Apollo Tyres-New Delhi Marathon- Race Report

Date: 23 Feb 2025
Start time: 4:15 AM
Start point: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
Elevation: 18 m ascent, flat as a dosa

Pre-Race
Like the marathon course itself—flat as a dosa—my pre-race rituals in Delhi are predictable but essential. At the heart of this tradition is my deep love for Delhi’s food, particularly Chole Bhature. Stephen, my running buddy, and I traveled from Pune and arrived in Delhi on Friday. We headed straight to Haldiram’s without wasting time for some indulgence. There’s just something about the combination of fluffy bhature and spicy chole that makes me feel race-ready! If running fuels my passion, then Delhi’s food fuels my soul. After that, I went to the expo.

Expo
The expo was basic, featuring fewer brands than the Tata Mumbai Marathon, and there were no significant discounts. Given that it’s the end of the marathon season in India, one wonders if brands are experiencing expo fatigue.

Some young social media creators were present, engaging runners with hashtags like #WeListen and #WeDontJudge. We even played along #Don!

Saturday was time to rest, relax and get the carbs. I spent some quality time with Kapil Nakra at Under the Neem– Karma Lakelands- Gurgaon. Lunch was – Daal Makhani, Mixed Vegetables and Laccha Paratha- I still smell the aroma of the daal and crunch of the paratha.

---

Race Day
The weather was perfect at 12°C, with a crisp nip in the air that practically screamed, “Go run!”

Venue and Holding Area
The race venue, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLN), was easily accessible via gates 13 and 14, with baggage drop facilities at each gate. The holding area provided runners with hydration and fruits.

The Route
The New Delhi Marathon offers a unique experience with its two-loop 21K course for the marathon. Some key features of the route:

1. Charm and Vibe of Lutyens’ Delhi: Passing through Lodhi Road, Lodhi Gardens, India Habitat Centre, and other iconic landmarks steeped in history. Lodhi Road, in particular, is a treat for runners with its canopy of old trees, vibrant street art, and peaceful surroundings, making it one of the most scenic stretches of the race.
2. Wide Roads: Plenty of space to run without congestion.
3. National Pride: Running past India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhawan adds a unique sense of grandeur. However, the route did not include the India Gate loop in this edition.
4. Flat as a Dosa: The entire course is pancake flat, making it an excellent choice for fast times.
5. Historical and Cultural Significance: The marathon route winds through some of Delhi’s most historically significant areas, allowing runners to experience a blend of colonial architecture, modern infrastructure, and heritage sites.
6. Scenic Beauty: Early morning runners get to witness Delhi waking up, with soft sunlight illuminating its grand monuments and tree-lined avenues.
7. Blooming Season: February is a spectacular time to run in Delhi, as flowers are in full bloom along many parts of the route, especially in Lutyens’ Delhi, adding vibrant color and a refreshing fragrance to the race experience.

Do not miss this landmark

Around the 1K mark from the start (and the finish), there is a Jain Mandir. The road near the temple is not asphalt but cobblestone, stretching about 20 meters. It serves as a unique reminder for runners that the finish line is near so Go for it!

Hydration Support
Hydration was excellent, with well-stocked stations almost every kilometer, offering water, electrolytes, and rock salt. Gels were available at 18K and 36K.

Start
The race started three minutes late (4:18 AM instead of 4:15 AM). A small delay, but curious if the organizers had a specific reason for it? Perhaps something to address in future editions to ensure a smoother start.

---

My Run
Woke up at 2:00 AM, had coffee and a chocolate brownie for breakfast. As I got ready, I also had a Maurten Gel and a banana. Reached the venue by 3:20 AM, did some strides and the usual stretching as part of my warm-up.

The Race:First 10K: Lodhi Road, dark streets, a couple of U-turns. This section had minimal spectators, and the streetlights provided just enough visibility. The roads were mostly smooth, but a few patches required extra attention. Covered this segment in 48:19 (4:50/km pace). My heart rate hovered around 78-82% of max HR, indicating a strong and controlled start. Stride length was 1.18m with a cadence of 175 spm, showing a well-balanced rhythm.

