VDHM 2007: Experience and Results

Net time: 2 hr 16 min
Overall rank: 719

Looks like I am turning a veteran of the Delhi half marathons, with the third straight event done and dusted. I am indeed lucky that I started running in the year of the first HDHM in 2005.

Complete results of the run available at: Sports Timing AG website

To print your timing certificate: Click here

To get your race day photos: Marathon-Photos.com (click on vodafone delhi run)

This years run was not the fastest that I have done, but given that I had not been fully fit, I am satisfied with the results. The route turned out to be as expected, lots of shaded areas. The flyover at Aurobindo came in twice, but as the running experience grows, these things seem to matter less and less. My father was there at the finishing line... I was as relieved to see him as he was to see me. My parents, probably like any other, are always very concerned by my running. A couple of my colleagues from work were there at the finishing line when I arrived. The rest (about 10 more) probably came later.

This years event was by far the biggest yet, with about 9000 half marathon registrations. It came as a surprise that the organizers recorded the timings of most of the participants, the last recorded participant came in at 4:01, rank 1292). As has always been the trend, about 15% of the runners got timing chips and finished (1292/9000).

What did not go that well was the post race management. I had to stand in line for hours to get the medal/certificate. The printer went bad and most of the people were not given the timing certificate, just a temporary copy of the timings. The entire management of the certificate distribution was poorly done, very few queues in a very small enclosed place. It never took me more than 15 minutes to get this done in the past HDHM events. Also, the organizers need to do more to provide refreshments to the runners (paid), with some proper stalls etc, I just don't understand why they don't do this, it can earn them some big bucks as well, and they can sub-contract this to a third party.

A look at all the Delhi Half marathons gone by:

VDHM 2007 Complete results 719/1292 (my rank / total chip finishers)
HDHM 2006 Complete results 422/730
HDHM 2005 Complete results 267/504

Whats next: Singapore marathon (Full, Dec 2)

VDHM tomorrow!

This week has been very poor from my health point of view, and which has taken away a lot of confidence I had for getting a good timing. Now, my goal is to just start the race at a comfortable pace and then see how it feels and run accordingly. I guess I would be satisfied if I better my HDHM best of 2:12.

Delhi weather prediction for tomorrow from weather.com:
8:00 am : 24C (feels like 26C)
9:00 am : 27C (feels like 27C)
10:00 am : 29C (feels like 28C)

Humidity is expected to remain between 35 and 46%. I don't know what that "feels like" figure means, but I think it is related to humidity levels.

I also got my goodie bag / running number / timing chip today. Colgate toothpaste, sipper bottle, Dove shampoo sachets, small metal flag of India, Quaker oats, wet tissues... an interesting mix within the bag!

About 10 of my colleagues are expected to run the 21K (up from 7 from last year). There were 2 more who dropped out due to injuries.

Beware: Bangalore marathon coming up!

Its going to be one heck of a running season with following races scheduled for the season:

Oct 28th - Vodafone Delhi Half Marathon
Nov 25th - Hyderabad Half Marathon
Dec 2nd - Singapore Marathon
Dec 9th - Bangalore Marathon
Dec 16th - Bangalore Ultramarathon
Jan 20th - Mumbai Marathon

The Bangalore marathon was announced this week, at such a short notice, i.e. not even 2 months before the actual run (actually just 1.5 months before the run date)! If you are even a little bit into running, you will know that this will not give any real chance for people to prepare well for the run. Another very annoying this which Crossover (the organizers of Bangalore marathon) did was to announce it just before the Bangalore Ultramarathon, an event which has been planned for the last one year, and had been announced long-long time back. It surely creates a conflict of interest between the two events in the running community. It speaks of the high level of unprofessionalism which Crossover has shown. In spite of knowing about the other event which was planned much in advance, they just go ahead with their whims and fancies, not even considering that both events are going to be held in the same city and the ultramarathon may lose participants due to this.

I already know a lot about the attitude (or lack of) of Crossover consulting, the organizers of the Bangalore marathon. If you want to read some details around this, do check my post here on one of their previous events to get some first hand knowledge.

Here are some of the points which distinguish the Bangalore ultra event from the Bangalore marathon (for those who are considering what to run):

Bangalore Ultra:

1. Announced almost 9 months ago with a commitment, nay a promise to
never change the date. See bangalore-ultra.blogspot.com
2. Organized with intent to cater to people who VALUE a clean
enjoyable running experience.
3. No dilution of experience: No fun runs (OK the 26K is kind of a fun
run), no hard pavement, no running for charity
4. Considerable thought and effort put into it. Organizers meeting
weekly since June 2007. Take a look at the website.
5. Resort where you can come with family and enjoy.
6. Cost: Okay this is on the high side for most people in India. But
remember, there is no free lunch in life. You get what you pay for! many
people consider it no big deal to buy an air ticket and spend > INR10,000 to
go run a mere Half Marathon in a distant city!

Bangalore Marathon:

1. Shifting dates.
2. No consideration for RFL in arranging their date! RFL runners
probably form the largest contingent of their potential runners.
3. Rest assured that the event will focus on fun run, NGO charity,
etc. The marathon effort will be purely a joke.
4. Hard pavement, traffic, fight for your medals and shirts at the
end, get your prizes stripped off due to mismanagement, etc.
5. No class: Knowing that the Bangalore Ultra was in preparation and
having been publicized, yet to come out with a clashing date
without even consulting speaks of the lowest class.

Now people can decide. If in spite of all this they wish to run the
Bangalore Marathon then they very well deserve it.

(Note: Section in blue above has been picked up from web, apologies to author)

Running progress for VDHM/SCSM

Things are looking good and I am trying to stick to my schedule as far as I can. I am trying to keep the focus of my training to the Singapore marathon, though the upcoming Vodafone Delhi Half Marathon on Oct 28th has made me do minor tweaks to my program to do the best in both. I also don't want my half marathon effort to affect the Singapore run.

Last Long run: 27 KM Time: 2:48 (run time only)

I also did a couple of fastish 6.8 KM runs to check up on my pace. I managed to do them in 38 (5:34/km) and 37 (5:26/km) minutes. To keep things in perspective, a sub 2:00 hr half marathon would require a pace of 5:42/km. I will find out on 28th how I fare.

New Vodafone Delhi Half Marathon (2007) route

VDHM has launched a brand new route for this years event (out and back course, not loop), and I might add that this looks very interesting, and certainly more welcome that the route from previous years. It now starts from near Nehru park in Chanakyapuri, goes around the Safdurjung airport area, next passing near Lodi gardens, on to India gate, towards Janpath, and back from Windsor place. I still see a flyover around Aurobindo Marg.

So overall, more running under shade, later in October than previous years. I am excited.

I hope they start the race a bit earlier too, last few years have seen starts at 7:30 am.

map : courtesy - The Times of India epaper edition (Delhi times section: dt Oct 7th, 2007)

Hail Gebrselassie! A new marathon WR!

A new marathon world record was set after a gap of 4 years, and who better deserves the honours than king Haile himself. The record was achieved in the 2007 Berlin marathon with a timing of 2:04:26 beating the 2003 time of Paul Tergat (2:04:55), also set in the Berlin marathon.

Courtesy: iaaf.org