The much awaited run of my life, the Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM) was held on 19th January 2020. All and sundry cannot run in half marathon / full marathon. There is cut-off timing agewise and only if you had run in any approved event within those specified time, you can run in this event.
I did not qualify within the cut-off timings and hence had to run through the charity bib. Once our running club of office was formed and after our first run in July, quite a few of us picked up running as a hobby - but none of us had the time to register ourselves directly. That is when our CEO Kavi decided that we will support a charity and a few employees will run in TMM. The excitement began then and I coordinated with TRRAIN, a NGO that works for the benefit of retail employees and decided to sponsor them in exchange of 25 slots in TMM.
I had registered for the Half Marathon - my 3rd and was all set for the run. Just couple of weeks before TMM, I had attended a couple of trial classes for running and shortlisted "Striders" as the one with whom I will train. I attended only a handful of classes, but seeing the group and the energy levels, I was determined to do well in the run. Also, running Powai Run just a fortnight before gave me a good experience as well as confidence boost to do well.
Coordinated with my neighbours, Rajesh Menon and Amit Paithankar. Left home at 3:15 am in Amit's car. We were stopped at the foot of Elphinstone bridge - got in a BEST bus which dropped us on Annie Besant Road - we walked to Worli Diary, the starting point of the race.
Met my colleagues, Kavi, Prameeta, Sriram and Pravin. After a few stretchings, we were all set to start the race !!
The race started from Worli Seaface. After the first kilometre, we were to hit the sealink. Running of the sealink was something I was looking forward to. The crowd that started the half marathon was close to 13,000. Imagine such a crowd running on the wide sealink and finding their space and time to make themselves comfortable.. It was wonderful to run on the sea-link. At the end of the sealink, we were to take a U-turn and come back to Worli Seaface. What I saw at the end of sealink was something I feel bad - when the whole country is talking of "Swacch Bharat", we had runners lining up at the end of the sealink to pee. This is inspite of the organisers arranging mobile toilets at frequent intervals. Also, this place comes at close to 5 Km mark.
Pc: Sriram Radhakrishnan
Came back from the sealink and hit the 10 Km mark. The mistake I did was that I ran this stretch a bit faster than my usual time. The moment I came out of sealink, I felt a bit tired and couldn't push myself. However, I kept telling me that Peddar Road (an incline stretch) is another 3 Kms away and I had to anyway walk it. Rather, I will run this stretch. Pushed myself and reached Haji Ali & beginning of Peddar Road.
It was so nice to see Sandeep Naik, who is the Managing Director and Head of General Atlantic’s business in India & Southeast Asia standing by the side of the road and cheering the runners. After a "hi" to him, I started my run again. What I was about to hit was "Peddar Road". One of the inclines in the entire stretch - but the way people lining up and cheering take you through.
There was a girl holding a placard that read "Usain Bolt ran only 100 mtrs. You are running much more". There was another one that read "You inspire me". There was a gentleman who was offering "free hugs". Clicked his picture, hugged him and started my run.
Once the Peddar road and the Kemps corner bridge were crossed, I started my run (had walked the last one km). Ran almost till we reached Chowpatty. Started getting tired and walked and ran the entire marine drive. Saw that we are just less than a Km from the end when we took a left turn at "Pizza by the Bay". I started running the stretch and the moment we took left from Churchgate station, there were a sign mark of 500 Mtrs left. Started increasing my speed and encouraged all the fellow runners to give their best in the end. There were marks every 100 mtrs and finished the race at a good time of 2:36:54. This was my personal best and I had improved from my Powai time by 3 minutes. Wish I had run the first 10 kms a bit slow - would have had the energy to finish at a better time!! Lessons learnt !
The biggest problem started after we finished the run. The 10 Km runners also finish at the same spot. There was a big queue to get out to the Azad Maidan. Somehow got into it and the chaos started. After running 21.097 Kms, one should not face this. There was a big queue and chaos for collection of medals. A lady standing next to me started fainting. I and few others who were standing behind her caught hold of her and made to sit on the floor - gave her water. After a few minutes, she said, she was fine and got up. The chaos was anyway there. We would have moved a couple of steps only, she again started to faint. Along with another person, we shouted "medical emergency" and took her to the grounds without collecting our medals. Made her sit, drink water and after she confirmed she was alright, I went to meet my colleagues. Took a few photos and went to collect my medal. The chaos was worse. Somehow got a medal (even 10Km runners were given HM medals).
The entire race was marred with the controversy post the race !!
Took a train to Vikhroli and then a rick and came home by 11 am...
