It doesn’t matter how many marathons you have finished, how many hours you have trained, what target was in your mind, or what your race-day strategy was, the race has its own plan for you on that day. Running a marathon truly begins after the 30th km when your mind starts to give up. Every kilometre feels like a never-ending stretch. That is the moment when you just have to keep moving forward, no matter what. You have trained hard for this day, and stopping or even thinking of backing out is not an option.
This is not a script, not gyan, and not just another motivational story. This is exactly my journey at the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025.
I had trained diligently for the Mumbai Marathon over the past six months under Coach Balraj Kaushik Sir. Based on my training in the cooler weather of Delhi NCR, with some pace adjustments for Mumbai’s conditions, my expected race pace was 5:20–5:25 min/km. I started with a constant pace strategy, completing my first half in 1 hour 52 minutes, right on track as per my plan. Nutrition and hydration were well-timed, and everything was going smoothly until the 27th km.
Then, the real test began.
At that point, I started feeling drained, perhaps the temperature and humidity of Mumbai were taking their toll, something I hadn’t trained for recently. I felt completely empty from within, and the thought of giving up crossed my mind. But thanks to the incredible ground support and the unwavering enthusiasm of Mumbai’s residents, I found the strength to push forward. My body was exhausted, and maintaining pace became a struggle. I was certain that if I tried to push harder, DNF (Did Not Finish) was inevitable. So, I made a conscious decision: just keep going, running or walking a few metres at a time.
At that moment, it was no longer about finishing in a target time, it became about conquering each kilometre, one by one.
At the 36th km, just ahead of Pedder Road, I was handed a chilled lemon water by a resident, accompanied by some electrifying cheers. That was all I needed to reignite my josh! The elevation was humongous, and I decided to jog and walk past the incline. But trust me, it wasn’t over yet. The humidity and heat were rising, and my body battery was draining faster than I had anticipated.
Thank God for my training, which had taught me to embrace the pain and keep moving forward.
At the 38 km mark, I thought of speeding up a bit, but alas, my body didn’t agree. I had to slow down and simply keep moving. The cheering crowd was relentless, not letting any runner give up, and that energy fuelled me as well.
In the final 0.5 km, I gave it everything I had for a strong finish. Finally, I crossed the finish line and completed the run.
The moment I finished, I downed almost 2 litres of water along with the honey twigs I had carried. As always, I called my wife and coach immediately after crossing the line. A fellow runner shared a bottle of Coke, and I grabbed some ice cubes to cool down. I stretched well and, of course, clicked loads of photos with my running buddies and my hard-earned medal.
I am grateful to have finished injury-free, though recovery took longer than usual.
Learnings: Trust your training and keep going. It’s not always about hitting your target time, sometimes, you have to honour the conditions on race day and embrace the experience for what it is.
P.S.: Running through the streets of Mumbai is something that cannot be described in words. Despite all the pain, I am sure every runner experienced the spirit of Mumbaikars. They were there for us, not because anyone asked them to be, but simply because they wanted to support us.
I saw kids, young men, and so many elderly people cheering us on. Hats off to their hospitality, warmth, and energy. I am truly amazed by their unwavering support. May this spirit grow even stronger in the years to come.
Thank you, Mumbai, for this unforgettable experience.
Until next time…
A Runner at Heart.
Contributed by Ritesh Kumar
