photos courtesy
Baabloo Taarwale
Vaibhav Kudale
Meeta Meher
Pexels.com
and Forbes magazine
Tata Mumbai Marathon 2024: 20th year
Negative split
The Annie Besant Road loop: From Worli Sea Face Road we are guided to a long detour. The road becomes narrow at some places, and the street lights dim, but there remains a river flow of runners. Your pace gets decided /dictated by runners in your vicinity.
Time for phase one of negative split: km 8,9 and 10: I increase my pace and shift the gear from 7.28 pace to 6.28 pace.
I find myself constantly uttering verbal requests like “Side please, jaane dijiye, please leave right side open” along with some elbow manoeuvring
Me and Running: The Current Scenario
I am back in the paid running mode when it comes to Marathon participation, i.e. running organized marathons. During my time in pursuing a Diploma in Personal Training, a course on exercise science offered by K11(training academy) course, I was unable to follow any structured running programme. The lectures and practicals were from 7 am to 11 am, four days a week. (requiring me to get up at 5 am and resume office by 12.30 pm) The course got extended to 9 months as I had to balance business tours and family commitments. Running was more out of my fondness/ attachment to it, but learning and executing strength training programs and self-experimenting with the science of strength and resistance training became a New Nasha. (craze)
I have always loved deep-diving into subjects, even more so in today’s blessed era where you have resources by the dozen. Apart from the age-old support of the books and interactions with your teachers & batchmates, you have videos and podcasts to learn, get confused and again unlearn.
One can easily get lost in the urge to learn more.
The Irony: The more you deep dive into the human fitness & health journey more you realise: how vulnerable is the path and prevailing knowledge. There is no guarantee that what you are learning, believing, and trusting as something sacrosanct will remain so in days/months/years to come.
The only constant is “willing to learn and keep the mind windows open”
I restarted my journey with the IDBI federal marathon which also served as a qualifier for the Tata Mumbai Marathon with a 10 km distance. Here, I tried the negative split journey: wherein one starts at a slower pace and then increases the pace.{ Pace is the reverse of speed. In speed, you measure the distance covered in a given time period and in pace, you measure your distance covered in a specific time. So 7.10 ka pace means covering every km in 7.10 minutes}
I completed the IDBI federal marathon 10 km run with increasing pace from 7.10 to 6.10 to 5.10 pace from the 2nd km to the 10th km.
Overall, for 12-plus years, running has remained my first love and with this passage of time, it has evolved and created its own space in my life. This long journey had its self-created fitness issues.
Periodically I was introduced to different body parts.
“Hi there we exist! “
was the constant message.
“Understand us, respect us, take care of us”
Having Plantar fasciitis in both legs kept me on my toes. Chondromalacia patella MRI gave glimpses into the imbalance between VMO (vastus medialis) vis a vis iliotibial band. At times, adductor muscles made me study the origin of muscles and the origin of the pain (pun intended). Along this long-running journey Could understand the importance of piriformis.
Being a recreational runner with travel-related business commitments further created an imbalance in time allocation to
musculoskeletal strength
vis a vis
Muscle endurance requirements
Vis a vis
Cardiovascular strength protocols.
Moving to the nutritional aspect, being an avid student of nutrition, I also struggled with practical problems related to food choices; natural sources of minerals and vitamins for which I had to sometimes be dependent on supplements, especially during back-to-back tours. Touring in industrial areas also drastically reduces the options (when I see friends taking 30 to 40 supplements continuously, I get scary feelings: “Are we the victims of a new money-making scheme?”
One can be dependent on modern medicines or supplements: in both cases, your monthly financial outflow is someone’s lucrative business.
Running Solo or with friends
Talking comes naturally to me so running with friends can be a natural choice, but what has evolved is something different. Given a chance and choice, I run alone.
At times, my running time is for thinking, brain decluttering
Or it is observing the surroundings, the slow falling of leaves,
the changing colours of Borivali National Park (Mumbai)or different city gardens (I usually prefer green spaces as compared to road running when I am travelling)
Or at times it is just observing how people walk or run. The movement of upper limbs, lower limbs, the kinetic chain, biomechanics, and the beautiful adaptation by the individual human body.
In running you will always find faulty running biomechanics. Faulty from the textbook point of view, but when you interact with the runner you realise despite what you have been taught, the runner in question is still enjoying the super path of Personal Best and Personal Records in various Ultra marathons. Human body: with neural pathways to actual movement jugalbandhi loves to adapt and readjust.
