Date - 19/01/2025
TATA MUMBAI MARATHON
Name - Dilip Ghadge
Age - 57 Years
The Plan - Positive Splis . 11 km per hour 3 hours . Maintain the pace till Pedder Road climb . Push the last segment and better PB of 3:59:20 Result :- Achieved . Comleted in 3:58:21 Rank - 23/470 ( Age ) 1039/9515 ( Overall )
The Tata
Mumbai Marathon (TMM) has become an annual pilgrimage for me, much like for any
other Indian runner. I can’t afford to miss it. My schedules and travels are
carefully planned to keep January free every year. While almost the entire
country experiences winter in January, Mumbai’s weather often stands as an
exception. The city sometimes makes a special concession for the marathon,
providing cooler weather during the third week of the month.
Runners
generally prefer cooler conditions, but they too make an exception for this
extraordinary race, and I am no different. As soon as registrations open, I
sign up without even checking my calendar. And soon enough, my calendar starts
filling up. I registered for another iconic race, the Tata Ultra Marathon,
scheduled in February. I got an opportunity to run in Boston in April and a
surprise entry to the Tokyo Marathon on March 2nd. My schedule was getting
crowded.
With only a
few weeks between these races, I had to decide which one to train for.
“Mumbai,” I told myself. World Majors would be taken easy or enjoyed for the
experience. Although I had improved my personal best in Chicago, the race
taught me many things and pushed me back to basics. I altered my training
methods but missed some mileage due to life’s other demands, including
organizing our own marathon event, the “Borgaonkar Rotary Kalyan Marathon,” as
the race director.
Despite these challenges, I was happy with my training. A tune-up half marathon in December gave me a huge personal best and boost in confidence
For Indian
runners, the race starts a month earlier with a plethora of discussions on
social media platforms about how to tackle Mumbai’s weather and the notorious
Peddar Road climb at the 37th kilometer. Teams of pacers guide their followers
or personal best aspirants, answering queries for a month. In TMM 2024, I was
part of the pacing team, interacting with more than 400 runners on a WhatsApp
group and some on the race track.
My target
this time was to beat my personal best from Chicago. Running on home turf has
its advantages: no travel stress, sleepless nights, dramatic weather changes,
jet lag, or unfamiliar route support. Spirits were high until a week before the
actual race when Mumbai started warming up with AQI levels rising. I began to
doubt myself. But I had to keep my spirits high, not just for myself but for my
trainees as well. I had the dual responsibility of being a coach.
One thing I
love about TMM is that it is a meeting point for runner friends from all over
the country. Procam, the organizers, felicitated runners who had completed more
than ten TMMs with a permanent chest number in a function at their famous expo,
graced by Sir Mo Farah, the international ambassador of the event. This being
the 20th edition of the Mumbai Marathon was a significant milestone.
Mo Farah is
a charismatic and energetic figure. He charged the atmosphere whenever he
addressed the crowd, including at the flag-off. Runners were sleepless,
doubtful, weary of the rising mercury levels, but once Mo Farah started
speaking at the flag-off, the atmosphere was infused with the energy of a
champion. The energy behind his words was contagious.
I was
fortunate to begin in Wave A and absorb that energy. It was a dark dawn at 5:00
AM when the race was flagged off, but the sweating started by the second
kilometer. The usual banter among runners in the initial phases was missing. A
glance at my watch told me that my plan might not be working.
Before every
race, I make a plan. Most of the time, it doesn’t work fully, but it still
helps me prepare. It is interesting to compare results with the plan, as it
gives insights into limitations and possibilities. This time, I had planned my
race week nutrition, carb loading, race time nutrition, hydration, and
electrolyte reloading as well.
My
simplified race plan was to run 11 kilometers every hour for the first three
hours and try to maintain that pace until Peddar Road. Negotiate that climb
with respect and encouragement from the wonderful cheering residents. The final
5 kilometres always defy my plans, so I kept that block at the mercy of
heavenly forces.
But the
first 5 kilometres were giving me jitters. It was keeping me from enjoying this
wonderful festival. So, I decided to ignore the watch, forget the plan for now,
and just enjoy running in the iconic century-old fort area of the city. I took
my mind off the race and let my legs do their own work. The race entered the
modern high-rises commercial zone for a couple of loops before taking the
famous Queen’s Necklace Road at Mumbai’s waterfront. During the loops, you spot
a friend, shout their name, someone calls for you, but you can’t figure out who
in the fast-flowing river of runners.
Pacing buses
were starting to take shape as runners tried to find the flags of their target
times. Last year’s pacing experience was amazing. There was always someone
talking, asking questions, or cracking jokes throughout the course. This time,
it was lonely. Except for some buddy teams in identical tees, no one was
talking. Everyone was trying to get as many kilometres under their belt before
the sun rose.
Spectator
groups, bands, and some brands were doing their best to entertain and encourage
runners. This carnival atmosphere helps us most in the first and last leg of
the race. The sea breeze at Marine Lines blew away thoughts of high
temperatures, humidity, and AQI. I think it affected the mind more than the
body. Once you find your rhythm, weather worries don’t bother you.
