Marathon Running – Aditya Phatak

January 2012 – On a Saturday afternoon, I was leisurely spending time in my room, watching a random movie. However, my mind had been preoccupied with something for a few days. It was an offer from my friend Rahul, who had proposed that I and a few friends join him in running the Mumbai Marathon.

Rahul, who was known for participating in the Mumbai Marathons, had encountered an issue with his legs that year, preventing him from running. The Mumbai Marathon had strict qualification rules and required prior running experience. If one missed a marathon edition, they would have to run other marathons to qualify for the next year.

Rahul who usually runs Mumbai Marathons, could not run that year due to some issue (which I don’t recollect) with his legs. Getting to participate in the Mumbai Marathon had and still has some high qualifying rules and requires pre-running experience. If you miss a marathon edition, you’d then need to run some other marathons to qualify next year!

Rahul approached me and some other friends, asking if anyone would be interested in running the marathon using his bib. Back in those early years, the rules were not as strict, so we managed to do it. I don’t know why, but I felt compelled to accept the offer and spontaneously messaged him, expressing my willingness to participate.

The race was scheduled for the very next morning. With a strong background in sports, particularly cricket and football, and being a somewhat regular (or irregular!) visitor to the gym, I thought I had a decent chance of performing well. At the very least, I believed I could finish within the time limits required for Rahul to qualify for the next year’s marathon. So, with no prior experience or practice, I found myself ready to run the 21 km distance that Sunday morning.

And.

And from that race day onward, I have participated in every edition of the Mumbai Marathon, running the half-marathon (21 km) every year. Needless to say, the experience on that day was absolutely incredible.

When I say it was brilliant, I mean that my thighs and legs were completely exhausted. I could barely walk, and it took me almost a week to recover. Snails could have moved faster than me during that time!

But defying my own beliefs and pushing through the challenges provided an immensely rewarding experience. Those few hours of enduring the seemingly never-ending grind taught me a lot of valuable lessons.

I completed the race in 2 hours and 46 minutes, and Rahul qualified for the following year. From that point on, it was a tradition for me and Rahul to participate in every edition of the race.

How a half-marathon race unfolds?

Initially, you feel a sense of excitement. The starting point is filled with energy as you observe people warming up and getting ready. Once the race begins, there is a crowd of runners, and you navigate through them, trying to maintain your pace. This continues for the first 5-7 kilometers. After that, the race becomes more challenging.

You start monitoring your time and strive to maintain your pace. It still feels manageable until you reach around the 11th kilometer. That’s when your body starts questioning your actions.

Between the 12th and 15th kilometers, you realize the need to maintain your pace and make an effort to keep your mind focused and detached from the physical strain. You try to convince yourself to overcome all obstacles.

At the 15th kilometer, you might question why you’re putting yourself through this and consider yourself foolish. This is the point where you truly understand the meaning of “endurance.” You could provide a better definition than the Oxford Dictionary. If you have determination, you continue despite a decrease in pace, and the positive side of you reminds you that there are only 5 kilometers left, having already completed 16 kilometers.

You surrender yourself to a higher power, and as you approach the finish line, you start feeling better and better. However, the second-to-last kilometer seems never-ending.

The finish.

Finally, as markers for 1000 meters, 800 meters, 500 meters, and 200 meters come into view, the finish line becomes tangible. Some runners may find the energy and courage to sprint the final 200 meters, which is undoubtedly the most exhilarating part of the race.

Crossing the finish line, there is a surprising delay of about 10 seconds before fully comprehending that the race is over. And then, the realization sinks in, accompanied by a sense of achievement. Checking one’s timing and reflecting on the journey, it becomes evident that finishing a half marathon is an incomparable feeling. It defies adequate description and must be experienced firsthand.

—————————-

Aditya Phatak – Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon

Lessons Learned.

Ever since I started running, I have found immense joy in it. It has liberated me in ways that are difficult to put into words. Running provides numerous benefits that often go unnoticed.

As a morning person, running in the early hours brings me pure bliss. I quietly slip out of my house while it’s still dark and immerse myself in the beauty of a sunrise, especially during the winter months. Amidst the chaos of daily life, every morning run brings me closer to nature. I feel the rhythm of my breath, witness the joyful perspiration on my skin, and eventually enter a philosophical trance, pondering the meaning of life.

Running has a mysterious way of clearing the mind. I’m not entirely sure how it works, but I believe it’s rooted in science (probably those mischievous endorphins!). Whenever I find myself entangled in conflicting thoughts, running always comes to the rescue. It effortlessly lightens the burden on my mind.

And to top off the list of benefits, running also helps improve one’s appearance and overall health (a highly sought-after advantage!).

Here are my two cents (or rather words!): Start running!

Running Statistics.

2020 Updates.

The year 2020 was a roller-coaster ride! I participated in two half marathons, with the Mumbai Marathon leaving me feeling dejected.

I started off on a positive note:

Split @ 5.5 Km – Completed in 27 minutes and 4 seconds, at a pace of 4 minutes and 56 seconds per kilometer, maintaining a speed of 12.2 km/h. This was a good start.

Split @ 5.5 Km

00:27:04

00:04:56

12.2 km/h

Split @ 11 Km – Reached in 53 minutes and 28 seconds, with a pace of 4 minutes and 52 seconds per kilometer, at a speed of 12.3 km/h. This was an excellent milestone.

