Morning running thoughts-Run thru BNP

Today’s morning run was amazing because of the venue. Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) aka Borivali National Park (BNP) is probably one of the best places to go for a morning run in Mumbai. A lot of greenery, oxygen rich atmosphere, no vehicular traffic and variations in elevation which make it perfect for a nice challenging long run. The proximity to nature is something quite unique about running here. Sighting herds of spotted deer is quite common. A friend has talked about hearing the lions and tigers in the safari area roaring at dawn. Another friend has seen a leopard crossing the road.

Another family of animals which one tends to see huge numbers of is the monkey. One may spot the macaques and their bigger cousins, the langurs flying over treetops, walking on the ground or just chilling. Monkeys are commonly seen in most places in tropical countries having some forest cover. A couple of traits are commonly seen in humans visiting such places. One set of people go, “Awww these things are so cute and playful”. Another set of people go, “These animals are dangerous, they are aggressive and will snatch food, phones etc.”. Then there are those who feel it is their duty to feed all creatures other than humans. They claim that they are the only kind of people who love nature and animals and anyone who questions this are cruel individuals. Is that really the case?

Check out the attached sign board. This is the famous Batu caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The steps are lined with trees meaning a lot of monkeys. Thousands of people visit these caves daily with some happily feeding the monkeys, some clicking selfies with them and some screaming at the monkeys’ “aggression”. It is strange that we humans despite our sharp intellects, often end up shrouding logic and common sense with so called “compassion”. If the people in question are genuinely compassionate, why is this compassion only seen with animals? What sort of compassion do these animals really need? Do they really want to be fed? Are these “compassionate” individuals aware of what are the side effects their actions? The sign board from Batu caves is only the tip of the iceberg. Stray dogs, pigeons, rodents, etc. They are all getting used to processed, sugar rich foods which have some predictable effects on their behaviour.

What do we need to show compassion for other animals? Do we need to feed them? Or do we just need to live and let them live?

TMM 2019-Memories!!!

My previous post was all about making the choice to make the Mumbai marathon the best run ever. Did I?? Of course!!! It's been more than a month. Yet the memories still are very fresh in the mind!!! It was a day of many firsts for me. I got my fastest time on the holy route, switched to pacer mode midway through the run, etc. It went as follows....


The pre-run rituals were all done as planned. Drinking a lot of water and electrolytes, eating well, resting well. After having run the Mumbai Marathon thrice before this, I managed to drop into sleep without the pre-race jitters. "This is going to be my Best run ever" was the thought I was constantly repeating in my head once I woke up. The weather seemed to be pretty good. A lot of us friends took the 3:58 am special train, as did many other participants. The train journey and shuttle bus ride were pretty routine. However the early start coupled with the long walk from the bus drop off point to the holding area meant a lot of crowd to enter Worli dairy. After going through the security check and the routine visit to the loo to start on an empty bladder, I spent a few minutes warming up. I was scheduled to start from line up C. When I walked towards it, I was shocked to see the entire area empty. That meant that the gates had been opened a few minutes prior, with everyone from line up A to E having reached the main-road leading to the start line. I followed suit. A couple of friends with whom I had made plans to run were nowhere to be seen. I figured that it was going to be another solo run. I had a very clear plan to enjoy the run and beat the timing I had set back in 2017.


I crossed the start line a few minutes after the flag off and I went about executing my plan. The first kilometre was uneventful with the exception of a mini accident with a friend I met after an eternity. A high five was followed by him tumbling over the speed breaker, but he recovered quickly as though nothing happened. The second kilometre as always was quite surreal. It was a sharp left turn onto the Bandra-Worli Sea Link with 3 lanes converging to 2 with a gentle uphill climb which left people packed like sardines. As it had in the three previous years, my head felt light while going through that stretch. I kept urging people all around to keep running through the narrow, crowded section of the route. Once the road widened, it was easier for people to open up their strides and push the pace. I was bang on time for the first 3 kilometres. I increased the effort a wee bit and sustained the planned pace for the next 6km. That included an amazing stretch while running from Bandra towards Worli. The sight on looking up at the cables stretching towards the dark sky was delightful. I overtook one of the 2:10 pacers and kept moving ahead. The fast amateur full marathoners appeared on the opposite side by the time I reached the Worli end of the sea link. I was happy with the pace at which I was running

After going past Worli dairy, I realised that the humidity was a little higher than the previous few days. It didn't help that I was unable to get hold of the energy drink(read ORSL). I felt a bit of tiredness creeping in by the time we reached the end of Worli sea face. I thought it would be a good idea to run with the second 2:10 pacer who was a little further ahead. A short easy few kilometres would have made the journey to achieving my plan for this year's run a little more fun. I was suprised to not see too many familiar faces on the opposite side. It was perhaps because it was a little darker than the last few years. After going past Mela, I caught up with the second 2:10 bus. Now is time to go into cruise control mode, I thought. But what Dev, the 2:10 pacer said was a little disturbing. "***** lag gayi hai..Tu bus leke aage jaa", were his words. I calmly told him that I would run along and take him ahead at least till Peddar road. I started some of my favourite activities which I had done while pacing the 2:30 bus last year. These included the Mexican wave, “I can’t hear you” jibe to the crowds, etc. We rumbled on, going past the NSCI dome, Mahalakshmi race course etc. and were soon at the foot of the Peddar road "hill". After having done Satara, Peddar road seemed puny. However as  per the 2:10 strategy, we took a few walk breaks while going up the slope.