I glanced at
my watch. My one-hour target seemed achievable. I had enough time to cover two
more kilometres to reach the 11-kilometer mark. Kilometre 10 had a steep
incline, the same Pedder Road that feels easy while going. KM 11 was downhill,
so I pushed a little to get a good finish to the first quarter of my race.
Victory in this small target encouraged me to stay positive.
The second
hour was mostly flat in the Haji Ali and Worli areas. It was still dark, and
the race started to thin out. You could see the half marathoners running in the
opposite lane of the road. My daughter, a few of my trainees, and many friends
were doing the half marathon. But this year, I couldn't recognize anyone as the
road was much wider. They seemed so far away.
The
infrastructure boom in Mumbai is particularly evident in this part of the city.
The huge coastal road project has completely changed the scenery and skyline.
It’s challenging to determine which road goes in which direction.
I wasn't
carrying a hydration belt as the Mumbai Marathon has an excellent record of
support. By the end of the 12th km, I was feeling thirsty and was about to
curse myself for not carrying water when I spotted an aid station. The Procam (organizers)
had planned and manned the aid stations very well. The volunteers were full of
enthusiasm.
As I entered
the Sea Link, I noticed the changed skyline once again. A huge bowstring arch
bridge was glowing with street lights on the new connectors to the coastal road
and Sea Link. The sight was breathtaking.
Procam
hasn't changed the route in perhaps a decade, but Mumbai around the route is
significantly changing every year. The surface has slowly transformed from
asphalt to concrete. When I did my first half marathon here in 2016, it was
mostly smooth asphalt. Nevertheless, you have to take that hard change in
stride.
Entering the
Sea Link, the sight was breathtaking. The 5 km Sea Link patch is the most
beautiful part of the race. “Keep smiling, have good posture, run tall, there
are photographers around ” I reminded myself. Last year’s 420 bus was missed
for its singing and chanting on Sea Link. This time, it was silent. I chatted
with a fellow runner from Kerala and a few others from different parts of the
country.
The halfway
mark was approaching. My watch said 1:55, my finish line for the second
hour was just a kilometre ahead. Done . I had saved half a minute here, but the difference between my watch's distance and
the race marker had grown to 400 meters. My heart sank, and my smile vanished.
"Oh, I am lagging behind. My calculations are going wrong." A race is
always in the mind before it goes to the limbs. This depressing thought further
slowed me down. Suddenly, I remembered that I had considered the race distance
to be 42.75 km, so the difference had already been accounted for. The smile
returned, as did my cadence and energy.
There are a
couple of big loops here at km 22. The sun was about to rise. You could see
runners in the opposite lane. I spotted the 4-hour pacer, my friend Ravi G from
Delhi. Dr. Harish, another friend, shouted my name from that lane. I answered
loudly enough. I was searching for my buddy Sanjay Kalukhe there. By the
two-hour mark, his plan was to complete 20 km. He is a good runner, a
successful businessman, a great friend, and an excellent cook too. He had made
a wonderful breakfast for both of us at the hotel in the morning.
In Mahim, I
heard Kranti Salvi ma'am call my name. Recently honoured with a permanent Bib
number, she is a multiple Guinness World Record holder for costume running. We
chatted briefly before the sun fully rose and the race entered the city again.
Spectators lined the streets with funny placards and cheers.
My hydration
plan was working well. There was no bloating as last race . I was feeling light
and nice.
Mahim, Shivaji Park, and Shri Siddhi Vinayak
passed like a dream. The finish line of my third hour of the race was at 33 km.
I was on track with a lap pace of 5:27/5:28. Sometimes, my pace would drop at
water stations, but I would gradually push a little to bring it below 5:30 in a
funny way. "It is 5:40, by the third light pole I should bring it to 5:38,
then two poles later to 5:36," and so on until it came to 5:30. Once that
was achieved, I was running easy again. Throughout the entire race, I never
thought too far ahead; just one lap at a time was enough.. I finished my
third-hour target on track.
With 10 kms
to go, I needed a new goal to stay motivated as my plan post 3 hours was bit vague. Randomly, I decided on a mini race of 5 kms
within 30 minutes. Pedder Road appeared, and I walked a few meters in respect,
reciting my annual “I love Pedder Road” song. Funnily that moment was captured
by vlogger Avinash as he was just behind, Jogging again, Enjoying local support I pushed through the climb and managed to reach
38 km ahead of time.
The final
stretch was tough. It is always tough for me .My pace dropped, but I wasn’t
going to miss a personal best if I kept running. The last mile felt like the
longest, but I smiled wide as I crossed the finish line. I knew it was a
personal best. More than the time, I was happy because I executed my plan well.
Nir Eyal's theory from a book resonated with me: "Small wins can trigger a cascade of success." Each small success encouraged me to keep going. Breaking the target into achievable pieces was the mantra, and I’m glad I could follow that.
My mind already made a calender entry for third Sunday of January 2026.
