Planning and executing the Bengaluru Marathon

Start of the Bengaluru Marathon

Panning the Bengaluru Marathon

Shriram Properties Bengaluru Marathon was a great learning experience from many aspects – What happens in the background? Who are the local authorities involved? How do you create a route which is exactly the Full/ Half and 5K distance while keeping in mind all the limitations set out by the local authorities? How do you build credibility among sponsors for a maiden event which is meant to be such a mammoth?

Speaking to them – convincing them of the value that is being brought on board for them by being part of this event, planning the venue – keeping in mind the requirements of all the runners, driving the registrations, keeping everyone – their wants, needs and demands, satisfied and trying to keep a cool head and a smile on your face while doing so and implementing the vision on ground.

They say that real incomparable bonds are formed when you go through tough and demanding experiences with people and time and again I have experienced this to be true. It’s hard to pin point and say exactly when our marathon started, was it with the training and promotional runs or was it when we sat down with the cops to discuss the route – I am unsure but what I am sure of is that it was an ultra of sorts and the bonds created have just made us all closer to each other.

Main team members

Let me introduce you to the main players that were instrumental in making this event happen – Everyone knows Nagaraj Adiga, fondly known as The Godfather, a visionary and the man who conceived the idea of a Bangalore run over two years ago.

That’s right! The planning and vision of this event started two years ago. Along the way he identified and chose people who he wanted to work with closely and who he believed would be able to deliver and execute his vision on the ground.

A lady who needs no introduction, the event ambassador and the face of Bengaluru Marathon – Arjuna Awardee, international athlete and a very loved coach, Reeth Abraham. Mitesh Chandan, a consultant who has considerable experience in co-ordinating big Banner events, RFL (Runners for Life) a team that needs no introduction and one which has spearheaded running from its nascent stages 9 years back in Bangalore. Dharma (Dharmendra Kumar), an ultramarathoner, a wonderful person and an extremely adept individual who has the patience levels of a saint.

Ankush Sharma, a serious cyclist, charmer extraordinaire and another calm-headed and peaceful individual. Ravi Venkatesan, extremely adept and organised person who took on the sole responsibility of the 5K Charity fun run, Team You too can run who co-ordinated registrations and constant updates, emailers and interactions with the registered participants. Umesh Poojary, who was the silent behind the scenes pillar of support that we all could lean on without thinking twice. And well, me – TimTim Sharma – tough job to describe myself but universally, feisty and assertive maybe the way to go.

The experience has truly been indescribable and it is tough to put down in words all of it, but as always I will try. If the Bengaluru Marathon tagline for the runners is “live to run”, that of the organisers should be “Chalo marathon karenge, mazaa aayega!”.

Having fun with hard work

And simple as that, all the hard work, sweat and toil that went into the making of this event was mixed with equal amounts of love and fun. For the last three months or so, the scene was standard – wake up, finish with rehab session and then walk into Nagaraj Adiga’s house on Richmond Road, which was also the functional office of Bengaluru Marathon.

Once in, time would just fly by and aise hi mazaa karte karte, it would be way past rush hour traffic before we would all head back home. It was imperative that we all sit and spend sometime together – simply because all the kickass ideas that made the marathon what it is, came this way – all of us sitting, having a random discussion, idea pops up, set the wheels in motion and tada!

Before you know it, it’s a reality. And bit by bit, painstakingly and carefully, this labour of love was visualised. The broad vision was in place and as time flew, the team got more in-sync and the smaller details started falling in place.

Whether it was reaching out to the Certified Course Measurer in Indonesia or getting the flow of race day in place, this was a concerted effort and although broad classifications of responsibilities were provided to each one, every person in the team had an input for final race day.

Before we knew it, it was the week before the race. All bags were packed and we officially moved into our Richmond Road office. The final days in the lead up to race day were only a chunk of madness – fun madness.

Taking all details into account

There were so many major and minor details to be looked into that there was hardly any time to breathe. We would wake up early in the day, discuss each one’s agenda for and post 9 everyone would be busy with their own thing to do. Before we knew it, we would all huddle together over dinner to swap our stories and spend the next few hours exchanging notes as a team. The one thing that saved us through the entire week was a sense of humor. And the fact that each of us would complement the other when it was required.

There are so many elements to put together that trying to put them all down here would be a grave injustice – co-ordination, the word seems too simple – but when you take an event and magnify it to the extent of a Shriram Properties Bengaluru Marathon, co-ordination becomes an all-different animal.

Dealing with stress

I think for me a defining moment was the Friday before the event – when my laptop decided to pack up. Not the most opportune moment for it to say good bye to me but that was the card that I was dealt with.

As stressful as the situation was, and as many things as there were in the pipeline, I decided not to be too harsh on myself and do it to the best of my ability. In every event, there is a defining moment when you decide – this is it – I am as prepared as I can be for it and let’s stop stressing and enjoy the event – my laptop crashing was that moment for me.

Before we knew it, the Expo was over, and it was only a few hours before the event. We went back to Richmond Road to freshen up at 3am – had a quick shower and did an even quicker huddle.

Inrpiration prior to the race

This is when Nagaraj gave us the final words of wisdom before we all went our ways for the rest of the day – “Guys, its race day! We have worked hard for this day. Don’t worry about people – some will be happy, some not so much – In an event of this magnitude, being held for the first time, things are bound to go wrong. We will not be affected by what people say because we know that we have put in our best for this event – Its race day! It’s our event, let’s go have some fun!!

And just like that, all of us grabbed our walkies and got into our positions around the stadium. Its race day! GAME FACE ON!!! As the runners started pouring into the holding area, there was a rush of excitement.

The adrenaline surged in. As I saw the sea of runners all lined up ready to run their maiden edition of Shriram Properties Bengaluru Marathon, it was suddenly all worth it – the sleepless nights, the stressful conversations, the tempers flaring – damn! It felt good to be alive.

And just like that, the hours flew by, first the Full, then the Half, then the 5k. The dignitaries, the VIPs, the media – it was a constant barrage of ensuring that things were smooth. Before we knew it, the finishers started pouring in. Then they moved in for breakfast, we had the prize distribution and soon it was all over. All the people left and then it was time to pack up and clear the area before we left for the day.

How was the event? Well, all I can say is that its over. Something’s went as per plan, some didn’t – it happens, no big deal! Huge learning experience for the entire team. Next year will definitely be bigger, better and more fun – but one thing is for sure: Marathon kiya – Mazaa aa gaya!