Participants are seen running on the Bandra-Worli Sealink during the 13th edition of Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2016 organised in the city on Sunday —Solaris Images
Participants are seen running on the Bandra-Worli Sealink during the 13th edition of Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2016 organised in the city on Sunday —Solaris Images
Mumbai’s nightlife made a smooth transition to the morning on Sunday as 40,245 amateur and professional runners took to the roads to participate in the 13th edition of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. While several celebrities, who’ve been a regular part of it in past editions, gave this year’s event a miss, the locals and residents, who dotted the 42-kilometre route in overwhelming numbers, offset the lack of star-quotient by cheering on the runners consistently.
And even as the full marathon was being flagged off at 7.20, those living in the vicinity came out onto their balconies to witness the city take to its heels and soak in the festive look it bore, replete with DJs and other attractions that were installed by corporates to add flavour to the occasion.
With as many as 287 NGOs involved in the marathon to raise funds for a myriad worthy causes, there was no dearth of goodwill as well, as many volunteers ran along with the athletes offering everything ranging from ‘free hugs’ to energy drinks, water bottles, juices, biscuits, oranges, bananas and more. And although the infectious enthusiasm sometimes acted as a hindrance to some of the elites, for the amateur runners it acted as a stimulant to keep them running.
People congregated from every walk of life, ranging from those running for fitness or for a cause to others whom just wanted to soak in the atmosphere. Athletes had to battle challenging humid conditions, steep ascents near Kemp’s Corner and Peddar Road and brave the wind at the Bandra-Worli Sealink. The athletes running in packs had to squeeze themselves a bit near few narrow lanes, which had shrunk further due to the presence of spectators spilling onto the roads in excitement. Security personnel and volunteers, quite powerless in front of the over enthusiastic crowds only added to the numbers. But despite challenges, the crowd kept cheering athletes and they kept running, braving the hardships.
Kenyan marathoner, Gideon Kipteker, who won the men’s full marathon with a new course record of 2:08:35 seemed too determined to let encroaching crowds impede his run and looked in sublime form as his body held up to the untested task, thanks in part to the additional energy drinks he was supplied all through the stretch from CST, Marine Drive, Worli Sealink and the same route in return.
By the point at which Kipketer reached the most challenging strip across Marine Drive (Which was a mere five kilometres away from the finish), the sun, now completely out and shining, seemed to be imposing a bigger challenge. Gideon, later said that he also relied on music across the Queen’s Necklace to keep them focussed and got a comfortable lead and was even enjoying the race, acknowledging the crowd and thanking them for their support.
However, despite all the preparations in place and enough arrangements made to supply energy drinks and water to athletes there was a stretch where Athletes literally had nothing and kept gasping. “There was no water station between 21-28 kms stretch, It became difficult to run with same pace and eventually affected our timing,” said an Indian athlete.
Africans rule, Rio berth for 2 Indians Kenyan pacemaker Gideon Kipketer set a new course record (2:08:35) in the men’s full marathon. Gideon won $41,000 for the finishing first and even bagged the $15,000 bonus for a course record. His sister Valentine who holds the women’s course record here finished third to add $15,000 more to the Kipketer family’s total prize money on the day. Indian athletes also enjoyed considerable success. Nitendra Singh Rawat clocked 2:15:48 to break the Indian men’s course record. Apart from the Rs 5,00,000 for first prize, Rawat bagged the Rs 1,50,000 for the Indian course record. Gopi T and Kheta Ram bagged second and third spot among the Indians and also qualified for the Rio Olympics.
