Hosting the Tata Mumbai Marathon, I have to say, is one of the most humbling experiences. To see 65,000 runners on the streets of Mumbai early on a Sunday morning, running for a cause, is one of the most unbelievable sights imaginable. And the numbers keep growing year on year.
My call time was 3:30 am, 30 minutes later than usual because all the paperwork had already been completed. But to my surprise, half the city was awake. When I reached the stage next to the old Victoria Terminus, it was buzzing. People were all set, greetings were being exchanged, and the excitement was palpable.
At 4:30 am, multiple Olympic medallist Andre De Grasse joined me on stage. To think that he was not even focused on athletics at one point and then went on to win seven Olympic medals feels almost unreal. Perhaps he is the only sprinter who came close to beating Usain Bolt at the Olympics.
“This is fabulous to see. I have never seen this many people running together. Look at the energy,” exclaimed De Grasse.
As we watched thousands stand at the start line, De Grasse made some very pertinent observations. “If someone had told me I would witness this, I wouldn’t have believed it,” he said. “Now it is happening in front of my eyes. Clearly, India is on the move. If this continues, there is no reason why you can’t produce more Olympic champions and host the Olympics.”
I remember Mo Farah saying very similar words last year.
Also on stage with me was the ever-inspirational Aamir Khan, who ran the Dream Run with his family. “This is special,” said Aamir, as the runners paused for a moment to catch a glimpse of their favourite star.
The vibe, the passion, the colour — the Tata Mumbai Marathon is a truly special event and will always be the signature distance running race in India. It has been a real privilege to host it for so many years.
For more updates, follow REVSPORTZ.
