Inspiring to run

Rupayan Roy is among thousands Tata Mumbai Marathon participants who inspire many every year. A heart transplant survivour, whose heart transplant was done in 2016, started running long distance races.

He started his marathon journey in 2017 by participating in BSF marathon in 5K category. Later he particpated in many marathons, including 21km in Airtel run for education, 25km in TATA Steel Kolkata Marathon. He is participating in the half marathon for the first time.

“Marathons are less about speed and more about endurance. Marathon is a template of discipline, dedication, persistence, and character. Health and happiness are essential prime movers to good life and marathons keep us both healthy and happy,” he said.

Nisha Gurbani, a 34-year-old runner is participating in the Tata Mumbai Marathon for the very first time. She was 94kg in 2016 and now 60kg will be running half marathon.

Such inspirational runners cheered by people along the marathon route stretch, make it a spectacle every year on Sunday morning.  One Cheering group is the Mumbai Harmonics, a group of Harmonica players who every year are at Peddar Road to cheer the South-bound Marathoners with a message 'Great Going. From here on it is only downhill’. And the runners respond with a dance or wave of hands or just singing along in those few steps as they pass by.

To top it all, Mumbai Harmonics cheer the marathoners by playing mouth organs non-stop for about three hours at Pedder Road. This will be their fourth consecutive year for Mumbai Marathon. There are total 10 to 12 people to play Bollywood and Western Pop selections at horse-trot tempo to match those tired legs having climbed to the highest point of their run.

The 16th edition of the event has slight changes in the route in timing, start and finish lines across categories.

Some of the key runners among the amateurs will include Mahadev Samjiskar. The 76-year-old started running in Mumbai Marathon (2004) when he was 62 years old. He continues to run various marathons internationally.

The races will start early so that the marathoners have covered a good amount of length before the sun hits them. It is also set to ensure less conflict with moving traffic and bid to achieve new course record.