Wipro Bengaluru Marathon 2024

Race Category: HM

Timing: 02:22:40

Went to this race with not much of an expectation as I didn't clock good mileage running into this event. Add Garba dance session on the previous night 😋. So when I finished with a timing of 2:22, I wasn't happy but was ok about it; at least I was able to finish the race without much of a hassle.

This was about 10 mins slower than my last year's PB. This only confirms that consistency and core/strengthening exercises are so essential to achieve good results. 

Wipro Bengaluru Marathon 2023

Race Category: HM

Timing: 02:12:41

Happy to announce I recorded my HM PB in this 2023 edition of Bengaluru Marathon. Well, the race route was changed compared to previous years and I liked this one better.

Due to good taper and rest in last couple of weeks, I was able to pick up a faster pace than intended quite effortlessly. There was a slight hesitation in maintaining that faster pace initially as I was afraid that I might run out of gas towards the end. But since I couldn't really stop myself I decided to go with the flow. At the end of 16th km mark I was still happy with a good pace, but boy!, the 17th km was a killer. Took like forever to complete that. I was kinda tired for next 2 kms; may be, missing those gym strengthening sessions proving to be costly. Somehow managed to finish bit strong at the end. 

Crossing that finish line with the realization that I've improved my previous PB set way back in 2018 by 3 minutes gave a sense of accomplishment.

Now, onto the TMM 2023 preparation.

HM races summary over the years.

Shriram Properties Bengaluru Marathon 2022

Race Category: Half Marathon (21.1 kms)

Timing: 2:16:47

Firstly, I would like to mention that it felt good to run a HM after a long gap of 4 years, i.e. in an official race.

However, I'm slightly disappointed with the fact that I couldn't finish with the target I had in mind. Considering last month's practice run's timing of 02:11 and some extra push from running captain and peers, I kept a target between 2:00 and 2:05.

Guess, aiming for that ambitious target proved costly for me as I ran my first half of the race at a pace of about 5:40 and due to this I got real tired in the second part and ended up with an ordinary finish of 02:16, slower than my HM done in 2018 by a minute.

Learnt something, of course, with this experience: set a realistic target based on previous runs. Had I aimed for 2:06 to 2:10, I would have achieved I feel.

My first practice HM

Category: HM

Timing: < 02:11:00

While I’ve completed few half marathons before, this was however my first practice HM run, and guess what?! I improved my PB by more than 4 minutes. Preparing for next month's Bengaluru Marathon and looking forward for it.

Highlights of this run:

• First practice run which was more than a HM. Last week I had done a 20.5 kms run in 02:13:00
• No stops at all in between, and this was very satisfying
• For 16, 17 kms I could manage to keep a good pace, however I got little tired towards the end

These kind of runs will give a fair bit of an idea of what should be my pace in actual marathon races. Keeping this in mind, I will target anything of 02:06:00 i.e. a pace of 06:00 mins/km. 🤞

Shriram Properties Bengaluru Marathon 2018

Race Category: Half Marathon (21.1 kms)

Timing: 2:15:35

Well, the plan was to run a Full Marathon (42 kms) in this edition and I had registered for the same as well. But since my practice didn't meet the expectations for a Full Marathon, I decided to change this to a Half Marathon (21 kms) couple of weeks back.

The race started on a bright and clear sunny day at 6:45am with good turn up for the event. I had a Plan A which told me to run at a steady pace of 6:30 from the beginning till the end, and there was Plan B which told me to run dynamically based on how the body is feeling. Just after a kilometer, I decided to pursue with my Plan B and started off with a comfortable pace and regulate based on the intensity. And guess what, I was faster than my usual pace though out with this strategy. In fact, till the end of 16 kms, I was faster than my usual pace by well over 10 secs and that was something. 17th and 18th kms were slower due to higher elevation but ended my race with a personal best of 2:15 which is about a minute faster than my previous best ran in Mumbai this year.

Happy I managed to register my personal best again. Planning to raise the bar little higher during coming months. 

