My TMM 2020

You may call it by many names - Mecca of runners, Carnival of runners, Holy Grail of India or whatever.
You may like it very much or you may dislike it.
You may appreciate it as life changing event or You may speak bad about the event.
But one thing is for sure, it is the most talked about thing on the 3rd Sunday of every January annually. Runners look forward to be a part of such event and this is like the Annual Board Exams for students or preparation of Final Accounts every year for business to know his growth/decline over the previous year.

This year was no exception. TMM2020 has total registrations of over 55,000 runners from across the country. Every aspect of this event is mammoth and care is taken to address to each issue minutely but the gigantic nature of event makes is impractical for perfect execution. (Will come to it a bit later in the blog)

Before the mega event, the Bib distribution was a smooth process spread over a period of 4 days from Wednesday, 15th January, 2020 to Saturday 18th January, 2020 ( the last day being reserved for Outstation runners). I collected my bib along with Harshal Rane and had awesome time alongwith him, Devendra Mane and Alok who joined with Shailesh for Water station management session to be held at 6:30pm
Even the information for effective  Water station and Energy station management arranged with many running groups raising their hands and claiming their moment of pride. Myself and Devendra alongwith Alok Nashikkar (Captain) arranged this session. Jayanthi conducted this session and things seemed to be taking good shape for this year's arrangement. Decentralisation plan seemed to be perfect.


On Saturday, 18th January, 2020, Runburn was again invited for a Oragnisers - Meet and Greet program at 4pm. Truly a very good initiative by Procam International. All Organisers representing different cities and good events were invited for High Tea at Hotel Trident. It was a very good feeling meeting organisers of different cities, understanding their view points on organisation of running events and everyone was listening to others issues carefully. The Big brother, Procam, even opened up an offer to possible joint ventures which was very motivating. A group pic of those who attended this meet is attached for memory.

Since travelling from Kalyan takes 2 hours to reach to CST, the start line for Full marathon, and first special train leaves at 3am,we9 friends had planned to stay back at CST on 18the evening, so that we could have a peaceful sleep on saturday night and be physically prepared for the D-day. As decided, Myself, Laxman, Vikas, Unmesh, Kaustubh, Shaikh, Biju, Abhijit reached the hotel room by 7pm as decided. We had an early dinner by 8:30pm, prepared our race day tshirt and other things and hit the bed at 9:30pm.

I woke up at 3am, with a peaceful sleep of around 5 hours and saw Unmesh struggling to sleep. With some time in hand, completed the morning chores peacefully (it is very important) and in the mean time others in the room woke up too, everyone was ready to hit the road with their targets in mind.  At times, I was feeling like a king as all others in the room were debutants and their small small doubts, I could feel their nervousness was much higher than mine. Biju, one of my oldest pal since 1990s was along and we both chit-chatted and reached the holding area (as we were in the same Section). Since he knew his practice was lesser than required, he told me to go ahead since the beginning only. Mr. Shaikh was along with us but he is a fast runnerand i had suggested him to move ahead of me

The run began and i started cautiously, maintaining an average pace of 6:45 for the initial 2kms. It was a chilling cold Mumbai was experiencing in the past week but the TMM day, at the holding area, all the chillness went out with around 10,000 runners around. It was humid and started perspiring since the 2nd km itself. Took a loo break near Pizza by the Bay (Have to agree that this year saw a lot many portable loos enroute). This year, my preparation was under par too as my last long run of 32 kms was done in Lonavala TPHC route recce on 15th December, 2019. So my only target in mind was to break the 5:00:00 hours mark achieved last year. The average pace last year was 7:02 and I personally knew my biggest strength lies in Consistency. (This tatoo was etched last year to mark my debut FM and my love for running). Appreciated by lot many runners and noted by Procam too!!!

Completed the first 9 kms in 1st hour and crossed Babulnath temple with average pace of 6:41 reflected in Garmin ensuring that i was running as per plan. Took the first Gel break post 9km and combined it with walk break at the kemps corner (A strategy decided long back). Once the climb was over, the gel the body got activated and 11th km was fastest with 6:10km. Told my mind to slow down and maintain the average of 6:40-6:42. Crossed Haji ali and while approaching Mela resturant, saw many HMers on the other side of the road, cheered them and many cheered me. It really pushes you, when someone shouts your name. Before i knew, reached Mela resturant corner and was nearing the Worli diary with my aveage pace being 6:42 still. I knew we had our water station at 16th km at the sea link.

Once i finshed 15th km by 1:40hrs, had my second gel break and walk break. Met my fellow Runburners, hugged a few of them and smilingly moved ahead. A hug gives a lot of power to run. Before i knew, watch clocked 20kms and my mind was happy to have completed the same. 21kms done and it was 2:21hrs. Very happy with the timing as last year i had taken 2:25hrs for this distance. I knew the plan is ON and have to maintain this momentum for one more HM.

