Did my first Half Marathon this weekend, and such good fun it was too! I had been training since October, but the stint in Utah and California had interrupted my schedule. I continued training when I got back to Bangalore, though. My longest Sunday run was 20K, a week before the HM, which I did in 2 hrs 8 mins. This led me to tell myself a sub 2 hr HM was a distinct possibility in Mumbai! Naive, eh? Running in Malleswaram - Sadashivnagar cannot be compared to running on Marine Drive - Chowpatty, as I was to find out!I flew into Mumbai on Saturday morning and checked into Hotel Manama - close to CST and Azad Maidan, which was the starting and end point of the run. Went over to Cuffe Parade to collect my bib, then went loafing around VT and Azad Maidan. Came back to the hotel for a good night's sleep.
I was up by 4:30 AM on race day, and headed out towards Azad Maidan by 5 AM. Dropped my bag at the baggage storage area and got into the holding area by 6 AM. By 6:30, everyone holed up here were getting restless by the minute. 6:50 was when we were "released", and I made my way to the starting point outside CST. The clock showed 6:59 and I "officially" started the HM.
Mumbai was out in full force, with most people either running, or coming out in huge numbers to cheer the runners. A few policemen were enthusiastic and cheering runners too - you don't see THAT very often do you? Apart from the official water counters, residents from apartment blocks en route handed out bananas and "Glucose" biscuits. I was near the 6K mark (37 mins), when the elite runners sped past us on the return leg! I was the 12K mark in 74 mins, by
when I knew a sub 2 hr was unrealistic! The humidity got to me by the 17K mark and I had to switch between running and walking for the next 2 Kms. The last 2 KMs were run on sheer adrenaline, and I made it to the finish line 2 hrs 24 mins after I had started! I then stumbled on towards Azad Maidan for my certificate!
I thought the event was organised very well (except for the screw up at the prize distribution for the elite Indian women's winners, which I was to hear about later). It was great to make some new friends too - Sultan and Rajas from Mumbai, and Guna and Satish from Chennai. I hope to meet these guys soon in other runs across the country.