Mission accomplished !! Ran on the sea-link !! Qualified for the next TMM on my own !!
I did not qualify within the cut-off timings and hence had to run through the charity bib. Once our running club of office was formed and after our first run in July, quite a few of us picked up running as a hobby - but none of us had the time to register ourselves directly. That is when our CEO Kavi decided that we will support a charity and a few employees will run in TMM. The excitement began then and I coordinated with TRRAIN, a NGO that works for the benefit of retail employees and decided to sponsor them in exchange of 25 slots in TMM.
I had registered for the Half Marathon - my 3rd and was all set for the run. Just couple of weeks before TMM, I had attended a couple of trial classes for running and shortlisted "Striders" as the one with whom I will train. I attended only a handful of classes, but seeing the group and the energy levels, I was determined to do well in the run. Also, running Powai Run just a fortnight before gave me a good experience as well as confidence boost to do well.
Coordinated with my neighbours, Rajesh Menon and Amit Paithankar. Left home at 3:15 am in Amit's car. We were stopped at the foot of Elphinstone bridge - got in a BEST bus which dropped us on Annie Besant Road - we walked to Worli Diary, the starting point of the race.
Met my colleagues, Kavi, Prameeta, Sriram and Pravin. After a few stretchings, we were all set to start the race !!
The race started from Worli Seaface. After the first kilometre, we were to hit the sealink. Running of the sealink was something I was looking forward to. The crowd that started the half marathon was close to 13,000. Imagine such a crowd running on the wide sealink and finding their space and time to make themselves comfortable.. It was wonderful to run on the sea-link. At the end of the sealink, we were to take a U-turn and come back to Worli Seaface. What I saw at the end of sealink was something I feel bad - when the whole country is talking of "Swacch Bharat", we had runners lining up at the end of the sealink to pee. This is inspite of the organisers arranging mobile toilets at frequent intervals. Also, this place comes at close to 5 Km mark.
Pc: Sriram Radhakrishnan
Came back from the sealink and hit the 10 Km mark. The mistake I did was that I ran this stretch a bit faster than my usual time. The moment I came out of sealink, I felt a bit tired and couldn't push myself. However, I kept telling me that Peddar Road (an incline stretch) is another 3 Kms away and I had to anyway walk it. Rather, I will run this stretch. Pushed myself and reached Haji Ali & beginning of Peddar Road.
It was so nice to see Sandeep Naik, who is the Managing Director and Head of General Atlantic’s business in India & Southeast Asia standing by the side of the road and cheering the runners. After a "hi" to him, I started my run again. What I was about to hit was "Peddar Road". One of the inclines in the entire stretch - but the way people lining up and cheering take you through.
There was a girl holding a placard that read "Usain Bolt ran only 100 mtrs. You are running much more". There was another one that read "You inspire me". There was a gentleman who was offering "free hugs". Clicked his picture, hugged him and started my run.
Once the Peddar road and the Kemps corner bridge were crossed, I started my run (had walked the last one km). Ran almost till we reached Chowpatty. Started getting tired and walked and ran the entire marine drive. Saw that we are just less than a Km from the end when we took a left turn at "Pizza by the Bay". I started running the stretch and the moment we took left from Churchgate station, there were a sign mark of 500 Mtrs left. Started increasing my speed and encouraged all the fellow runners to give their best in the end. There were marks every 100 mtrs and finished the race at a good time of 2:36:54. This was my personal best and I had improved from my Powai time by 3 minutes. Wish I had run the first 10 kms a bit slow - would have had the energy to finish at a better time!! Lessons learnt !
The biggest problem started after we finished the run. The 10 Km runners also finish at the same spot. There was a big queue to get out to the Azad Maidan. Somehow got into it and the chaos started. After running 21.097 Kms, one should not face this. There was a big queue and chaos for collection of medals. A lady standing next to me started fainting. I and few others who were standing behind her caught hold of her and made to sit on the floor - gave her water. After a few minutes, she said, she was fine and got up. The chaos was anyway there. We would have moved a couple of steps only, she again started to faint. Along with another person, we shouted "medical emergency" and took her to the grounds without collecting our medals. Made her sit, drink water and after she confirmed she was alright, I went to meet my colleagues. Took a few photos and went to collect my medal. The chaos was worse. Somehow got a medal (even 10Km runners were given HM medals).
The entire race was marred with the controversy post the race !!
Took a train to Vikhroli and then a rick and came home by 11 am...
Mission accomplished !! Ran on the sea-link !! Qualified for the next TMM on my own !!
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