Dard Ke Aage Jeet Hai.

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Author

Sudheer Guntupalli - Sudheer is part of the equity investment team at Kotak Mahindra AMC and also a member of Kotak Group Young Leaders' Council. He is a Computer Science Engineer and did his PGDM from IIM Kozhikode. He lives in Emerald Isle with his wife and two kids. An avid runner, Sudheer spends his free time playing badminton. 

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According to Greek legend, in 490 BC, Pheidippides ran from the battle field of Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory over Persians.

The distance between the two cities is roughly around 42 KM. Modern days marathons (42.2KM) derive their name after this tale.

But what is interesting to know is what happened to Pheidippides after that victory run?  

Being an avid runner for close to a decade, I had run several half marathons (21.1KM) and

10K events over time.

I can also indulge myself in other intense physical activities like badminton for multiple hours at a stretch.

But, in Aug-25, when I decided to register for a full marathon in Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM 2026) event, i was not fully convinced if I could do it.

Running a full marathon is altogether a different challenge even for experienced half marathoners – that too in a tropical country like India with high pollution levels.

It is not just about the physical endurance and stamina; it is more about the psychological barrier of self-doubt – “Can I do it?” Overcoming it is easier said than done.

Trust me, this self-doubt will run with you until 100m before finish line – especially if you are running full marathon for the first time!

Then comes the training, preparation and diet.

My training has largely been restricted to the treadmill given the realistic challenges like pollution, pot holes and stray dogs associated with road running!

I tried and religiously ran 30-35KM per week with heavy lifting on the weekends.

In the six months running up to the event, I followed a strict protein and fiber rich, sugar light and zero alcohol diet.

I trained in the same clothing and shoes that I was going to use on the race day.

Doing weights in the gym and breathing exercises is of help, I felt.

The last two weeks before the event is the most critical – to load carbs, hydrate yourself and to get enough rest and sleep.

Despite being a quasi-insomniac, this time I was able to get five hours of sleep the night before the race!

Having participated in several long-distance running events, I would rate TMM as the best organized event in the entire Asian continent.

Across categories, TMM 2026 witnessed a participation of ~69k people from 50 odd countries.

Arrangements done by BMC, Mumbai Police and event sponsors are top notch.

But what truly sets TMM apart is the people of Mumbai. From kids aged 5 to seniors aged 85, people come out on the streets in the wee hours of a Sunday morning to cheer and help for someone they don’t even know!

They bring food, drinks, ice packs, analgesic sprays, carry placards, clap, shout, sing, dance, give high fives and more than anything else – celebrate your run! “I don’t even know who you are.

But I am proud of you” is my favorite placard message I had seen a girl carrying in Mahim this year.

The pain associated with running 42.2KM and nearly 40% of it under the sun isn’t an easy one to endure.

And my left calf muscle started cramping a lot after crossing the half marathon point – which is usually my comfort zone.

The thought of giving up flashed at least a dozen times in the second half of my journey.

And the only reason I did not is to not let down those boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen who kept cheering and helping along the route for participants who are not even celebrities!

As Nike’s hoardings across the journey kept reminding me – I did not run that far to run that far! With ice cubes in my socks, I somehow limped my way across the finish line in a respectable time frame!!

Many people, including a younger version of myself, confuse long distance running for a test of pace.

It isn’t, unless you are aiming to be on the leaderboard and take home a hefty money prize. It is a test of endurance as long as you are able to clear the qualifying time criteria for the respective categories.

If you are thinking of starting your running journey or participate in a long-distance running event, just do it! Running is one of the most enjoyable and good for health sports as long as you don’t overdo it.

However, there is enough research that suggests participating in extreme endurance events or excessive running (80+ KM / week) can negate the benefits of moderate running (25-35 KM / week)!

In fact, extreme endurance runners often run a higher risk of myocardial fibrosis, a trial fibrillation and coronary calcification compared to moderate runners.

By the way, I forgot to mention that Pheidippides collapsed and died up on reaching Athens – based on the historian consensus!!