The Pilgrimage - Tata Mumbai Marathon

                                                  

 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.