A boring race report – Jan 2014

[Note: a boring race report is one where everything largely goes per plan. The below update, a brief account of Mumbai Marathon 2014 was shared on my Facebook group, as a prelude to a race report. But, as I learnt later, was there anything more to say? I put it here as a reference to future blog posts.]

Dear friends,
Had a fantastic race. Ravi made the mistake of asking for my story at the airport last evening and he got the VERY detailed account. Here’s the two words version: very satisfied.

I didn’t want to squeak in for a sub-4 finish but blow past it – goal largely achieved (finished in 3:48). First race where I didn’t cramp – 2 cocojals did the trick (I had visualized them as my two six-shooters. Emptied the first one’s bullets at the 7k mark, second one was downed after the halfway mark. Strategy to go close to 5:00 pace for as long as possible paid off. Decision to run barefoot (as opposed to 4mm’s) vindicated and I really loved it for 90% of the race. Great BF-friendly course barring 3 stretches where asphalt was very coarse – the last Marine Drive stretch (where Jugy/Sunil cheered us) and broke some momentum and yes – the only time I wished I had 4mm protection. Did “catch-back” [old BHUKMP lingo for allowing your friends behind you to catch-up] with Pankaj and Bahuja at 3 different points – I surged ahead each time. Pankaj ko motivation mila hoga since he surged past me in the last 700m .

Played cat-and-mouse with Vaishali between 21k and 39k. She was super-focused but I couldn’t resist a very brief conversation. I was not sure how to tackle the Peddar hill so I asked her. Pat came the reply – “Can slow down but don’t stop running, increase arm swing, drop stride” and I followed the good woman’s advice.

First race as “Veteran”, first FM race with the analog Titan Edge (glanced at it maybe 4-5 times). 5:11 in the 1st quarter, 5:12 in the 2nd, 5:21 in the 3rd and 6:00 in the 4th. The split graphs make it look like a steady slowing down (it sure *felt* that way in the last 10k).

Overall rank: 159, category rank: 23. Can’t really complain.

Thank you – oh running gods! It finally all fell into place.

Name Key

• Ravi (Venkatesam): once a runner, now an ex-runner, parallel entrepreneur
• Pankaj (Rai): someday I’ll feature him on The Talking Runner post, but not because he needs any introductions. The entire Indian running community (heck, a good chunk of India) knows him well.
• Sid Bahuja: super-talented super-fast and uber-cool Sid. Ran sub-3:20 races 5 years ago without any structured training. Somebody we’ll convince him to train just enough to run a sub-3:00.
• Vaishali (Kasture): celebrity runner, celebrity corporate honcho, Marathon Major Grand Slammer