Yes, few remain unlucky, get injured and drop out, but the running world is never bothered about dropouts.
The running world is always in the present continuous mode
Now and happening!
No one gives a damn about yours or anyone’s last year’s PB or PR. You may have run 100-plus marathons in the past, but if you are not in the contemporary world, you just do not exist.
Re-strategise:
Even though I had planned to follow a structured program for the Tata Mumbai Marathon, the last couple of weeks of back-to-back travelling kept me off the training program and even my normal travel-related recovery remained an issue.
In travel, it is always early morning flights or early morning trains and days get stretched till the last meeting. Sleep, rest and reboot remain tricky.
My plan to have a deep tissue massage remains on my to-do list as I am not able to give time with a good soreness tolerable timeline.
All I can do is
- Do a thorough foam rolling
- Rest and sleep well on Friday.
- Use a heating pad ortho for controlled heating of major body parts
- Good hydration and some carbo-loading (discontinue my intermittent fasting)
“Will run at a slower pace initially and go for the negative slip, but will not push for any ambitious target” became my revised strategy.
The race
5.00 am Race time means two challenges
a) sleep
b) no stomach issues in the morning
Tried to gain some extra sleep on Friday and took from Intermittent fasting a week to ensure carb-loading was possible.
We are up by 2.30 am. Post-marathon I have scheduled a Pune visit, so I requested the driver to help us with early morning drop near the race venue.
At Bandra East, the drop-off point is at Kalanagar junction, which means a long walk.
Quick decision time: We decide to move on and take the next chance to go near Mahim church.
What follows of typical urban Indian story: Traffic (lack of planning )-chaos-anxiety.
The only consolation: we are not the only ones. Many runners are coming from central suburb shuttle buses (a good service arranged by Procam International, the organisers) and other runners in carpools.
Volunteers guide us towards the drop point and beyond that we all start walking.
It is obvious that 15000 plus runners who have registered cannot reach in time. The Mahim roads are narrow, the reti bunder area for hold up and various zones near the start line cannot do justice to the overall number.
(As per the Times of India report 56,545 runners participated in the event. 10,711 ran the full marathon and 15,218 ran the half marathon)
But it’s Mumbai meri jaan. Even if you are an outsider in this city, you better get used to disciplined queues and lines.
For female runners, the extreme right lane is somehow kept open.
We find our space to do the warm-up and foot exercises.
Surprisingly we do not get the fishy smell in the morning hours in this small fishermen’s enclave. The green carpet has covered the floor and balloons are adding the colours.
5.15 AM: We are near the timing mats. There are hundreds of runners behind us.
The Marathon begins
As we hit the main road, we cross a 200 m- 300 m stretch where there are NO lights. Rather challenging as one can miscalculate and trip, but we have steady walls of runners all around so all you need is to be aware of 6 to 10 inches of your physical space surroundings and you can remain balanced.
Nearing the Bandra Worli sea link approach, one notices that street lights are down, so a lot of mobile torches come to the rescue on some self-coordinated endeavour.
Soon we are on the iconic Bandra Worli Sea link; as a runner, walker and even as a motorist, this is your only once-a-year chance to walk-run on the complete sea link bridge. Today is one of the lowest temperature days (16.1 degrees C) of January, but the breeze gets lost into a sea of runners.
The beauty of being on the iconic Bandra Worli sea link has its problems. It is the most sought-after selfie zone.
Your run can become challenging if the runner or runners in front of you suddenly decide to stop mid-way so that her/his photo is taken.
“Better get used to this hurdle race” is an early mantra of Tata Mumbai half marathon. Remain conscious of your surroundings, remain focused and keep changing lanes, and shift pace for a few seconds if you want to keep running are the additional skills required for this marathon.
I have pre-decided the place where I am going to stop for photos. I chose a standee of water station so that I do not block the running path. The lady at the water station is kind enough to take one photo and she tries her best to respect maximum requests.
Towards the Worli end, male runners jump off and join the mass kidney bladder unload exercise.
It is not a good sight, but it gets repeated every year.
This year this problem is aggravated due to serpentine queues, delay in the marathon start, 15000 plus runners and limited loos.
The INS trata zone is well-illuminated and quite lively. The police force on duty is encouraging the runners.
Observing how people run or even walk has been my new habit after multiple study courses.
Initially, it was meant to do some kind of revision with new insights being learned; later it became a habit which comes naturally for a short duration during every run.
