Pics by Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jan 18: With the Half Marathon and Full Marathon starting at different points, at the very outset, this year proved to be different with a difference. For one, the prize money for the event now in its seventh year was more than it’s ever been — $310,000, which is $60,000 more than last year’s $250,000. This year also saw more participants than last year.

Among the celebrity turnout, there were the regulars, and a few new participants too. The Mumbai Marathon is never complete without Anand Mahindra, John Abraham and Akshay Kumar, who embody the fitness levels required to participate in such an event. Gul Panag looked almost unrecognisable while Riteish Deshmukh, and Rahul Bose strained at the leash to get running. Gulshan Grover, too, was there and so were Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao for Swayamsiddh. Genelia looked upbeat, even on a Sunday morning.

Down for the Dream Run, a group of ‘Auros’ held aloft messages about saving water. Just one of the many placards and banners with messages from cancer awareness to declaring third world war on terrorism. Some athletes ran barefoot, which is an uncommon sight in today’s world. The overriding message was, to spread message. The police team headed by Police Commissioner D Sivanandhan purposefully strode off into the morning. A breathless 16-year-old pushed past a TV reporter’s inane questions about whether he had a ‘message’ and proceeded to run; excitement was his only message! Mother Teresa shared road space with a gorilla. Subhash Chandra Bose looked cool next to Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel, as did Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj alongside Afzal Khan; but a Santa Claus, feeling the growing heat, did not. A 15-year-old girl was taking part for the first time, but her friend — a boy of the same age, was doing this the third year in a row. And let’s not forget the physically challenged participants. Their grit and determination would put an able bodied sailor to shame. It was all about being swept up in the spirit of the moment. And this year it was special, for it was the first time the Marathon Torch has left Greece, except for the Boston Marathon which is the oldest in the world.