Marathon grows along with Mumbai’s FITNESS

Mumbaikars' Desire To Stay In Shape Has Received A Great Impetus From The City's Most Famous Athletic Event

 You need to be a runner to know the pain and stringent training it takes to get to the finish line. And over the past eight years, running has been taken seriously by many in this city, thanks to the Mumbai marathon. Today's Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2012, the ninth edition of the event, in which The Times of India is the print partner, is another milestone in Mumbai's tryst with international competition. 

    Running the Mumbai marathon might mean various things to different people, but for a major chunk of Mumbaikars it's a way of staying fit and healthy. 
    Last year, Harpeet Singh, 24, was one of those standing outside the racetrack cheering on participants. This year he chose to take the challenge himself. "I was never an athlete and fitness and health never made sense to me. But after I attended the marathon last year I realized that men and women the age of my grandparents were fitter than me. So I decided to change," said Singh, who has since been religiously practising and is all set to run the half marathon today. "My body is fit and I feel much healthier now, so I might keep participating in the event every year," added the second-year MBA student of Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies. 
    The marathon has also made many Mumbaikars more aware of fitness, even though they may not choose to run. Fitness instructors across the city have noticed an upsurge in the number of people aiming at leaner and fitter bodies. "The marathon is publicized on a great level and carries a lot of weight. But it is not the kind of event that one can get through by practising once a week," said Samir Purohit, a fitness expert. He is currently training a group of runners aiming to participate on Sunday, but added that there's an equal number of people who have started exercising regularly to stay fit. "There's increased awareness and a desire to be fit. The general public is taking personal fitness very seriously now," he said. 
    For 68-year-old Mahendrabhai Mehta, it's his fifth Mumbai marathon, but it's his son for whom this year holds a lot of importance. "I was always sure that I was healthy and fit, until recently when I heard about a friend who suffered a stroke at the age of 33. That's when I decided to take my health seriously," said Chirag Mehta, 36, who has been going for regular walks and runs at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park with his father for the past year. 
    Dheeraj Gupta, 36, took up the challenge of running the half marathon for the same reason. "For the initial month, I started walking 3 to 5 km regularly to build my stamina. Now I'm sure that I will finish the event," said Gupta. 
    Many fitness experts believe that the marathon has changed people's psyche. "People now are not looking at just preparing for the run, but looking forward to maintaining their fitness even after the run. It is a welcome change," said John Gloster, a fitness expert. 
BRAND AMBASSADORS 
Vijay Amritraj | John Abraham 
PARTICIPANTS TO WATCH FOR CELEBRITIES: Madhuri Dixit | Ranbir Kapoor | Prateik Babbar | Chitrangada Singh 
CORPORATE HONCHOS: 
Anil Ambani | Anand Mahindra | Neeraj Goenka | Siddharth Mallya 
ON RACE DAY 
Water available | 1.12 lakh litres Water stations | 24 Medical stations | 12 (including 2 base camps) Ambulances | 8 Doctors on duty | 350 Police on duty | 1,869 Security guards | 1,000 Volunteers | 800 
Money raised last year | 12.16 crore

HEELS OVER HEAD: A trainer helps a runner work out

MORNING WALKER MEETS PRO RUNNERS: Athletes do work-outs at Marine Drive in preparation for the big race