Tata Mumbai Marathon 2018

Race category: Half Marathon (21.1 kms)
Timing: 2:16:26

I had registered for the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2018 in Aug'2017 as I was already practicing for Bengaluru Half Marathon and Hubballi Half Marathon for the months of Oct'2017 and Nov'2017 respectively. I got application confirmation in Oct'2017 based on my previous 10K timing of Bengaluru 10K. This provided me ample HM experience and practice.
Unfortunately, the month of December was hectic with a lot of traveling due to two marriages at home and hence I didn't have any good running going on. With only 3 weeks of running in January, I came to Mumbai with no great expectations and set a realistic target of 2:20. I reached Mumbai two days prior to the race and collected the bib on 19th. It's quite difficult to come to a place like Mumbai and not visit the interesting tourist attractions. The fact that it was my first visit to the Mumbai city added more excitement. And thanks to my wonderful friend, Abhishek who had all the energy, time and patience to take me around the city during these two days. Though we kept it light the previous day of the Marathon, I somehow felt little tired the previous night, may be due to traveling and lack of sleep.

On the race morning, I came to the holding area well before the scheduled time and warmed up. The plan was simple: run at constant speed from start to finish. The race started at 5:40 and within few minutes we were at the sea-link connecting Bandra and Worli and it was simply amazing. After couple of kilometers, I didn't feel any tiredness and started my self-talk: "I'm feeling good and strong". I changed my plan and started running at a faster pace as I felt strong. Taking advantage of the easy elevation, I continued for few more kilometers at that improved pace. That gave me confidence to update my target to 2:17. At around 12-13 kms mark, there was this crazy road which was quite steep uphill and I said to myself not to stop running at any cost. And I was successful in doing that and I started feeling much better. For next few kilometers the route was just next to the sea and it was a great sight. By this time the sun was up and it was quite a view; the sea, the birds in good numbers, people enjoying on the beach will surely give a soothing effect. The enthusiastic crowd cheering and providing support were great. At no point during the race I stopped or walked. I finished the race surprisingly strong, in fact I could afford a 200 mts sprint at the end (which few suggest not to do).
And when I checked the time, it read 2:16 and that brought a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. I was really happy with the efforts and this instilled a new urge to improve further with some changes in the running plans and good practice.

Glad that I ran in this this Mumbai Marathon and I know for sure I will run there again in coming years!

Hubballi Half Marathon 2017

Race category: Half Marathon (21.1 kms)

Timing: 2:24:38

I enrolled for the Hubballi Half Marathon mainly because it's in my hometown and to have a practice run for upcoming Mumbai Marathon in which I'm again running a HM.

The route was shared couple of days before the race and this route was something new to me even though it's my hometown. It was arranged in the outskirts of the city and to my surprise I found the route lovely for a long run. It started near the Hubballi Airport and continued towards the by-pass toll and then turn towards Unkal Lake via the outer small village and then back to the start point. Most part of the route was a tar road except a small stretch of mud road, which added excitement to the race. Few ups & downs at the starting/finishing section of the route made it little tougher as well. I liked this route more than the Bengaluru Half Marathon as this didn't have many turns and twists.

The organizers did a good job in having sufficient water points with enthusiastic volunteers who cheered the runners all though. 5K and 10K races were placed in such a way that the HM runners didn't have to go through excess crowd.

One more satisfying aspect was the fact that I paced my race better this time by not running above my average pace during the initial part due to which I was able to better my timing by more than 3 minutes. Yes, this is my PR, yehh :)
Though I was able to achieve better timing, I believe there is more room to improve.

Surely a race to consider adding to next year's calendar as well.

Bengaluru Marathon 2017

Race Category: Half Marathon (21.1 km)
Timing: 02:27:47

Bengaluru Marathon 2017 was my first Half marathon and it was a great experience. I would be lying if I said it wasn't tough. What unsettled me was the fact that it turned out to be little tougher than what I had anticipated. Believe me, I had practice runs of around 17 kms before the race and I was fairly well prepared for the event. Apparently that wasn't sufficient I suppose.

Just a day before the race day, Bengaluru witnessed good amount of rainfall and the weather was good on the race day with little humidity I can say. The race started entertaining the huge crowd with right amount of pomp. I started little slower as per the plan and besides the rush at the start line wouldn't allow even if I had any other plans.

For about 13-14 kms, I was in good rhythm and content that I might finish the race in my target time of 2 hrs 15 mins. But it started getting tougher, my legs slowed down but I continued to run, a little slower though. At 17 km mark, I got tired and I started walking despite all my motivational talk in head. I started asking, "Why the hell am I running a half marathon?!".

I resumed my run after a minute or two. As I approached the finish line, I gathered all my energy and will power to run faster. I finished stronger.

After the race, the tired thoughts disappeared suddenly and all I was thinking was how to improve my performance in my next race.

Though the timing of 2:27:47 didn't really excite me but I am thoroughly satisfied with the race and my performance.