns…
As I turned onto Marine Drive on the home stretch, still 4 kms away, the sun was now full onto the face, that was another killer application especially on the return stretch. The momentum was lost, time 8.30am,still 5 kms to go, now I had to virtually drag my feet off the ground, the sun beating mercilessly, longed for the comfort of the shadows of tall buildings which came at about 19th kms. The run had become a jog, the jog was becoming a shuffle, and to my dismay a tall guy who was walking very fast was going past me.8.45am, 2hrs gone, still 3 kms to go. I also did a thing which I had never done before, I doused my face and my head with water to see whether it had any effect, then it seemed it hadn't worked, but in retrospect I feel the sprint/dash to the finish was because of that. I decided to wait till the bend at which you turn inside the road going to Churchgate from Marine Drive, the last 1.5kms to go for a surge, come what may. Humming the Hindi film song, I shuffled till the bend and then made a lung bursting dash for the end, 1.5kms to go, the dash ended at 500mts,when it seemed my lungs would really go bust, 1st time I walked for a few meters, then sprinted another 100mts,walked, sprinted, walked, sprinted till I saw the finish gate which was about 200mts,the last 200mts were completed in a delirium, to the extent I even could not read the time properly, I read it as 2:44,later on, I came to know the time was 2:36:31.
At the finish, if I closed my eyes I was seeing stars, open your eyes, you were seeing dark images, the legs seemed very heavy and the plantar fascitis in the heel was paining like hell. The counters where you went to collect your refund back were chaotic to say the least, the lucky guys were the ones who didn't wear the ankle chips, they got their certificates on time. The transponder guys had to stand in long queues till Sunita Godara the former women's marathon champ, now 48 ran the half marathon took charge, she made a plea for outstation runners to form a separate queue and gave some running tips to hobby runners, as she called us. Her first tips, not to run in new clothes, according to her, new clothes don't absorb sweat well and can increase your time by few minutes. Next tip, to wear sleeveless vest/shirt/garment for both men and women, wearing turtle necked,half sleeved tishirts can also increase your time by some more minutes. Lastly, to tie your laces in double knots, tuck the loose ends inside the shoe, so that you don't waste time and rhythm tying shoelaces during running. Thanks to her intervention we got our money back, but no certificate because the software had developed a glitch, the certificate would be posted a week later.
Since the ordinary non-VVIP runners were not provided with shamianas we had to relax on the bare grounds in hot sun, though it didn't seem as hot it was during the run. The refreshment coupon had 2 bananas, one apple and a packet of biscuits, the volunteers were however free with water bottles.
At the end of it but for the chaos to redeem the transponder the arrangements were, let's say, quite un-Indian. The streets were scrubbed clean, I was told later by residents, that the BMC used water tankers to clean the streets, the Mumbai public, God bless them, was out on the streets, cheering the runners, made a carnival atmosphere. The entire roads up and down were closed for traffic, not even a stray dog could be spotted.
My recommendation, half Mary's the best for Mumbai, the full can be very taxing, I met Mahesh, Rajesh trooping back amidst traffic at 1330-1345hrs.if the run doesn't get you, the heat will. The half Mary can be started at 5.45 or 6am.Since the leading newspaper went to town with run, it has been made into an event. With glamour businessmen like Anil, Doug Baillie and the Hiranandanis running nothing beats the Mumbai Marathon as the marathon to be in India.
This run is dedicated to Chennai runners,without whom I coudn't have dreamt of doing till June last year,3 cheers to the group, hip-hip-hurray.I also wish to express my thanks to Vignesh,and Guna and to Ramesh(Tiger) for inspiring me to write this piece.
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