Mumbai Marathon, Mumbai(16th Jan 2011)

A guy born in Madurai Rural District Tamilnadu, definitely he is big fan and follower of Jallikattu/ Manjuveratu( Bull Tampering )and this habit starts from his childhood (because of circumstances /life system of his Madurai dist villages). A Person born and brought in agriculture based family (Main source of income and/or Primary family job); definitely he/she celebrate and attend pongal festival in his/her village home. It is very common in my case also. I never missed any pongal and Jallikattu so far.
However, Hobby become marathon/long distance runner in India, definitely one of the dreams could be Participation in Mumbai Marathon.

Mumbai Marathon official logo

Last year Aug’2010, I applied for Mumbai Half Marathon ( 21 KMs) with my colleague Sudeer. We both were decided to participate in Mumbai marathon. After sending my Chennai Marathon timing certificate, I received confirmation mail about my participation through email/mail.
Sudeer told that we need to book the fight tickets for Mumbai. Marathon day was coincided with pongal festival. But still my mind was willing to participate. I told my marathon aspiration to my parents (basically asking permission).Initially I did not get any green signal. I explained that, marathon can run only in young age not after become old. After so many level of discussions (like S/w Organizations), I got approval/ green signal from my parents for book my flight tickets. Same day we booked flights tickets to Mumbai (BLR-MUM-BLR).
Meanwhile, I shifted from Bangalore to Chennai. So I did not do enough practice. I have done very few practices sessions with Patrick (Co-runner, Working in Leading Intenational Organization as Senior Position) and Nike runner club members. We booked the rooms in Dec 2010 at hotel Rangsarada, Bandra (Very close to Half Marathon starting point). Even without good (enough) practice, I used to tell about my friends and colleagues about my Mumbai marathon participant plans. However I had good confidence about myself. I got surprise news from Sudeer about his unavailability for marathon. I was little bit worried.
I never visited Mumbai. Only I studied about Mumbai in text books and news papers and seen Mumbai in news and movies. I collected enough navigation information for Mumbai from my colleague Sivaji , my classmate Sambath and my BLR House owner. My House owner guided me about must see places in Mumbai.
15 Jan 2011 (Thai 1)
I got up in early in the morning went Old airport Road bus stop took bus to Bangalore New Airport. When I was in bus, I was thinking “am I doing right or not?” I reached Airport and seen few Bangalore Nike Runners waiting to catch flight to Mumbai. Meantime Suruli reached airport. We took Jet airways flight and reached Mumbai around 10:30 am.

That day was Pongal. But I was away from my village around 2000KMs. My family members called me, Pongal festival went well. Pongal milk comes out from the east side of pot and lot of sugarcane was idle in home and nobody eating that... (Usually I eat lot of sugarcanes, home become dirty of sugarcane wastes). Near Gateway of India

We reached church gate railway station. In railway station I met a new person Mr. Rahul Banerjee (studied in IIM, Indore). He helped us to reach World Trade Center. We went and collected goodie bag. I went to “Runners for life” stall and Collected Nike coupon. I met around 15 to 20 Bangalore runners in WTC. We took few snaps. Ragul become a friend for me. He guided us near site seeing. We visited Gateway of India, Nariman Point and Marine Drive. After that, we went hotel. Evening, we went Bandra Band stand (Saru and Salmman area) , Linking Road and Hill Road areas. From hotel room, we had seen Bandra- Worli Sea Link and Lilavathi hospital

World Trade Centre

Marine Drive and Nariman Point

Goodie Bag

I received best wishes messages from my ex-colleagues (now friends), friends and family members. I was very happy about their wishes and encourages. It created a tremendous confidence.

Rajivi Gandhi Sea Link ( Bandra-Worli Sea Link)

Race Day (16 Jan 2011)
This Marathon was 8th edition. Starting point was very close to my room. Around 12000 People gathered near Bandra fire station for Half Marathon event. I had seen full of heads. I was able see all age group of people includes females. People wore different type accessories and gadgets. I had seen lot runners from Aboard, North India, south India as well as Mumbai People. Most of people gathered as group participant, but I was alone in the crowd.

Marathon exactly started in 6:15 am with gun shout (it was not the case in Chennai marathon, 25 minutes delay) and there was big digital display also. I prayed god for a while. I started my dream marathon with full confidences and hopes. When I was cross the starting point, time was around 6:25 am... Now you can imagine crowd of people (In my Bangalore ran, I crossed the line after 2 minutes). When I was running the Rajivi Gandhi Sea Link ( Bandra-Worli sea Link, 5 KMs length) sun started raising. Whole route had KM sign for every one kilometer as well as water station and Mobile toilet facility. I was just seeing the city and keep on running. During my run, I was able to see few Bangalore runners opposite side as well as my side. I was just seeing and enjoying city during my run. Everywhere stage performance, TV interviews, peoples offers (fruits, biscuit, water and chocolates). I did not take snacks and water this time. There was small up in route from 14 KM to 15 KM. I was little tired, but mentally I was strong enough.

Half Marathon Route Map

The marathon route was Bandra Fire station -> Rajivi Gandhi Sea Link -> INS Trata Circle -> Worli Dairy-> Nehru Centre ->Baulnath Temple -> C.S.T.

Participants

During my run, I had seen few international medalist, Business man, celebrates and friends. I completed my Mumbai marathon around 2:13 minutes (less than 10 minutes of previous marathon, waiting for exact chip timing) in Near C.S.T Terminal. I was very happy that moment.
Organization body provided the refreshments and medals in Azad Madian. Around 34,000 people participated in all events.

I called Suruli from stranger mobile. He did not come to marathon ending point (It was our plan; I did not carry any mobile, Camera and not a single rupee. But it was not surprise me about suruli). I felt little bad because I was not able take snaps in my new camera (I bought camera for my Mumbai marathon participant purpose). I met few Bangalore runners. Shrikant helped me for stretching. I got a tea offer from some stranger. Another lady offered Rs 10 for my train tickets.

I reached room; we check out room and roamed the Bandra market area. I bought few dress for my family members. Market area was busy. We took a Jet airways flight and back to Bangalore. In aircraft, around 5 to 10 known people (Bangalore runners). We were discussed about timings. We reached Bangalore around 6:30 pm.

Few strong points:

1)Parents should understand the children aspirations.
2)Friends should support and encourage their friends new endeavors /attempts
3)If you have confidence and Practice, you reach your goals.

Above all things I got this event, so I competed my dream Mumbai marathon.

Thank you very much to ex-colleagues (now friends), colleagues, friends and family members for support, encourage and guidance.