Will Mumbai Marathon have an obstacle course too?

Tata Mumbai Marathon 2024 Elite race route unveiling on Wednesday at Event Media Centre (from left), Mandar Pandya, VP, Procam International; Dr. Vijay D’Silva, medical director from Asian Heart Institute; Vishal Thakur, DCP operation, Mumbai police; Hugh Jones, general secretary AIMS and race director; P N Sankaran, director operations, Procam International; Jaydeep More, assistant municipal commissioner, A-Ward and Vivek Singh, joint MD, Procam International, at Mumbai Patrakar Sangh. Pic/Atul Kamble

Organisers Procam International, and a number of officials and organisers, stated they were ready and raring to go for the Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM) to be run in the city on January 21. The event has 59,000 runners across all categories. The technical arrangements for the race were outlined at a press conference held at the marathon press centre in SoBo on Wednesday evening.

Change

Hugh Jones, race director who is here every year from the UK stated, "The city is changing so fast, that even in just one week in Mumbai we witness some changes in the landscape. However, I am happy to state that we have managed to keep the event pretty much the same structure-wise. The road surface is cut up, especially on the Marine Drive, ideally, we would have wanted a flat, fast course. We are proud though of the support in the city. There is a sense that the show is coming, it must be kept on the road," said Jones. Unlike the ever-changing Mumbai landscape, Hugh Jones has been a familiar face and constant presence at the event as director, one of his primary tasks has been charting the course for the past 19 years. The task is getting increasingly challenging given all the construction work, and there have been several tweaks in different categories.

Medical

Medical Director Dr Vijay D'Silva of the Asian Heart Institute (AHI) said citing in numbers that there will be at least three base camps on the route. "We will also have a number of spotters, all across who will be looking out for runners so that we do not miss out on anyone," said D'Silva. He added, "There will be 100 doctors, 100 nurses, 200 physios and 100 medical support staff besides these spotters on the road that day." The marathon mantra or catchphrase is Har Dil Mumbai, and quite literally, Mumbaikars have seen their ‘dils' improve through the years with endurance training done correctly. The doc said, "We have seen race participation numbers zoom, but runners needing medical treatment decline. That shows people are now better trained, aware and educated about running. In the first year of the race, we had 20,000 runners and treated 7,000 persons. In 2023, we had 55,000 persons and treated 2,000 that graph shows a welcome decline." There will also be 14 cardiac ambulances and 13 medics on bikes, besides a number of medical stations.

Dr D'Silva recalled that last year there were 14 persons who needed hospitalisation. "There were eight who were treated for dehydration, five had injuries and one had a heart attack. All were treated successfully. The person who had a heart attack was treated and is now hale and hearty. I hope he runs this year," he said to laughs.

Pride

Vivek Singh, joint managing director, Procam said that he was emotional as Mumbai Guardian Minister Deepak Kesarkar had called the TMM the, "pride of Mumbai, Maharashtra and India." On a day when heels take precedence over wheels with cars off the roads, both Jaydeep More, assistant municipal commissioner, A-ward and Vishal Thakur, DCP, operations Mumbai police who were at the technical meet, said they were ready for the big day. More claimed there were efforts to ensure as smooth a surface for runners as possible, as levelling has been done, while Thakur said they will have a robust police presence on the roads. P N Sankaran director operations Procam International, a sprightly, young 88-year-old said, "The marathon is truly unique. Usually, you have a sport where two athletes or a team of 10 play and a spectator crowd of thousands watches. In a marathon, you have 50,000 plus ‘players' or ‘runners' competing and lakhs of spectators on the roads cheering them on." On Sunday, a city crowded with steel and cement will prove it also has the space to celebrate spine, spirit and soul.

Jan 21
Day marathon will be held