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
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
No comments:
Post a Comment