10K to Halfway Mark: Running through the power corridor past Kartavya Path and Rashtrapati Bhawan was a surreal experience. The grandeur of these structures, especially in the pre-dawn hours, added a sense of national pride. The absence of the India Gate loop this year meant a slightly different course feel. Reached the halfway mark in 1:43:59 (5:04/km pace). Heart rate remained steady at 79-81% of max HR, showing efficient pacing and endurance.

21K to 32K: This was the second of the two loops, bringing us back to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLN) and onto Lodhi Road again. The familiarity of the route helped with pacing, but fatigue was beginning to set in. I was on track for Plan A (3:30 finish) until 25K, holding a steady 4:55-5:04/km pace. However, when the 21K elites crossed me, a marshal on a bike and a car startled me with honking and shouting to clear the way. In my rush to move aside, I jumped awkwardly and pulled a hamstring muscle. Switched to Plan F—Finish the race. Crossed 32K in 2:43:42 (5:26/km pace). My heart rate had started creeping up to 81%+. The impact of the hamstring injury became evident as my stride length dropped to 1.05m and cadence fell slightly to 175 spm.

32K to 42K: The last 10K was a test of endurance and resilience. With the hamstring issue, my pace dropped further to 5:50/km, finishing the marathon in 3:42:04. The roads in this stretch had fewer distractions, and the crowd support, though sparse, helped push through. Heart rate peaked at 84% of max HR. The injury further affected my stride length, reducing it to 0.99m, while cadence dipped to 173 spm, reflecting the increasing fatigue and discomfort.

At the finish line, I was feeling absolutely miserable. The cramps and hamstring pull had taken a serious toll on me, and I could barely stand. Just when I thought the post-race agony would linger for hours, my friend Ar. Ashish Chakravarty, who had run the half marathon, stepped in with his deep tissue massage magic.

Within 15 minutes, the pain started to subside, and I felt significantly better. His expertise was a lifesaver after such a grueling experience.

Onwards!

Then, it was time for some electrolytes with Dr. Ashish and Kapil (We were the first ones in the restaurant ) 🍺🍻

---

Epilogue: Hawa Ka Rukh Badal Raha Hai.

My marathon journey has been anything but linear. It has been a rollercoaster of highs, lows, lessons, and moments of reckoning. Each race tells a story—not just of the finish time but of my evolution as a runner. Looking back at the past few years, I can sense a shift. Better days are ahead.

The New Delhi Marathon (NDM) 2025 finish at 3:42:04 marks a comeback after the challenges of the past year. Compared to Hyderabad 2024 (4:28:20), where conditions and strategy might not have aligned, there’s a clear improvement—both in pacing and execution. Hyderabad, however, was a particularly tough race for me. I struggled with bloating and gastrointestinal issues, which made it difficult to maintain pace and fully engage in the race. Despite these setbacks, I pushed through.

Rewinding further, London 2024 (3:58:19) and Valencia 2023 (3:55:43) were among the toughest races I have run—not just physically, but mentally. Both events were extremely cold, and I found myself battling near hypothermic conditions, which made pacing and endurance even more challenging. Despite these conditions, I pushed through and finished, gaining valuable experience on handling extreme weather.

Looking back at Ahmedabad 2022 PR (3:30:08) and Jaipur 2022 (3:32:43), those were my breakthrough performances. The times I achieved then were a testament to my peak form, showing that speed was always within reach. While the journey since then has seen fluctuations, my most recent NDM 2025 result suggests I am finding my way back to that level of performance.

Over the past decade, from TMM 2018 (3:45:01) to Goa 2017 (3:54:00), Hyderabad 2017’s 25th-place finish (3:46:14), and even as far back as SCMM 2017, each race has been a step forward, a lesson learned, and a milestone achieved. The road never felt like an enemy even on my toughest days—whether TMM 2019 or Hyderabad 2024. It has always been my companion, pushing me forward.