The running life: How to take up marathon without breaking into a sweat

The gear, the training and the lifestyle you need to take this toughest of physical challenges

Rakesh Kumar Kashyap, 46, just had to soothe his sweet craving, so he started running. After seven years, Kashyap can do an ultra-marathon, which is any footrace longer than the traditional marathon of 42 km.

“It’s all about practise but 80 percent of the battle is won by a strong mind rather than a strong body. Sometimes there is pain in some part of your body, and you are feeling tired, but it’s the mind which eggs you on,” said Kashyap, who lives in Panchkula city of Haryana and runs a construction business. He is preparing for Sparthalon, a 246-kilometre ultramarathon in Greece that runs through muddy tracks and steep hillsides. To be eligible for Sparthalon, he first had to run 160 km within 21 hours.

After finishing an ultra-marathon, his instinct every time is "never ever again” but in two days he is running again. 

Why run

India’s running boom came early 2000 when people in their forties set gruelling fitness targets for themselves. “You know the mid-life crisis. The average age of a person doing a marathon is 40 years because there is struggle in professional life, one starts losing health and people keep looking for avenues to vent out their frustration,” said Ravinder Singh, a marathoner and fitness coach who organises running events in Delhi-NCR. 

"Running is an inclusive activity—it doesn’t differentiate between a CEO and a Class 4 employee. From the start line till the finish line, everyone is the same and running and cheering each other. And yet, it’s an individual activity as you are not competing with anyone except yourself,” he said.

The best way to begin is to rise early and run a bit during your daily walk--“just like you add salt to wheat flour.” Ravinder suggested beginners join a group. “Be prepared to train 3-4 times in a week. The idea is to run, recover, rest, and run. In each session, there is 30 minutes of intensive activity with warm up in the beginning and brisk walking plus cool down in the end.”

"You can’t go straight in to a marathon", said Kavitha Reddy, a 44-year-old headhunter and runner in Hyderabad. “Build up your weekly mileage slowly, increasing by no more than a couple of kilometres or 5-10% per week. If you build it too fast, you may risk injury.”

Fitness experts may charge between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 per person per month for thrice a week group class. Personal training can cost between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000 per hour. 

Kashyap has changed his lifestyle for running. He takes a lot of protein, sprout, milk, egg, and fruit juices. As the body needs rest for intense activity, marathoners like him sleep well.

Get your gear right

Running is low-maintenance: you need not buy the most expensive shoes but invest in a comfortable pair. Don’t wear pure cotton socks and clothes, for the fabric absorbs moisture.

Marathon day is not the time to experiment with a new pair of shoes, shorts, or bra. You should be trying out new clothes and shoes during your training runs and then stick with your tried-and-true favourites.

Amazon.in has a large selection of running gear. “Running, athleisure and comfort footwear, such as sneakers, have found a special place in consumers' wardrobes. Millennials and Gen Zs make up the majority of the customer base for these categories and, in addition to their interest in fitness and working out, they are largely influenced by latest trends, social media preferences,” said Saurabh Srivastava, director and head, Amazon Fashion India.

"Customers from metro cities, as well as smaller tier 2/tier 3 cities, have been seen shopping for domestic and international brands in athleisure wear and sneakers. For fitness enthusiasts, we have popular brands like Adidas, Puma, Skechers, Nike and more, as well as high-end brands like Columbia, Bugatti, Saint G and more. We have products starting at Rs 200 and going up to Rs 10,000-20,000,” he said.

Top marathon events

Start with your neighbourhood runners and slowly scale up: 5 km fun-walk-or-run, 10 km, half marathon (21 km) and then the marathon (42 km). Some famous events in India include the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (previously known as the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon), TCS Bangalore 10K, Tata Mumbai Marathon, Tata Steel Kolkata Marathon, NMDC Hyderabad Marathon, and Satara Hills Half Marathon.

The Goa River Marathon runs alongside the picturesque Zurai River; the Kaveri Trail Marathon (KTM) starts near the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary and follows the River Cauvery. Pinkathon, founded by actor and model Milind Soman, promotes women’s health and fitness. Run the Rann goes through the white desert, where marathoners can spot wildlife. The Ladakh Marathon, one of the toughest in India, is held 3,500 metre above sea level and requires participants to reach Leh at least a week before the race to acclimatise to the thin mountain air.

The ninth edition of the 72-km Himalayan Khardung La Challenge, the world’s highest ultramarathon, ended on September 9, which is celebrated as Himalayan Day. The marathon from Khardung village and back to Leh City had nearly 200 participants and 155 of them finished the race. 

A marathon is about overcoming your limitations. You keep running because there is no way you're not crossing the finish line. The training asks you to forsake pleasures, to discipline the body, to find courage. 

 

Product	Brand	Price range (in Rs)
Running shoes	Adidas, Nike	1,499-15,499
T shirt	Puma, Reebok	500-5,850
Shorts	Nike, Adidas	1,549-15,805
Pants	Van Heusen, Generic, Nike	440-14,000
Sports Bra	Van Heusen, Jockey	499-3,999
Water Bottles	Tego, Nathan	1,500- 9,000
Post-run massage tools	Yesindeed, Lifelong	900-7,000
Foam roller	Strauss, Boldfit	700-2,100
Wrist bands	Strauss, HeadTurner	299-1,200
Running socks	Heelium, Darn Tough, Generic	800-3,000

 
Source: Market Research