Published: January 22, 2026 at 4:43 pm
It is a dream of every runner to be jostling at the assembly bay of the Mumbai Marathon before dawn to shoot off from the flag-off point on hearing the gunshot.
Every newbie runner aspires to get the Mumbai Marathon tag since it is tipped as the World Athletics Gold Label Race, which attracted 69,000 participants for its 21st Edition on Sunday (January 18, 2026).
LB Nagar runners
It takes a clinical discipline to prepare for marathons of this nature given the harsh weather conditions. The urge to run inculcates a score of atomic habits to hit the bed early, keep the gut clean, wake up and lace up in time and reach the training spot. These diligent acts of commitment have brought some of the couch lovers into the running community. Thanks to the efforts of the Hyderabad Runners with its initiating programmes – Couch to 5K and Train and Shine — many aspiring runners achieved their debutant performance; a few did so in style, including women.
Listing out the features that make Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM) the best in the country, Ramakrishna Reddy, CTO of a US-based IoT company, said, “Mumbai marathon is the biggest and the loudest marathon in India – nonstop crowd support. Hot and humid weather, even in January makes it tough for the runners coming from other places. Hydration and pacing are critical for completing the run without any cramps and injuries. The urban iconic course, Marine Drive and Sea Link, are mentally tougher than it looks. It was a world-class organisation and very competitive field. The finish times are often 5–10 min slower than cooler races.”
Mumbai Marathon is like a Mahakumbh for runners
“TMM is like a Mahakumbh for runners. Every runner wants to be part of the event and give their best. 42.2km is a long distance and needs proper training, a minimum of four months. You need to train your mind, legs and heart to finish strong. Training programmes prepare runners for a marathon gradually increasing endurance, improving fitness, building mental strength, and teaching proper pacing, fuelling, and recovery so runners can complete the race safely and confidently,” said Arun Kumar of Alkapoor Runners, who mentors a score of runners.
The Alkapoor runners
The running clubs associated with the Hyderabad Runners, along with other running communities, made participation in the Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM) peak at 1,109 from the two Telugu States – Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
“After my debut half marathon at the NMDC marathon in Hyderabad, stepping up to a full marathon felt like the natural next step, and there couldn’t be a better place for my debut Full Marathon than Mumbai, the ‘Mecca of Marathons’. The city’s crowd and energy added to my performance,” said Shaheen Akthar, a homemaker, who started with Couch to 5K last year.
The ultimate moment of time is the celebration at the finish line. It is the expression of freedom that represents the triumph over all the challenges. The image of the wide-open arms up in the air while crossing past the finish ribbon etches in memory for eternity. This moment, the runners have already visualised many times. It is like Steve Job’s saying, Begin with the end in mind.
While many runners focus on the personal bests, here is a seasoned runner Anjani T, a marketing head, who was pacing with a retired PSU executive. “It was a grateful experience to be part of debutant Surya Prakash’s journey even if I had to restrict my pace,” said Anjani who has a several PBs under her belt.
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Dr Shalini Dixit, a root canal specialist, said marathoners have been practicing hard since months to perform on this day and they got two medals. “One is for the finisher, and another is an inspiration medal, but the other is for those who cheered me on! Sincere gratitude to Hyderabad Runners for being my pillars of strength! I’d love to dedicate this medal to our fantastic community!” she said.
Anjani T, who paced with Surya Prakash
Many runners give credit to the running communities for what they have become. The reasons to take up running differ from runner to runner, but most of them want to be fit and healthy. “I focused on consistency over intensity — building habits one run at a time, supported by my family and running community. Managing my health taught me discipline, and every race became a step toward a stronger, healthier version of myself,” said Harsha Akkenepally, an IT professional, who seeks fitness over high-stress career.
