SCMM Full marathon report - IV - Run report

Woke up at 3.30 AM to be able to reach the venue by 5.00 AM (Azad Maidan opposite Mumbai's famous Victoria Terminus).

Had slept great and woke up with a clear head WITHOUT a single of thought of  " I must be F***ing crazy to be on a holiday and waking up at 3.30AM to run 42.195 Ks in the heat and humidity of Mumbai. I should go back to sleep". Got dressed - I had kept my gear all ready the night before.

In my bottle I took Gatorade mixed with water.

As I came out of the hotel dressed in my gear and clutching my 3 bananas, I came across another marathoner (working with Microsoft, dressed in a Microsoft shirt, talking high of Microsoft Mango coming from Hyderabad, sorry mate, I forgot your name) getting into a taxi. So I ran upto him. He took one look and asked me to get in. We reached VT, crossed the VT and exited to the side of Azad Maidan and there he found his running group from Hyderabad and I found my 5.30 bus.


I joined Rahul's 5.30 bus and followed it till 20 K. The bus followed the programme of every KM marker we walked for 20 steps. Every water station, walk another 20 steps. The routine was awesome and had I trained better I should have been able to follow and finish with him. The Bandra Worli sea link came and went. It slowed me a bit but not much. But 20 K was when I started lagging and at one point had to get off as I was getting exhausted. I had remembered some good advise from fellow runners and had prepared some food for the run, some bread, butter, jam / marmalade with salt sprinkled on them.

I remembered various discussions on R&L forums about cramps and only remembered water & salts as the things to have to avoid cramps. I had started with Gatorade in my bottle and tried to refill as many times as I could get my hands on it at different watering points. At around 27 K there was no more Gatorade Was having watered down Gatorade till 35 K when I decided that I was going to be a candidate for cramps, so I switched to electoral as I thought it to be the next best thing.

The Mumbai citizens did what they always do, Cheered the runners ! They were awesome, out in big numbers armed with food, fruits, water, sprain sprays etc. I thanked as many as I could for turning out and they were thanking me in return ! What warmth !

On the return loop we were on that part of the route , marine drive I think, where there was direct sun  and no shade. That was killing. I was thankful for my dri-fit microfibre clothing, incl microfibre undies from R & L, my cap and sunglasses.

At around 38 K mark I cam across an angel. An angel with a bottle of cool water and a cool mist spray. I stopped in frot of her bowed to her. Took off my cap and glasses and said give it to me. She sprayed the cool water on my face which was heavenly. I then asked her to spray on my head as well. She, however, knew better. She poured the bottle on my head. I could feel the steam and the cold water trickling down the spine to my shorts my bums and I relished. relished the wonderful feeling. Most wonderful at the time.


I was tired now and couldnt run continuously for over a 100 mtrs at a go. I dint stop. I pushed myself to walk faster. Thanks to my   Garmin Forerunner 210.   I could keep track of my speed and therefore could convince myself to run / walk faster to be able to keep to my target.

Was very happy with my under 6 hrs first marathon. Couldnt stop smiling. No aches, pains or cramps. Decided to skip the beers at Leopold as Rahul told me to get a cold shower ASAP. I had not realized till then the aspect of over heating. Reached my hotel. Had 2 glasses of Glucose. Took a cold shower, got into a bath robe. Had a beer. Had a sandwich. And slept away !

However, the next day, I caught a cold and a cough. I read on it online and found that this is pretty common as the body has low immunity after being exerted too much.

Took me 10 days to recover from the cough and cold, but all is well.