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!!!!
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!!!!
