I got an opportunity to read a review of the event from one of out fellow runners, and could not help sharing this with the readers here. I too expected something similar, but I guess this goes even beyond what I thought. The author below comes to the right conclusion – runs should be organized by runners, only. Here it goes then …
Dear Friends
One of the worst experience that i had in running is running in the Vadodara Marathon organized on 22nd Nov 09.
Lets start from the beginning
1) The registration was open till 13th of Nov mainly aimed at collecting registration fees and nothing else, those who registered were having no information where to collect their bibs and any other details, i received a lot of phone calls regarding the same.
The Race Day Chaos………
1) As mentioned on the leaflet, the parking facility was unavailable as mentioned on the information leaflet, there was parking just for the VVIPS as if they were the people who were going to run the Half Marathon.
2) The Entry time is 5:30, I enter the arena, all my friends also arrive an we are ready for the run, let me give one more point as discussed with rahul vargehese i was advised to carry my water bottle as there were just five water points mentioned in the leaflet.
3) The start time is 7:20 already late by any means and too late considering the climate of vadodara,
4) Its 7:20 and the Chief Guests arrive – The flying sikh Milkha Singh, The Pathan Brothers, Kapil Dev, Paresh Raval and above all the Cheif Minister of Gujarat- Narendra Modi.
5) Its 7:30 He starts to give a political speech which in no way is linked to the Marathon and its already 7:40, the sun has blossomed out and its beating down on me and my fellow runners, the wait has been too much 2:40 Minutes, after his speech he flags of the run at 7:40 AM
6) The starting point is blocked by the onlookers who have not come to run but watch the celebreties and have a hand shake with them,A Near stampede occurs , i get on to the road by 8:00 AM, starting the Marathon when it should be near to completion.
7) Runners are running into each other but we carry on till 8 Kms ,water is being served in plastic pouches which smell due to the heat
At 11 Kms i run into a nightmare, i see traffic coming from the opposite direction and the Half Marathon runners are finding their way from the traffic. I am Nearly knocked down by a motorcylcist coming from the opposite direction and in trying to save myself i Twist my left leg, I come to know that i have injured my self, but forgetting that i carry on.
9) At 15 Kms , i have already drank the water from by water bottle and the water bottle is empty after some fellow runners also ask for water as there was no water point where water was needed by the runners,I thought I would fill my water bottle at the 16th Kms Water Points as mentioned in the leaflet.
10) As I reach the water point, to my anguish there is no water at that water Point and i start to develop cramps due to the fluid loss, the sun is already beating down,my skin is burning and rashes are coming up .
11) At the 17th Kms point i find a Medical Point, thought would get a gentle massage on the calfs,but dejected as no one was there manning the medical point, i carry one and reach the vishwamitri bridge and there a good samaritan is distributing some water on his , with support from his wife.All the runners bless them and i have some water,not that much my body required at that period leaving something for my fellow runners also.
12) After 17Kms point no one is to be seen my Friend Kaushal start developing cramps due to the heat and fluid loss, i push him saying that we have already completed 17 and this tiring condition and it just 4 more to go to complete this marathon.
13) After 19th Kms it was really becoming unbearable there is no water intake and the fluid loss is having its effect on my calf muscle, the the mind says dear pull yourself just 2 Kms remaining.
14) And at last Me and My friend complete the Half Marathon in 2:50 Mins.
15) We reach the Finishing Point and to the dismay find no one to cheer us from the organizers just out fellow runners are there discussing angrily.
16) We come to know that all the organizers left just after One and Half Hour of start of the race. Such a Shameful act
17) One of my Uncles who ran the senior citizen’s 5 Kms run says it was a Hopeless arrangement for them also.
18) All runners from my group and other fellow runners were dejected by this callous attitude of the organizers.
Be Sure next year there will be no runners for this type of Marathon. AFI should not give permission to these type of organizers who are just interested in minting money and nothing ELSE.
