Early Morning of January 15, 2023, Mumbai sprung to life even before the sun decided to show up. As I reached the CST railway station at 5am, the streets of South Mumbai were already abuzz with a flurry of activities almost like as if it’s New Year’s Eve and the city cannot sleep. But this was another momentous occasion for the people of Mumbai as they were to witness the most awaited event of the year come back to life – ‘The 18th Edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2023’ was to begin and 55,000 participants from various walks of life in and around the country and several international marathon runners were gathered to participate.
With a bevy of activities which surrounds the event, there were enthusiasts vying for various categories at the marathon. The Marathon has something to offer everyone, from the famous Dream Run, Open 10km, Senior Citizen Run, Champions with Disability, Half Marathons (21.097kms) to the Elite Runners at the big-league doing the Full Marathon (42.195kms). Spectators, Volunteers cheered on each other, never a moment of lull as we passed the various kiosks, groups who stood by in support. It was a day forever etched in my memory.
I boarded the media bus, which took off as soon as the Elite Run for the Full Marathon of 42.195 kms was flagged off. There was an instant rush of adrenaline to witness these professional sprinters in action. The spectators went into an overdrive, shouting and rooting for the foreign participants as much as they cheered the Indian Sprinters. Across the various iconic locations of Mumbai from South of Mumbai onto the Bandra Worli Sea link to the Bandra Toll Naka and back, the follow up to the action was simply amazing. The rising Sun just added more charm to this momentous occasion which felt almost surreal. Holding on the memory I can easily say this was an inspiring and eventful day.
On return, I chanced upon a few Senior citizens huddled together with their faces flushed with the excitement of the run. I also met with Prakash Borgaonkar, Head Maharashtra & Goa with Helpage India which has been the institution partner for the Senior Citizen run at the Tata Mumbai Marathon “The enthusiasm and excitement among the Senior Citizens has been high as the race returns after 2 years. This year 1262 senior citizens are registered out of which 54% are male and 45% are female. The Senior most registered is 91-year-old female and 89-year-old male. Besides these 375 elderlies were registered for the online run”. He continued ” This Marathon is not just a running event for the Senior Citizens but to showcase active ageing”. However, some health precaution and guidelines were adviced by celebrity fitness coach Mickey Mehta who was also present at the Helpage India centre set up at the run.
The records tumbled at the Marathon race as the Ethiopian duo of Hayle Lemi and Anchalem Haymanot won with new course records to take home USD 45,000 winner’s prize and a course record bonus of USD 15,000 each.
The women started their race at a fast pace and there was a keen tussle between five Ethiopian runners at the midway stage. Worknesh Alemu, the 2019 champion here, drew from her past experience on the course to take the lead at that point. However, Haymanot, a marathon debutant, broke away from Alemu. Rahma Tusa, two times Rome Marathon winner, and 2022 Sydney marathon runner-up Letebrhan Haylay ran shoulder-to-shoulder with her. “Running along with these two experienced runners with fast timings to their credit was really a challenge, but I gained much experience from them,” Haymanot revealed during a post-race press conference.
Olympian Gopi, the first Indian male to win the Asian Marathon Championship in 2017, clocked 2:16:41 to finish on top of the domestic Elites and 10th overall in the 18th edition of the USD 405,000 prize fund World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.
All eyes were on Gopi who was returning to competition after three years following knee surgery and the Army runner didn’t disappoint as he clocked 2:16:41, and was followed by Man Singh, who was 17 seconds behind, and Kalidas Hirave.
Gopi fell short of the upcoming Asian Games cut-off of 2:15 but said the win in India’s largest marathon gave him a tremendous boost. “It felt good to be back after three years. I maintained a good pace for the first 30-odd kilometres but slowed down towards the end,” the Army runner told a news conference. “I never give up,” added Gopi, who previously won in 2018. The 2020 winner Srinu Bugatha finished fifth in 2:23:05.
Bhopal’s Chavi said she was running the classic distance for the first time. “I didn’t run more than 25 km even in training,” she told a news conference. Arati Patil finished second, over 10 minutes behind, and Renu Singh was third.
The Elite Indian podium finishers were richer by INR 500,000, 400,000 & 300,000 respectively.