The passage through Shivaji park is really motivating as there are many many people cheering you to do well. Met Kumar Ajwani sir at this juncture, he was running so strong. More appreciable becuase he has just completed 1400 kms on foot raising funds for the martys of Indian Soliders. Hats off to you sir. Had run a decent distance with him but then he suggested me to move ahead. 25kms down and i reached around the Siddivinayak temple. A small prayer in the mind and went ahead smilingly. The most tough part of the Marathon was approaching. 

Reached the Worli Promenande and we had to go towards Sea link upto 30km. The return leg is the most dry patch for the runner as on one hand the body starts reacting and on the other hand, its a monotous straight run upto Mela resturant. Must appreciate all angel volunteers for they kept on egging runners to give their best, the songs were all high tempo ones and lot of items to eat as well. Before the wall hit, i ensured to fill the tank adequately. Took gel break as well as ate bananas, oranges, chikki in between 32 and 33rd km. I knew my average pace would slow down but was sure to recover the same. My average pace now dropped to around 6:50. The best part for all those who finish sub 5 is the Foreign and Indian Elites give their darshan of few secs in this patch. Last year too i saw them here only. However this time, i saw them after the U-turn, which confirmed me that i was ahead of my last years timings. Also met, Dilip sir and Ashish Jain of Kalyan runners at this juncture. We had a small talk and they moved ahead in good rhytm. Running is so beautiful, we planned a run for us in coming April with our group and their group merging. Lets see how we are able to execute it.

I was clear to maintain this speed upto Haji ali 32nd km and then before peddar road began at 34th km, i would allow it to reduce a little bit more till 6:55. As per plan, i completed 35 kms in 4 hours and knew it was a matter of only 7 kms before i see the finish line. Just then, i saw Cheryl Masceneraus shouting and cheering runners to give their best at the peddar road. What a moment it was!! I gave her a sweaty hug and carried on. Missed clicking any pics as mind was nothing as such for the moment.Moved ahead and lot of runners were walking, i knew i had to do walk-run strategy, Just then saw Pratik Shetty who was not very comfortable. Asked him, if he would join but he told me to proceed. With him was Ironman Sameer Gaikwad who paced me 200 metres on peddar road. What a beautiful sport this is, i thought to myself. Then we had our vibrant MRR Energy Station with many volunteers cheering me. Prerna Parwani even clicked a few pics of my peddar road run. Tysm everyone out there for the cheer. Peddar road was done and out. Only 6 kms to the finish line. 

Had my 5th and last gel during the walk break taken and mind was set for a strong finish. The left from Wilson College to Churchgate station was the last thorn in the challenge but mind was stronger. Right after 8am, around 30kms i had started pouring water on my head to keep it cool and continued the same strategy ahead too. Just as i crossed 39th km, Seema and Rajesh were yelling my name out and it pushes to a great extent. Rajesh handed over a diary milk chocolate, this helps further. They volunteered for us and were waiting for a long time. Thank you Seema and Rajesh.

Further around 40th km, saw Gunjan Raina running strong. Went a bit ahead and asked her if wanted to join me to finish line. She agreed and we started our run together. Go a pic clicked together too. Few more metres and saw Ravindra Sakpal, who had finished his HM and came to pace me, Wow!! What a Gesture!!! It was almost 2 kms to go till the finish line. Many other HMers from Runburn were waiting at the Churchgate station to pace FMers.Running is such a Team game, Wonderful!!

Ravindra is a very strong runner and i had requested to maintain sub 7 pace for the last 2 kms as i knew i could finish before 4:55 hours. But such a elite company pushes your mind to run strong.We did last 2 kms in 6:21 and 5:55 mins!!! Whoa!!! The finish line was visible and there was no stopping me. I finished my run with a timing of 4:53:04 hrs.Ravi waited with me post run. Help me collect medal and refreshment and also, helped in streching exercises. Thereafter everyone in the group reached. Almost everyone in our group did fantastically well. Sub 5 for 4 of us - Myself, Unmesh, Abhihit and Kaustubh. Nidhi finished in 5:08 hrs .and Shaikh sir finished in 5:12 hrs. Each one of us being paced by a HMer from our group. Thank you so much!!!

A group pic of our Runburn family full marathoners made our day and we all parted back to our homes. (Abhijit Baji's Wife and daughter had come to see him finish Full marathon in style. So he is not seen in this group pic). A wonderful day!!! TMM is always special and will remain special for all runners. 

 Sad to know that one runner lost his life and 7 others had cardiac arrest during the event. TMM and Procam needs to gets its act together as it is luring runners from all sections of life to get healthier. But as Satish Gujran sir always say, "Running is healthier for you but are you healthy for running" - Check this, practice well and run only when you are prepared to take the challenge - physically and mentally.

Best Wishes

Vishu_student4life

PS : Few more pics to be uploaded once received from various photographers who clicked us