It’s the third Sunday of the year. And for Mumbaikars, it means one thing — get up early and put your running shoes on. Either to run along with the thousands at the Mumbai Marathon or to cheer the participants.
For the 11th straight year, the streets of the city will see some of the finest long distance runners, alongwith the 40,000 participants across various categories, showing what ‘Mumbai spirit’ really means.
There will be hustle and bustle on the streets, there will be cheering from commonfolk and celebrities alike, there will be music, atmosphere will be carnival-like, that’s how Mumbai Marathon is every year, and this time it promises to be no different.
Children, parents, grandparents, celebrities, the differently-abled all come together to run the marathon. And most of them run to make a point, to be part of the big moment and for some of them, it is about the result.
It’s the Dream Run which seems to be the local favourite. But there’s a lot at stake when one shifts to the competitive side of the marathon that brings long distance athletes from across the world fighting it out.
Once again it will be a battle for continental supremacy between the Kenyans and Ethiopians who shall race for the $3,60,000 prize money in the elite division. Pride and bragging rights will don the headlines amongst the two countries as the men’s full marathon has seen seven winners from Kenya while it’s the Ethiopians, who have dominated in the women’s race also winning seven titles.
In the men’s elite race, leading the competition is a clear favourite, Kenya’s Evans Cheruiyot, with a personal best of 2:06.25 and the second fastest man, Ethiopian Eshetu Wendimu, with a personal best of 2:06.46. Along with them are 16 athletes who have a personal best of below 2:10 and will pose a tough competition.
The other men to look out for will be Ethiopian Hailu Mekonnen, Kenyans Stephen Chebogut, Ishhimael Busendich and former Mumbai Marathon winners, John Kelai (2007, 2008), Kenneth Mungara (2009) and Girma Assefa (2011).
Among the women, the Ethiopian Dinknesh Mekash leads the field with a personal best of 2:25.09 along with Etalemahu Kidane, Asnakech Mengistu and Aberu Mekuria, who also finished third last year.
There’s a lot at stake for John Kelai, two-time winner from Kenya, as the 37-year old is hoping that a good performance will ensure he gets to defend his CWG title in Glasgow later this July-August.
“That’s my primary target. There are so many challengers, hundreds of them, in Kenya, but I want to defend my Commonwealth Games title in Glasgow. If I can win in hot and humid conditions here I can do better in colder Glasgow. Mumbai is a lot tougher and I want to do well and send a strong signal to the federation,” said Kelai
The Indian men’s race is also expected to be a close encounter. Binning, a three-time winner here will face opposition from the fastest athlete in the field, Ram Singh Yadav, returning after a one-year break.
The man’s half marathon also has a strong Indian contingent, with 2012 winner Shoji Mathew, BC Tilak, Indrajeet Patel, Yogesh Sardesai, Ajay Bir Singh and Vishram Meena among the contenders.
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