Meanwhile, Parul Chaudhary bettered her course mark in the women’s half marathon and Murli Gavit won the men’s crown. The podium finishers took home INR 100,000, 75,000 & 60,000 respectively.
These were the results at the Marathon.
MARATHON ELITE MALE
| RANK | NAME | COUNTRY | TIME |
| 1 | HAYLE LEMI | Ethiopia | 02:07:32 |
| 2 | PHILEMON RONO | Kenya | 02:08:44 |
| 3 | HAILU ZEWDU | Ethiopia | 02:10:23 |
| 4 | ABDELA GODANA | Ethiopia | 02:11:31 |
| 5 | OKUBAY TSEGAY | Eritrea | 02:11:49 |
| 6 | AYCHEW BANTIE | Ethiopia | 02:11:53 |
| 7 | ABIDA EZAMZAMI | Morocco | 02:12:36 |
| 8 | MASRESHA BERE | Ethiopia | 02:14:56 |
| 9 | JOHN LANGAT | Kenya | 02:16:08 |
| 10 | GOPI THONAKKAL | India | 02:16:41 |
MARATHON ELITE MALE INDIAN
| RANK | NAME | TIME |
| 1 | GOPI THONAKKAL | 02:16:41 |
| 2 | MAN SINGH | 02:16:58 |
| 3 | KALIDAS HIRAVE | 02:19:54 |
| 4 | ANISH THAPA | 02:22:00 |
| 5 | SRINU BUGATHA | 02:23:05 |
| 6 | PANKAJ DHAKA | 02:28:08 |
MARATHON ELITE WOMEN
| RANK | NAME | COUNTRY | TIME |
| 1 | ANCHALEM HAYMANOT | Ethiopia | 02:24:15 |
| 2 | RAHMA TUSA | Ethiopia | 02:24:22 |
| 3 | LETEBRHAN HAYLAY | Ethiopia | 02:24:52 |
| 4 | LEMENEH KASU BITEW | Ethiopia | 02:28:43 |
| 5 | SIFAN MELAKU | Ethiopia | 02:29:22 |
| 6 | WORKNESH ALEMU | Ethiopia | 02:30:45 |
| 7 | KUMESHI SICHALA | Ethiopia | 02:31:00 |
| 8 | AYANTU KUMELA | Ethiopia | 02:31:11 |
| 9 | SHARON CHEROP | Kenya | 02:31:30 |
| 10 | ADANECH ANBESA | Ethiopia | 02:33:01 |
MARATHON ELITE WOMEN INDIAN
| RANK | NAME | TIME |
| 12 | CHAVI YADAV | 02:50:35 |
| 13 | ARATI PATIL | 03:00:44 |
| 14 | RENU SINGH | 03:01:11 |
| 15 | JIGMET DOLMA | 03:03:31 |
HALF MARATHON MEN:
| RANK | NAME | TIME |
| 1 | MURLI GAVIT | 01:05:20 |
| 2 | ANKIT DESHWAL | 01:05:48 |
| 3 | DEEPAK KUMBHAR | 01:05:51 |
HALF MARATHON WOMEN:
| RANK | NAME | TIME |
| 1 | PARUL CHAUDHARY | 01:15:07 |
| 2 | NANDINI GUPTA | 01:24:12 |
| 3 | POONAM SOUNE | 01:24:59 |
Imagica Run In Costume Winners:
Expressive Us (Group Category):
Second runner up: Suryoday Trust
First runner up: Shah Group
Winner: Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care
Expressive Me (Individual)
Second runner up: Capt. Suresh Rajani
First runner up: Peeyush Jain
Winner: Akshay D. Jadhav
OPEN 10K
| RANK | NAME | COUNTRY | TIME |
| 15 to 24 yrs Female | |||
| 1 | AMRITA PATEL | India | 00:38:13 |
| 2 | SHITAL JADHAV | India | 00:43:10 |
| 3 | AMRUTA GAIKWAD | India | 00:43:49 |
| 25 to 34 yrs Female | |||
| 1 | RESHMA GOUD | India | 00:46:09 |
| 2 | JYOTI THAKRE | India | 00:47:53 |
