A pair of running shoes is the most important piece of gear
you’ll need to train for a marathon. The shoe needs to be flexible with a
grippy outsole, lightweight and breathable
If you're a new
runner or planning to run your first marathon, you may be wondering about how
to prepare and where to start. Be aware of certain dos and don’ts before your
first 5K
Rakesh Kumar
Kashyap from Panchkula started running at the age of 46 to offset his craving
for sweets. He preferred to control it by running rather than leaving sweets.
With no background in sports or a very active lifestyle, Kashyap started with a
few kilometers per day. Today, he has moved on from marathons to ultra-marathon
(an ultramarathon, is any footrace longer than the traditional marathon length
of 42 kilometers) and is just back from the tough Leh marathon. And is already
preparing to participate in Sparthalon in Greece, a 246-kilometre ultramarathon
race which is the world's most grueling race across rough tracks, muddy paths,
and steep hillsides. Just to be eligible for this race, he had to finish 160 km
within 21 hours.
Sharing his story,
Kashyap reveals that – “It’s all about practice. 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.” He feels that community events and group training help in upping your
goals. Discipline in lifestyle and food are a must. He usually takes a lot of
protein, sprout, milk, egg, juice etc. as there is constant muscle pull, wear
and tear while running such long races. A minimum of six-hour sleep is
mandatory as the body needs proper rest before any such intense activity and
marathoners like him have a 9 am to 3 am sleep cycle.
Ask him what his
feeling is after completing an ultra-marathon and he says the instinct is
always ‘now never ever again.” But when the body rests and recovers in two
days, the zeal to run comes back.
Why Run
The running boom
came in India because people in their 40s started running in early 2000. Meet
Coach Ravinder, a marathoner, fitness coach, mentor who organizes most running
events in Delhi NCR region. He says, “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. Running gives you "me-time". Besides, 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. Our tagline is 'Beat Yesterday'.
Running brings a sense of equality as well as a sense of community.”
How should one
prepare for training? Says Coach – “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.” As for the charges, fitness experts may charge
anything from Rs 3,000-5000 per person per month for thrice a week group class.
But if it's personal training it can be anything from Rs 500- Rs 5,000 per
hour.
He suggests the
best way to start running is to add some running in your walk “just like you
add salt to wheat flour... it should be done organically.” He suggests a
beginner to join a group class as that helps in keeping you motivated. But the
most difficult part is getting up early in the morning and getting out of the
bed – those who can accomplish that, then fifty percent of the job is done.
Get Your Gear Right
If you're a new
runner and wondering where to start, the good thing is running is a
low-maintenance sport—what you need is just running shoes, running clothes,
supportive sports bra and running-specific socks. You don’t need anything
fancy. E.g. no need to buy the most expensive pair of shoes in the store but
investing in a good pair is a smart idea that will help prevent injuries and
make for more comfortable runs. Avoid wearing 100 percent cotton socks as a
runner. If you wear cotton socks, the moisture won't get wicked away if your
feet sweat. Apply the “no cotton” rule to all your gear and opt for a synthetic
blend dry fit or quick dry attire.
Heavy layers, worn
out shoes are a big no-no. Ditto for brand new gear on the day of your
marathon. Race day is not the time to experiment with a new pair of running
shoes, running shorts, or a new sports bra. You should be trying out new
clothes and shoes during your training runs and then stick with your
tried-and-true favorites that you know are comfortable.
What’s trending at
e-commerce channels. Amazon.in has a large selection of these categories
available from both domestic and international brands. According to Saurabh
Srivastava, Director & Head, Amazon Fashion India – “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. 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.”
Top Marathon Events
You can start by
enrolling yourself to your neighborhood community of runners and then
gradually start participating in marathon events. Most of these are conducted
in various categories such as marathon (42kms), half Marathon (21kms), 10 km,
and the 5km fun-walk-or-run. Some of the most popular Marathon events in India
include the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, now called Vedanta Delhi Half
Marathon; TCS Bangalore 10K, Tata Mumbai Marathon, Tata Steel Kolkata Marathon,
NMDC Hyderabad Marathon, Satara Hills Half Marathon. Some marathons are held on
beautiful terrain such as the Goa River Marathon alongside the picturesque
Zurai River. The Kaveri Trail Marathon (KTM) known for its scenic beauty starts
near the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary and follows the flow of river Cauvery.
Then there are theme-based events such as Pinkathon founded by Milind Soman to
encourage women’s health and fitness. And there are tough terrain marathons
such as Run the Rann, which is literally about ‘running through the desert’
where runners go through the white desert of Kutch often spotting wildlife
along their way. The Ladakh Marathon held in the town of Leh is one of the
toughest marathons in India. It is held at 3,500 m above the sea level and so,
it requires you to reach Leh at least a week before the race to get
acclimatized with the weather.
Recently the ninth
edition of the 72-kilometer-long Himalayan Khardung La Challenge, the world’s
highest Ultra Marathon, ended on September 9, also celebrated as Himalayan Day.
The Marathon was run on the route from Khardung village and back to Leh City
with nearly 200 participants. Speaking on the success of the Himalayan Ladakh
Marathon, Chewang Motup Goba, Founder & Race Director, Ladakh Marathon
said, “The Khardung La Marathon has seen tremendous success this year, thanks
to the collective support of brand Himalayan, police, volunteers, military
forces, and healthcare professionals. The 9th edition of the Khardung La
challenge after the pandemic this year is brimming with renewed energy, vigour
and the overwhelming response we have received has surpassed our expectations.”
Finally, a marathon
is not about just running but overcoming your limitations. You're running on
guts. On fumes. Your muscles twitch. You throw up. But 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, to renew faith, and
to become one's own person, utterly and completely.
Having the right marathon gear can make a huge difference to
your performance and comfort level when you’re tackling a long race. The best
marathon gear is well-fitted, comfortable, breathable, and high-quality
|
Product |
Brands |
Price
Range |
|
Running Shoes |
Adidas, Nike |
1,499-15,499 |
|
Running T shirt |
Puma, Reebok |
500-5,850 |
|
Running Shorts |
Nike, Adidas |
1,549-15,805 |
|
Running Pants |
Van Heusen, Generic,
Nike |
440-14,000 |
|
Sports Bra |
Van Heusen, Jockey |
499-3,999 |
|
Best Handheld Water Bottle
|
Tego, Nathan |
1,500- 9,000 |
|
Post-run massage tools, |
Yesindeed, Lifelong |
900-7,000 |
|
Best 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
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