1st Bangalore Ultra-Marathon announced

This first of a kind event in India has been announced with the launch of the unofficial website at http://bangalore-ultra.blogspot.com/. The event is planned to be held on Dec 16th, 2007. Given the way these guys are planning for the event, and their professional approach... I have no doubts that this would be a big success. The event is planned to have 25K, 50K and 80K runs. By definition, any distance upwards 50K is classified as an "ultra".

Now that marathons are fast becoming the new fitness mantra in the country, particularly in the metros... I feel the "ultra" domain is the natural next step-up in this field. Events of these kinds are already popular worldwide, with runs of 50K, 50miles, 100K, 100miles, and more, and the rare species of ultra-marathon runners from India will find a new home in their own country.

Way to go guys! All the best for the event... maybe I might even turn up for the fun.

Mumbai Marathon 2007 results

I was not able to participate this time... but here are the results for record. This was also the first time that the previous years results were NOT bettered in either the Men's or Women's categories, looks like it was really HOT :)

Complete results may be accessed at: mikatiming

Women's marathon:
1. Yang Ziao Shu (Chn) 2:36:17
2. Letay Negash (Eth) 2: 37:05
3. Jennifer Chesinon (Ken) 2:38:14
India's best: 1. Leelamma Alphonso (2:59:49) 16th

Men's marathon:
1. John Kelai (Ken) 2:12:28
2. Gashaw Melese Asfaw (Eth) 2:12:33
3. Tariku Jufar (Eth) 2:12:50.
India's best: 1. Ram Singh Yadav (2:20:34) 16th

Women's half-marathon:
1. Madhuri Gurnule (Ind) 1:19:54
2. Fabiola Oppliger (Swi) 1:26:44
3. Bhagwati (Ind) 1:27:49

Men's half-marathon:
1. Deep Chand (Ind) 1:08:03
2. Bhairav Singh Lone (Ind) 1:08:25
3. Sachin Sonawane (Ind) 1:08:27

Below are some experiences from the 2007 run from fellow bloggers:

Dharmendra
Ram
Girish
Abhishrek
Ron and Luke

No Show for Mumbai

Painfully, I took the decision of skipping the Mumbai marathon. My ankle continues to hurt... and I did not want to go there and do some easy running. Maybe there is a silver lining in the clouds, with the upcoming Delhi Marathon.

A week before the big run

My buildup to the Mumbai Marathon (Half) has been nowhere near the best I had hoped for. The ankle pain which started in later weeks of December continues, and I continue to run with the pain. The only precaution I am taking is that I have cut down my long run pace from race pace (which I know is not a good idea anyway), to a relaxed and easy pace. Still, the desire to run fast takes over sometimes and I give one fast lap a try every weekend... and the ankle is obviously no better.

Jan 07, 2006: 5 laps (4 easy + 1@14:46 -- my personal best!)
Jan 14, 2006: 6 laps (5 easy + 1@15:37)

I am not sure about the Mumbai run... what pace should I run, is the below 2:00 hr goal still realistic? I don't have the answers today. I am dreading the killer Peddar road flyover, particularly on the way back. Maybe I will have some answers towards the end of the week. I have started some heat treatment on my ankle, and I am all confused between the difference between an ankle sprain (for which cold treatment is advised) and an ankle strain (heat).

Lets hope for the best.

Mumbai Marathon 2007 statistics

As published on the event website:

                                2007    2006
-----------------------------------------------
Total Number of Participants:    30,000 (28000)
Full Marathon:                    3,000 ( 3000)
Half Marathon:                    7,000 ( 5000)
Dream Run:                       14,000 (18000)
Senior Citizens:                  3,000 ( 2000)
Wheelchair Event:                   200 (  100)
-----------------------------------------------

Somehow... the total count is not adding up correctly for 2007 ... maybe some runners are vaporware?

Looking forward to an exciting 2007

The year is going to start with a bang with the Mumbai marathon (Jan 21) just a couple of weeks away. I would be doing the half there, looking forward to a sub-2 time, though I am a bit worried with my ankle sprain continuing for a few weeks now. I have cut down on my pace, but sticking to the volume.

I noticed an interesting post on the Mumbai marathon map, which details the map in terms of Google maps, do take a look at Vin's blog.

Also coming up pretty soon is the Delhi marathon (Feb 11). I will make a decision on that after running the Mumbai half if I am in decent shape. I guess this will be the end of the running season for me, the next run after that would probably be after the hot Delhi summers are over.