| 3 | MAYANKA SHARMA | India | 00:54:24 |
| 35 to 44 yrs Female | |||
| 1 | SAYURI DALVI | India | 00:46:13 |
| 2 | AYESHA VIJAY MANSUKHANI | India | 00:47:56 |
| 3 | LAXMI JHA | India | 00:48:15 |
| 45 to 54 yrs Female | |||
| 1 | DR INDU TANDON | India | 00:46:36 |
| 2 | JAYA NATHANI | India | 00:53:42 |
| 3 | GARIMA DHAMIJA | India | 00:54:48 |
| 55 to 64 yrs Female | |||
| 1 | KHURSHID MISTRY | India | 00:54:18 |
| 2 | HEMA HIRO VASWANI | India | 00:59:07 |
| 3 | ARATI GAIKWAD | India | 01:00:18 |
| 65 yrs & Above Female | |||
| 1 | MANDODARI CHANDRA | India | 01:07:38 |
| 2 | NANDINI JAISINGH | India | 01:14:49 |
| 3 | SUJATA KAMATH | India | 01:51:38 |
| RANK | NAME | COUNTRY | TIME |
| 15 to 24 yrs Male | |||
| 1 | KAMAL KUMAR | India | 00:31:45 |
| 2 | KARAN SHARMA | India | 00:31:50 |
| 3 | VISHNU LAVHALE | India | 00:33:37 |
| 25 to 34 yrs Male | |||
| 1 | AMIT MALI | India | 00:32:33 |
| 2 | SUMIT MORE | India | 00:34:06 |
| 3 | SHASHI DIWAKAR | India | 00:34:54 |
| 35 to 44 yrs Male | |||
| 1 | RAKESH KUMAR | India | 00:42:11 |
| 2 | HIROAKI FUKUZAWA | Japan | 00:45:02 |
| 3 | MAYURESH MANJRE | India | 00:45:45 |
| 45 to 54 yrs Male | |||
| 1 | KAPIL ARORA | India | 00:47:05 |
| 2 | NIKHIL BHANDARE | India | 00:47:13 |
| 3 | DEVANG ZAVERI | India | 00:48:49 |
| 55 to 64 yrs Male | |||
| 1 | DINESH RAI | India | 00:49:37 |
| 2 | SETHURAMALINGAM TYAGARAJAN | India | 00:49:45 |
| 3 | RAJEEV MEHROTRA | India | 00:52:11 |
| 65 yrs & Above Male | |||
| 1 | SUPADU PATIL | India | 01:05:24 |
| 2 | RAMACHANDRA RAO | India | 01:08:03 |
| 3 | GAUTAM MUDBHATKAL | India | 01:13:25 |
HALF MARATHON AGE CATEGORIES
| RANK | NAME | COUNTRY | AWARD TIME |
| 18 to 24 yrs Female | |||
| 1 | POONAM SONUNE | India | 01:24:56 |
| 2 | TASHI LADOL | India | 01:25:22 |
| 3 | STANZIN CHONDOL | India | 01:26:14 |
| 25 to 29 yrs Female | |||
| 1 | PARUL CHAUDHARY | India | 01:15:03 |
| 2 | NANDINI GUPTA | India | 01:24:09 |
| 3 | VADDE NAVYA | India | 01:28:05 |
| 30 to 34 yrs Female | |||
| 1 | VRINDA BHANDARI | India | 01:39:44 |
| 2 | NIVEDITA CHOPRA | India | 01:49:41 |
| 3 | SHRUTHI JAIN | India | 01:52:42 |
| 35 to 39 yrs Female | |||
| 1 | SWARA AHLUWALIA | India | 01:38:21 |
| 2 | ANCHAL MARWAH | India | 01:43:59 |
| 3 | SNEHA SHAH | India | 01:44:51 |
| 40 to 44 yrs Female | |||
| 1 | CICILY THOMAS | India | 01:38:38 |
| 2 | REKHA RAWAT | India | 01:39:19 |
| 3 | VAISHALI GARAG | India | 01:44:26 |
| 45 to 49 yrs Female | |||
| 1 | KAVITHA REDDY | India | 01:31:49 |
