As Delhi gears up for it’s inaugural full marathon on Sunday, several thousands are expected to participate in it for various causes. Gurkaran Bakshi catches up with some of the athletes and delves into their preparations strategies ahead of the big occasion
With just over five months to go for the Rio Olympics, the Delhi Marathon which takes place on Sunday will be the last domestic opportunity for Indian Athletes to qualify for the all important Olympic Games starting in August. Failing to do so would cost them dearly as they would then be left to compete outside India to seal a birth for a place in Rio.
Named as the IDBI life Insurance New Delhi Marathon, it has the accreditation of the Athletic Federation of India (AFI), and has been recognized as the National Championship 2016 by AFI. The run has also been conferred with an AIIMS certification helping it to attain qualification status for prized marathons like Boston, Tokyo and Berlin.
This year amateur runners will get a chance to run alongside 80 elite athletes of the country. Ultra marathoners Kavin Kondabathini, limca Record holders Sangeeta and Sunil Shetty from Mumbai are also participating for this inaugural edition.
Apart from this, we will also see participation from senior citizens, blade runners, youngsters, first time runners truly showcasing Delhi's fitness culture and can-do spirit. Over 34 differently-abled participants will run for this inclusive marathon. Kulbir Singh, 71-year-old, will be the oldest runner.
Sanjith luwang who is from the Army Sports Institute (ASI) Pune and a participant of the 3000m at the 2011 Brazil World Military games said, "This time around, with better training and preparation, I feel confident about winning the title."
Nabha Chandra, also belonging to ASI Pune and the winner of the Allahabad marathon 2015 reiterated the importance of doing well at the Delhi Marathon to ensure Rio Games qualification. "I have the Olympic qualification timings in sight and I have been preparing towards it," said Chandra.
Jyoti Gawade, who clocked 2: 54: 20 seconds at the Mumbai marathon last month, said," Qualifying for the Rio games will be difficult — intention is to improve the time as much as I can."
The organizers added that the registrations have already crossed seven thousand. The Sunday event will also have the distinction of being the first ever Inclusive Marathon where people with disabilities will be competing shoulder to shoulder with all the participants. Except for the Full and Half Marathon, a five Kilometer Swacch Bharat Run commencing at 8:30 am will also unfold and will be aimed to create awareness regarding the importance of cleanliness.
Running it Right
Ahead of the Delhi Marathon, Daniel Vaz (in pic.), a seasoned marathon runner and currently the head of Nike+ Run Club based out of Mumbai, discusses the various nuances related to long distance running in India.
Commenting about the Popularity of the Sport, Vaz said: "long Distance Running has experienced a paradigm shift in the country. Since the first annual marathon in Pune, 1983, there has been no looking back as every major city now has its own marathon and the list seems to be getting longer with time. Amateurs and professionals alike, jostle throughout the year to get suitable slots."
Giving tips for first time runners, he reiterated the need to follow a rigorous routine as early as three days prior to the race. To better execute the race Vaz said: "Start conservatively and keep in mind to ensure that you don't run someone else's race. At the Initial stage it is important that one should run slower than the targeted pace in order to avoid being dead legged towards the fag end of the race. It is almost a cardinal sin to burn out in the early stages of a race. So one should plan and wait to fall in the groove."
Commenting about the diet intake, Daniel stressed upon the indispensable need to keep oneself suitably hydrated before and even during the race. For Sunday's marathon, he advised to drink 200Ml of water every 20 minutes during the race.
When asked to comment on the mental rigors of running long distances, Vaz replied: "It is something that has to be experienced first-hand by a runner during a race. No amount of pre race preparation can substitute the importance of expecting the unexpected during a race. On race day you ought to have the metal to tackle any situation the race throws at you."