In the 10 years since its inception, Mumbai Marathon has provided the city's runners recognition and prodded citizens towards a healthier lifestyle. But all this while, the authorities have done precious little.
The city has no infrastructure to support the new breed of running enthusiasts. There are next to no running tracks or walking trails. Most footpaths are either encroached upon or in a sorry state. Open spaces, always in short supply, are fast vanish-ing. And priority unvary-ingly is accorded to motorists in infrastructure planning. Yet, despite the odds and governmental apathy, the cul-ture of running is spreading rapidly in Mumbai.
Praful Uchil, co-founder of Striders, one of the city's largest running clubs, says the tribe of runners is growing every year by 45%. "Typically, many new-comers join during the marathon season and drop out later. But a great many stick around," explains Uchil.
Samson Sequeira, who is a coach at Jolly Gymkhana in Ghatkopar and the chief coach at the Run India Run club, agrees. "Many who want to try out running join us for a season and then drop off the radar after the marathon. But some-where in the city somebody is always resuming the pursuit later," says Sequeira.
In many global cities, such as New York and London, running is not just an exercise but a passion for many. It helps that they have proper infrastructure. The Big Apple, for instance, has a scenic 10km loop around Central Park. In Midwestern United States, Chicago has a paved 29km running path that winds along Lake Michigan.
Not surprisingly then, the running-to-work movement is flourishing in th o s e c i t i e s , whereas in Mumbai, the trend is limited to just about a handful.
Girish Mallya, a media professional, has run from his Chembur house to Worli office on a few occasions. "I was training for Marathon des Sables last year and needed to train to run with bags. I thought I would get enough mileage if I included a run to the workplace. I did it a few times," says Mallya. But after that, he stopped.
Mallya suggests that any-one attempting the feat should run to their office in the morning instead of running back home in the evening. "Traffic on inner roads and on highways is less in the morning. In the evening, motorcyclists are out in full force; you have to constantly watch out for them and adjust your stride. You are repeatedly forced to jump from the road to the pavement," he says.
Dynaneshwar Tidke too feels the idea of running to work is full of hazards. He knows the dangers because he has run a few times from his Panvel house to his office in Juinagar. "Highways are dan-gerous. Vehicles are speeding past and you are always scared that some car or bus will mow you down," says Tidke. "Also, the pollution is so bad that your face gets caked with dust and grime. You have to scrub out the grease before starting work."
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