Biomechanics, movement of arms or at times punching the air, duck feet, knees moving In, pronation( feet leaning IN ), supination( feet leaning OUT) etc.
Most of the runners around me are striking mid-foot.
A lot of literature on social media and har gali mein ek coach (every lane in India has one coach) has somehow introduced different concepts and mid-foot strike is one of the favourites of everyone.
Movement of upper limbs usually gives rise to two options
- One can do a hilarious take on this subject with caricature patterns
- Keep the bookish knowledge aside and appreciate the runner’s achievement as despite funny or no movement runners have been doing wonderful things as body adepts.
(It is altogether a different subject on the long-term effect of poor biomechanics.
What happens to a particular runner or certain types of runners, over 6, 8 or 10 years? Does the body remain in a new equilibrium? Or is there always a payback time?
In a country where the sheer population keeps adding new runners, there are no studies of any kind on the long-term effect of running with good or different types of biomechanics.
How many runners could continue the path after 5 years? 8 years 10 years? Or beyond?
Soon we are running on an internal Worli loop which takes us on Anie Besant Road.
Are aur kitna daudana hai? (how long is this loop’s U-turn?) is the most asked question (either self-asked or asked to the returning runners on the opposite lane)
The road is narrow and the pace is getting decided by the crowd. I decide to start my 1st phase of negative split as I increase my pace from 7.30 to 6.30
Now it is a hurdle race and regular requests: please give side
A couple of kilometers and we are on the main Worli -Hajiali stretch. The road is now more open and I can maintain the increased pace.
I run past one female runner who is running in nav-vari saari.
Normally I would have matched her pace and appreciated her initiative, but the dreaded, steep Pedder Road is nearing, which would require me to slow down, so I continue at the same pace till I reach Peddar road.
The involvement of local residents: from Haji Ali signal to the end of the main Pedder Road incline is one of the highlights of the Mumbai marathon. Like every time we have a cheering crowd ready with biscuits, chocolates, oranges, salt etc. at regular intervals.
I keep running throughout the incline as I run past a young boy playing the drums, a mixed group (of middle-aged) playing the harmonica (mouth organ) beautifully.
“I should have kept some extra margin to enjoy these moments” is the self-talk as I descend towards Babulnath’s turn.
Regular running in Borivali National Park, Mumbai( lungs of Mumbai) prepares you for the inclines. During Endurathon practice we had to run Kanheri Hills and Gandhi Tekdi Hills multiple times, so the famous Pedder Road did not affect any of the regular Borivali National Park runners psychologically.
I keep a steady pace and decide to increase the pace only beyond 18 km.
The Marine lines stretch, no more has its old charm. It is a perennial work in progress with the coastal road work being carried out- giving us wider roads at times, and smaller lane/pathways the other times for a 200-meter stretch, full marathoners are given a freeway as they move towards the opposite lane.
“Oh, now we will have a full road for ourselves” is my feeling, but soon both the paths remerged and we are reminded constantly to keep the right lane open for full marathoners, returning.
As I am approaching the marina hotel zone I see Baabloo, Rajesh Iyer and Meeta (on a raised platform)
I greet them continuing my negative split and I want to maintain my last three km within the close range of 5.30 pace.
The hurdle race now becomes interesting as the overall pace of the running Janta is reduced and many are walking, thus I keep the zig-zag pattern and regular requests shout “On”. My only inner worry:
“What if my abrupt zig-zag pattern puts one of the lower limb muscles in a non-predictable zone? What if I get cramps due to non-rhythmic movements? “
Luckily nothing of this sort happens as I run at the pace of 5.21 and cross the finish line.
We immediately get SMS from Procam( Professional Camps) International(The event organisers)
“Congratulations on completing your Half Marathon at Tata Mumbai Marathon 2024 in 02:28:04 (provisional timings)”
Post run we keep walking in and remain in the atmosphere of a Kumbh Mela kind of environment. Runners everywhere!
All the selfie points have long queues and runners wait patiently for their turn.
Post-medal collection and refreshments (efficiently organized)
It’s time for stretching, and some photo opportunities.
Postscript: Along with the typical medalists, from African nations making headlines for constantly breaking their records, six non-runners also dominated the marathon media news, gaining medals in other ways.
(courtesy :Runners World, Hindustan Times & free press journal from the internet)
6 Arrested for Stealing “Gold” Medals at Mumbai Marathon
The thieves nearly made out with more than 2,000 medals
PUBLISHED: JAN 24, 2024 4:44 PM EST
Hindustan Times//Getty Images
Over the weekend, six were arrested in India after stealing 2,200 finisher’s medals that the thieves believed were actual gold. The crew pilfered the medals from boxes scattered across various tents at the Tata Mumbai Marathon.