| 2 | KETAKI SATHE | India | 01:39:54 |
| 3 | PRASANNAPRIYA REDDY | India | 01:47:14 |
| 50 to 54 yrs Female | |||
| 1 | SHILPA PHADKE | India | 01:48:04 |
| 2 | NEELA PANCHPOR | India | 01:51:58 |
| 3 | DR VANDANA S CHANDRAN | India | 01:52:10 |
| 55 to 59 yrs Female | |||
| 1 | JYOTI PROVA DUTTA KHANIKAR | India | 01:54:46 |
| 2 | BIMLA BANWALA | India | 02:00:10 |
| 3 | GAYATRI ANNAPANTULA | India | 02:09:04 |
| 60 to 64 yrs Female | |||
| 1 | SMITA PATIL | India | 02:08:08 |
| 2 | CHRISTINE SALDANHA | India | 02:30:00 |
| 3 | KAVITA GHATGE | India | 02:37:45 |
| 65 to 69 yrs Female | |||
| 1 | PERVIN BATLIWALA | India | 02:08:21 |
| 2 | ELSIE NANJI | India | 02:15:46 |
| 3 | KISHORI KUDECHA | India | 02:44:04 |
| 70 yrs & Above Female | |||
| 1 | MEERA PAREKH | India | 03:06:39 |
| 18 to 24 yrs Male | |||
| 1 | ANKIT DESHWAL | India | 01:05:45 |
| 2 | MOHAN SAINI | India | 01:07:36 |
| 3 | RAJ TIWARI | India | 01:09:00 |
| 25 to 29 yrs Male | |||
| 1 | MURLI GAVIT | India | 01:05:16 |
| 2 | ANURAG KONKAR | India | 01:10:06 |
| 3 | RAMAVATH RAMESH CHANDRA | India | 01:10:39 |
| 30 to 34 yrs Male | |||
| 1 | ISHAN SHARMA | India | 01:12:08 |
| 2 | NARESH RAWAT | India | 01:18:07 |
| 3 | SHAILESH MAURYA | India | 01:24:10 |
| 35 to 39 yrs Male | |||
| 1 | DIPAK KUMBHAR | India | 01:05:48 |
| 2 | MALIKARJUN PARDE | India | 01:17:16 |
| 3 | KAMLYA BHAGAT | India | 01:18:37 |
| 40 to 44 yrs Male | |||
| 1 | JAIOAL BHOYAR | India | 01:17:23 |
| 2 | SUNIL SHIVANE | India | 01:19:33 |
| 3 | SAHADAT ALI | India | 01:22:11 |
| 45 to 49 yrs Male | |||
| 1 | SANJAY DASILA | India | 01:22:24 |
| 2 | SURESH KUMAR | India | 01:23:44 |
| 3 | MAJOR SURENDRA PUNIA | India | 01:26:54 |
| 50 to 54 yrs Male | |||
| 1 | MD WAHAB KHAN | Bangladesh | 01:25:46 |
| 2 | MOHAMED IDRIS | India | 01:31:37 |
| 3 | KAMAL THAPA | India | 01:31:44 |
| 55 to 59 yrs Male | |||
| 1 | DINESH KUMAR | India | 01:24:20 |
| 2 | MUKESH RANA | India | 01:28:40 |
| 3 | SURESH CHANDER SHARMA SHARMA | India | 01:32:27 |
| 60 to 64 yrs Male | |||
| 1 | THOMAS PC | India | 01:29:34 |
| 2 | PANDURANG CHOUGULE | India | 01:30:01 |
| 3 | BHUPENDRA KUMAR HARDEL | India | 01:33:56 |
| 65 to 69 yrs Male | |||
| 1 | YOGENDRA PRATAP YADAV | India | 01:27:38 |
| 2 | GULJARI LAL CHANDRA | India | 01:36:23 |
| 3 | RAVEENDRAN MADAYI | India | 01:41:26 |
| 70 yrs & Above Male | |||
| 1 | SELVARAJ CHICKIAH | India | 01:48:21 |
| 2 | DAMODAR PRASAD SHARMA | India | 01:55:14 |
| 3 | BHASKER DESAI | India | 01:55:14 |
LIFESTYLES OF MUMBAI 