The Marathon

Marathons happen annually. Every year people run to their heart's content, every year some people finish it on time, others don't, a few dress up in mad costumes with funky (fluorescent green) wigs, a couple don't get dressed at all! (We saw a man in his underwear today. Ugggh. My poor eyes!) This time, it was different. The people around me were the same; the difference was in how I actually participated.

My uncle and aunt were participating in the marathon as usual, but this time they came up with two posters - one which would be held by their son dressed up as Milkha Singh that said "Bhaag Mumbai Bhaag!" (Run Mumbai Run!) and the other for my sister which said "Free hi-fives here! I'm proud of you perfect stranger!" So when I went down with my younger siblings at 6:30 am to cheer the runners up, I was very excited. And thankfully, they didn't let us down. Almost everyone responded with a real (or imaginary) hi-five, or a thank you...some people even took pictures. It was just so much of fun that I ended up taking a turn of holding up the posters too!

Here, you can take a glimpse of what the moring was like:

Apart from this, there were a group of girls giving away bananas and biscuits too. Towards the end, we were singing songs to cheer people up! It was insane. The level of enthusiasm everybody had, the energy they had even after running 11 kilometers, the fact that they cared enough to show their approval even by a large grin after looking at us, made me feel happy. It left me fresh. It reminded me that not everybody in Mumbai is as lazy as two of my best friends *laughs* who were lounging on the couch while the whole of Mumbai came outside. When you see a city as big as this, out on the streets not in cars, but on foot, you get an odd feeling of satisfaction. Satisfaction that it’s still alive. That everything is not all that robotic yet. And that feeling of satisfaction and happiness inspires you to do stuff.

So a big pat on the back to those who ran the marathon and a shout out to those who cheered and inspired people to continue all the way! (I heard that someone was playing music and there was a flash mob too <3 So Dibbiya Babu, if you're reading this, perhaps you could have your much awaited flash mob next year! :P)

I’m running the half marathon next year. You?

Kanksha :) 

Thanks for reading!
And don't stop running! ;)