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A race to finish
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Put on your running shoes. The city is joining a select club by hosting an international marathon, writes ANAND SANKAR
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Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.
Gunning for glory Arockiaswamy Jayaraj (centre) training participants at Cubbon Park
It is six a.m. at Cubbon Park. Groups of young men slick with sweat do rounds of the park. This is not just a morning jog, but practice for the Lipton Bangalore Marathon to be held in the city on May 15. The first and probably one of the biggest events in the city's sporting history, it is expected to draw participants from all over the world. It will also put Bangalore on par with cities such as New York and London, which host famous marathons that receive wide media coverage.
The Bangalore race has been divided into three: the 42.195 km full marathon, the 21.097 km half marathon and the seven km celebrity run. The organisers say the star attractions will be Ethiopian runners Tegayae Desalgne, Tesfaye Orgawa, Abebe Seume, Korre Alemu, Adenech Beyene Jemilu and Marshet Jimma. Many more athletes are expected to confirm their participation. In addition, Indian veteran city marathoner Arockiaswamy Jayaraj will be participating and legendary Indian athletes Milkha Singh and P.T. Usha will also be present.
Star studded
Though the full marathon is the realm of professionals, the half marathon and the seven-kilometre run are expected to draw many local participants. Locals such as Vasundhara Das, Prasad Bidappa, Ravi Ramu, Harish Bijoor, and Ramesh Arvind are expected to turn up for the event. Even the IT and BT industry is participating, with their czars leading the way.
For the serious participants, Bangalore-based groups such as Runners For Life — an initiative of The Fuller Life, a recreation management company — and Arockiaswamy Jayaraj's Classic Road Runners Athletic Club are conducting training runs for the meet.
"We have about 30-40 people participating now. But there will be more because our mailing list has 110 people and we expect most of them to participate at least in one of the runs. We have already run the distance to get the feel. We train for around four to six days a week and always watch what we eat," says Arvind Krishnan, the founder of Runners For Life.
In fact, they even organised a practice run last week that covered quarter of the total distance.
Arockiaswamy Jayaraj, meanwhile, is conducting his training camp free at Cubbon Park between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. behind the Central Library. He says a marathon is all about the three Ds — dedication, determination and discipline.
No opponent
"You should never run against an opponent in a marathon. You should run against your time that you have determined in practice. That is your pace." Running a marathon requires serious practice and should not be attempted otherwise. "You need to run at least 150 km during the lean season and 180 km during the peak season. It should include endurance training, uphill runs and seashore running. Seashore running is very important because running in the sand strengthens the leg muscles. Attempting to run without practice is very dangerous." One loses eight to 10 kilos of fluids in a race and thus it is important to drink a lot of fluids. "International regulations mean that there should be water point every 10 km. But considering the temperature in Bangalore, you need water probably every two kilometres."
No wonder a marathon is considered one of the ultimate endurance tests for the human body and mind. And finishing it is considered a bigger feat than winning it.
"The motto of a marathon is finishing and not winning. Abroad you have people who take up to two days to finish. The course must be kept open for them and even the last person finishing must be applauded," says Jayaraj.
To participate in the marathon, fill up forms available at Pizza Corner, Fabmall and Foodworld. To register online, visit bangalore.yahoo.com. There is a registration desk at Kanteerava Stadium and volunteers with forms can be found at major thoroughfares like M.G. Road and Brigade Road. The participation fee is Rs. 150. The minimum age for participating in the half and full marathon is 18. Children over 12 can participate in the celebrity run but with adult supervision. The run begins at Kanteerava Stadium. For more information call 51328753/54/55.
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The first ever run to Athens
The story behind the marathon can be traced back to 490 B.C. when the Persian army landed on the plain of Marathon, about 25 miles from Athens. The Athenians, with their backs to the wall, fought the Persians and defeated them. A runner was sent to Athens to convey the news. But the exhausted runner, Pheidippides, collapsed dead after crying out: "Rejoice, we conquer."
Today, historians believe Pheidippides died due to fatigue because the previous day he had run to Sparta and back asking for military help, 150 miles in all. But the legend stuck and the marathon run was born.
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
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