Peddar Road leading to Hughes road has always been my favourite stretch of the Mumbai Marathon. Kids were out cheering in full force as were the adults, there was a group of harmonica wielding uncles, a kid with a tap here for power up board and a "Free Hugs" station. There is no better place to which defines the Mumbai Marathon. As we descended the Kemps corner flyover, Dev took out his flag and asked me to take the 2:10 bus to the finish line. He said that his legs were in bad shape after he tripped on a stray bottle on the sea link. All my attempts to get him to continue had failed. I took over near Babulnath and started using the flag as a weapon to push people around me to push on through Marine Drive. The stretch as always was wonderful. The early start meant the sun was a little lower than the last few years. As always there weer a lot of runners requiring a little bit of a push towards the last few kilometres and I was happy to give them that.

This year's run was a run of many firsts. The first TMM in Vibrams, The first TMM where I managed to empty my gut before the run. The first run where I took over a pacer's bus midway. The first TMM where I had posted a blog post before the run. But what made it special was my family waiting for me near Pizza by the bay. It was a major power-up to get a high five from my mom. It was followed by the MRR cheering zone a few 100 metres away. "I'll be back", I told them as I went by. After the final push to the finish line, we got the now customary TMM towel. Then I realised that the walk to the medals and refreshment counters was the shortest it had been in the last many years. I hurriedly collected my refreshments and medals, satisfied that I had achieved the humble time target I had set for myself before the race. I then set off towards Pizza by the Bay where my wife was waiting with my camera, change of clothes and costume.


The Batman outfit was a wonderful tool to get people going towards the finish. The look coupled with the dialogues and the straight faced high fives. Though the main target was to push weary full marathoners, it helped the weary half marathoners too which included some familiar faces. The initial wave of full marathoners were the fast amateur runners. After a quick nutrient replenishing hot breakfast at Shiv Sagar, the Batman returned to duty with another tool, a camera. The Batman look, Batman dialogues and the camera, all worked in giving people that little kick. Me along with Gautam and Dhairya also made a little running conveyor belt to give some known friends a push.

Running be it with or without a mask is a very easy way to lose oneself. One may lose any thoughts leading to a meditative state of running. Or one may lose one's own identity by running with or for someone. That is the divine power of running. Through the 42.2 km of a marathon, even the CEO of a multinational company is only a runner as are thousands of others. The most satisfying aspect of this TMM was how I managed to lose myself into the spirit of Mumbai, by absorbing it during the run and giving it back as I ran, cosplaying to cheer the full marathoners and most of all, putting a smile on the faces of many. It was a wonderful day. Definitely my best day in 2019 thus far!!!!

TMM 2019-Build up to the best run ever

Over the last 3 years, my first and sometimes only blog post of the year always came a few days after the Mumbai Marathon (Title sponsor changed to Tata last year). This year however, I felt it would be a good idea to post one before this Kumbh Mela of running. At this Kumbh Mela though, it is the people who make the holy rivers through the streets of Mumbai.

Mumbai is changing. The infrastructure projects have meant that both the half and full marathon routes this year would be a little different from the last few years. We half marathoners will get to run through the toll booths. And we will all have fewer turns before and a shorter walk after the finish line to the medal collection/refreshments/recovery area. The campaigns of the Tata Mumbai Marathon have all been about getting better. #bebetter as the hashtag says. How can all this make the run for us any better? Does only getting a good timing make a run good? Absolutely not!!!

The route as always will be beautiful. The crowds will definitely reflect the spirit of Mumbai with their cheering and support. The weather is something which is never under our control. The training may or may not be great. Yet the single point which can make our run better than any other is all about making a choice. It is a choice we can make to run our best run ever. Of course this comparative can only be with the past.

How can it be the best run ever? Unfortunately a lot of people think getting a great timing is the only way to classify a run as good or bad. Well, someone who has recovered from an accident where he/she could not walk will definitely rate the first half marathon finish as the best run ever. The first half/full marathon will definitely rate someone's as the best run ever. One may get one's best run by simply running the entire distance non-stop. Someone may just be happy to help a fellow runner finish a run. Even if one can't do any of these, just being happy through the entire 21.097km or 42.195km, irrespective of all the challenges before, during or after the run can make any run the best.

Decide to be happy even if you can't crack that steep time target you set for yourself. Decide to be happy even if you have to crawl up Peddar road. Decide to be happy if you have a decent finish no matter how hot or how cold it gets on race day. Decide to be happy even if everything doesn't go according to plan.

Make that choice!!! Ensure that you enjoy your run, smile through and conquer all the challenges the Mumbai marathon throws at you!!! I am certain you can and will run your best run on 20 January 2019