Split @ 11 Km

00:53:28

00:04:52

12.3 km/h

Split @ 15 Km – Achieved in 1 hour, 14 minutes, and 10 seconds, averaging a pace of 4 minutes and 57 seconds per kilometer, with a speed of 12.1 km/h. At this point, I couldn’t believe my performance, feeling on the verge of breaking my personal record.

Split @ 15 Km

01:14:10

00:04:57

12.1 km/h

But then, in the 19th kilometer, disaster struck. I lost energy, slipped, and experienced a sudden decline. I slipped on a wet surface, resulting in a minor ankle strain. I could barely walk, and from there, it took me 2 hours and 26 minutes to complete the race.

Overall Time – 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 26 seconds, with an average pace of 6 minutes and 57 seconds per kilometer, at a speed of 8.6 km/h. I was devastated by the outcome.

Full Course

02:26:26

00:06:57

8.6 km/h

Hiranandani Thane Half Marathon 2020 – A Remarkable Return

Aditya Phatak - Thane Hiranandani Half Marathon

Surprisingly, a few weeks later, Rahul expressed his desire to participate in the Hiranandani Thane Half Marathon (HTHM) as a stepping stone back to the Mumbai Marathon. (Note: He had missed out on one year due to late registration and had been running the challenging full marathons since then.) One Sunday, while we were casually hanging out at my place, he asked if I would like to join him. Within five minutes, I found myself registering for the race!

The Race of Redemption

After feeling devastated and largely depressed by my performance in the Mumbai Marathon 2020, I was nervous and anxious about the HTHM. And let me tell you, this race was incredible. It resulted in my second-best career performance and my personal best at HTHM!

Here are the statistics:

Interval	Chip Time	Chip Pace (min/km)	Speed
Split @ 5 Km	00:26:54	00:05:23	11.1 km/h
Split @ 9.3 Km	00:48:55	00:05:16	11.4 km/h
Split @ 12.4 Km	01:04:38	00:05:13	11.5 km/h
Full Course	01:47:28	00:05:06	11.8 km/h

1hrs 47 mins 28 secs.

I cried. I won’t lie. Tears rolled out of my eyes and I had goosebumps. I was telling myself, it’s over, you’ve done it. ✌️

So, here are my updated results now!

Recent result links.

2020 Mumbai Marathon – https://www.sportstimingsolutions.in/share.php?event_id=56662&bib=14310
2020 Hiranandani Thane Half Marathon –https://www.sportstimingsolutions.in/share.php?event_id=57408&bib=21186

_______________

Major Update 2023 – A Triumph of Epic Proportions!

After two years of Covid-related disruptions, Mumbai had been devoid of marathons. Amidst the fragments of complete or partial lockdowns, I persevered with my running practice every morning whenever circumstances allowed. Unfortunately, in 2021, I encountered a setback. One fateful morning, I began experiencing discomfort in both of my legs, later diagnosed as Plantar Fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis, a prevalent cause of heel pain, involves inflammation of the thick band of tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes, known as the plantar fascia. Typically, it induces sharp pain when taking the first steps in the morning, which subsides as one starts moving. However, prolonged standing or transitioning from a seated position can trigger the pain to resurface. Although the exact cause of plantar fasciitis remains uncertain, it is more commonly observed among runners.

For nearly ten arduous months, I endured this daily pain upon awakening, rendering running an impossibility. However, I could still manage to walk, prompting me to engage in walking as a form of practice.

It was an uphill battle, lasting eight months for my right foot and a grueling 15 months for my left foot. Eventually, the Mumbai marathon returned, and registrations opened. Hoping my leg would recover in time, I secured my spot for the August 2022 event, anticipating it to take place in January 2023.

However, my expectations were shattered. As the date drew nearer, I could barely run a kilometer. By Christmas, my maximum distance had reached a mere three kilometers. That’s when I realized I needed to provide additional support to my heels to make progress. I purchased a suitable aid from Amazon, and its impact was nothing short of miraculous. Suddenly, I was able to run smoothly, and within the first week of January 2023, I effortlessly covered distances of 7-10 kilometers. Finally, my confidence returned.

And then came January 17, 2023—an unforgettable day! My sole objective was to complete the race around my usual timings while praying for my legs to hold up. Yet, a part of me sensed that this race held something extraordinary in store.

They say that you often perform your best when the odds are stacked against you, and that magical morning proved just that. It was an enchanting race, where I shattered my own personal record from 2018 in the most spectacular manner!

I crossed the finish line at 1:44:15! 🥇🥇🥇

https://www.sportstimingsolutions.in/share.php?event_id=71803&bib=15470

I could hardly fathom what had transpired that day—it still feels like a surreal, magical achievement! This triumph held a special significance, particularly after a disappointing performance in the previous edition of the 2020 Mumbai Marathon. Overwhelmed, tears welled up in my eyes, and my thoughts turned to Meow, my beloved cat who passed away in 2020. I dedicated this victory to his memory. I can still vividly recall him eagerly preparing to accompany me for the marathon in the early hours of the morning back in 2020. This is him. Rest in peace, ❤️.

Product Management + Marathon Running
The marathon mindset has enriched my approach to product management, providing a unique perspective on navigating challenges and achieving long-term success.

This essay explores the parallels between Product Management and running a marathon, shedding light on the shared principles of perseverance, pacing, and strategic thinking.

Read here – http://bit.ly/3Ng9tla