The 2019 edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon will witness 39 pacers running the marathon and helping the professional runners to finish their race on their target time. This year, all the pacers for the full marathon are Comrades runners. There will be 21, 14 and four pacers for the full, half and 10K marathon respectively.
Apart from the professional athletes from India and abroad who will compete for prizes, many runners with disability or health ailments will also run for personal glory.
Shibani Gulati — a kidney recipient and his brother, a kidney donor, together will be running for the first time in Mumbai Marathon. 26-year-old Sanket Bhirud, a visually impaired, will also be running the half marathon.
Shibani underwent a kidney transplant in 2010, and her younger brother was her donor. Since then she has participated in many marathons and has successfully crossed the finish line. This year she is running half marathon and wishes to complete in 2 hours 20 mins. Her brother is running Dream Run for the first time after the kidney transplant.
This year Shibani has been a pacer for a 10km run. She was a brand ambassador for IDBI Federal Mumbai Half Marathon, Sapt Shrungi Nashik Hill marathon and Run for diversity. Despite having scars on stomach she is known to run in a sports bra. She will be representing India in World Transplant Games in Birmingham in August 2019.
Bhirud, despite his leg injury, is running the half marathon and he thrives to complete the race in 2 hours 30 minutes. To help him complete the run, Sudhir Shenoy regular runner will participate in the half marathon with him. Sudhir has run more than 50 marathons. Sanket’s motive is to “Create an awareness of inclusion” and “to remain fit”. He wishes to convey the message that this platform is for everyone regardless of any disability. He also does regular swimming and cycling besides running passionately.
Virus works with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited as an Assistant Manager Human Resources after completing his Masters in Human Resources and Labor Relations from Tata Institue Of Social Science.
Deepak Patel a doctor by profession will be running with his wife Jyotsna in half marathon. Deepak is General Surgeon/Laparoscopy Surgeon, and he has even taken tennis coaching in USA. Their target time to complete the race is 2.10 minutes.
The 76-years-old Mahadev Samjiskar has been regular participant in Mumbai Marathon. He started seriously running when he was 62-years-old in inaugural Mumbai Marathon (2004) and continues to run various marathons internationally. He is targeting to complete half marathon in two hours. Till now he ran 32 half marathons and three mini-ultra runs (25 km).