During the marathon, police officers noticed a group of third-party workers hired for the event carrying large sacks out of the tents, who attempted to avoid the officers.
“The team suspected some foul play as the laborers tried to avoid them. A search revealed that the sacks contained medals,” one of the officers told The Hindustan Times.n
After being notified by the police, marathon organizers discovered that 162 boxes containing more than 2,000 medals were missing.
The police arrested six as part of the investigation, including the workers and their friends.
“The laborers were engaged in installing tents and fixing banners. The accused thought the medals were made of gold and decided to steal them,” Pravin Munde, deputy commissioner of police, told the paper.
Of course, not even Olympic gold medals are made of solid gold—an Olympic gold medal is mainly composed of silver, which is then plated with at least six grams of actual gold. The 2,200 stolen medals were said to be worth around $1,700, just a little more than the value of four actual gold medals.
‘Medals Stolen Or Misplaced’: Around 500 Runners Return Empty-Handed After Finishing 42 Km TATA Mumbai Marathon 2024
Despite the enthusiasm of nearly 59,000 runners, the 19th edition of the prestigious TMM witnessed a significant hiccup in the form of a medal shortage, leaving many athletes empty-handed.
RUCHA KANOLKARUpdated: Monday, January 22, 2024, 02:29 PM IST
A group of 40 runners from Pune expressed their dissatisfaction, stating that after completing their run they were informed that the medals had been stolen or misplaced |
The TATA Mumbai Marathon 2024, celebrated as Asia’s premier running event, turned into a bitter experience for numerous participants, particularly those in the Marathon Amateurs category. Despite the enthusiasm of nearly 59,000 runners, the 19th edition of the prestigious TMM witnessed a significant hiccup in the form of a medal shortage, leaving many athletes empty-handed.
500 racers completed the 42km marathon but did not get medals
The Marathon Amateurs, the first category to commence the run, started at 5 am from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, covering a distance of 42.195 kilometres. The disappointment reached its peak for over 500 runners who completed the challenging 42km marathon, only to be informed that there were no medals left for them at the collection counters. T
A group of 40 runners expressed their dissatisfaction
Notably, the TATA Mumbai Marathon attracts participants not only from Mumbai but from across the nation. A group of 40 runners from Pune expressed their dissatisfaction, stating that after completing their run, they were informed that the medals had been stolen or misplaced.
One cannot miss the humour in this situation, that despite years of organisation of this marathon, a) thieves mistook the medals for real gold b) the management also was left without medals
I guess, humans will be humans.
Organising any event in a metropolitan, ever-bustling City like Mumbai is a herculean task.
Maybe more than 19 different government agencies need to be involved and the promoters at Procam International, have to coordinate with multiple agencies.
As a project-loving and respecting person, I remain in eternal awe of managing the juggernaut known as the Mumbai Marathon.
Some gems from Forbes interview (published on 25th Jan 2024) with the Singh brothers.
Anil Singh & Vivek Singh have been the force behind Mumbai Marathon since its inception in 2004.
“We planted five seeds into the ground-
- The running movement must benefit society
- It must bring pride & prestige to the host city
- Must have communal harmony as its underlying undertone
- Must have charity
- Must promote health & fitness “
“There are 1600 running events in the country. People don’t realise how big running is . About 800 crore of sponsorship is involved with running every year. There are 2.5 million + registered runners in India. Every city and every town have their own running event of varying distances and it all started here in Mumbai in 2004.”
So in the grand scheme of things, running wins. But for the time being, Maybe the thieves should be sentenced to run around the ten police stations covering a minimum 10 km distance!
Keep running, keep inspiring !
shailesh 
Shailesh
Wow . What a read . Though I would read your fee this would be one the best . So informative still so simple and engaging . Hatts off to your detailed approach to anything what you do .
super envious.
All the best and congrats for great timing instead of photos etc .
best,
Vishwas
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Thanks
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A bit lengthy but then if it’s short then it’s not Shailesh 😀. As usual more than what is written, I am fascinated with the pictures that support his blogs. Well covered and tremendous memory power too in putting down every minute detail of what he observed 😊
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🙏
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it refreshed my last week’s FM.
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🙏
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super Sailesh..very impressive. Keep running.
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👍
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