Marathon mania

To listen to Ajay Bijli, Chairman and MD of PVR Cinemas, you’d think he never found the time to work out.”I’m big on sports,” he says, “but thanks to my tight schedules, it’s all work and very little play for me.” Don’t believe it. Bijli’s measuring himself by an altogether different yardstick—he’s a marathon runner. He’s completed five half marathons already, and is now gearing up for the Delhi half marathon that takes place on 9th November. And he’ll be joined by an estimated 30,000 other participants, making it the biggest half marathon in the country. The running bug is catching.

“Events like these give the corporate world an excellent opportunity to contribute for social causes,” says Bijli. “In all my marathons I try to run for a charity. This year, I’ll be running for PVR Nest, which works for children.” But there’s more to it than just charity. Be it Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore, more and more people, cutting across all age groups are saying yes to marathons, for their own personal reasons. “Half marathons are all about celebrating the human spirit,” says Vivek B Singh, Joint MD, Procam International. Singh’s sports and leisure management company is the official organiser of the successful Delhi and Mumbai marathons. “To me, an eventlike a half marathon is the most unusual sporting event of its kind, and it’s all about personal achievement. Where else would you find amateurs competing alongside professionals? That to me is the beauty of it all. It’s all about breaking socio-economic barriers and rubbing shoulders with others to prove a point and show that you care.”

So, if you’re sitting on your couch, it’s time to get your running shoes on. Marathons are great for staying fit and for raising money for charity. And if that’s not enough of a reason for you, there’s always the prize money—a whopping $210,000 this time.

How to do it
Don’t even attempt a half marathon unless you’ve trained properly,” says distance running expert Ian Ladbrooke. There are all kinds of risks—knee injuries, lung ailments, cardiovascular disasters. The only way to prevent them is by preparation. Here’s Ladbrooke’s advice about how to go about it.

Fitness first
“Six weeks before the event, beginners should start with slow running four times a week— working up from 2-3 kms to 6-7 kms. Stay away from tarmac— try parks or mud tracks instead. Swimming, yoga and Pilates are great for preparation too, as they don't put pressure on your joints. You need to know your track, and you should ideally start running along the chalked out path two weeks in advance.”

Big on carbs
“You need to increase your carbohydrate intake 48 hours before the race. For once, it makes sense to binge on pasta, bread and rice as they up your energy quotient. And on the big day, just have a light breakfast two hours before the race. After that, water and sports drinks like Gatorade should suffice.”

Get the gear right
“It’s important to understand your personal pronation type before choosing running shoes. Pronation is the inward rolling of the foot when it hits the ground. Overpronators—people with flat feet—roll more than required, so they need the motion control feature in running shoes. High arched runners tend to underpronate, so they should go for lightweight trainers, a more natural foot motion.”