This is a guest post by Alok Shukla, a passionate runner from Kolkata, on his Kolkata Marathon 2010 experience.
I participated on 21st Feb in the Kolkata Marathon 2010. All full marathoners were expected to finish the marathon in 3.15 hrs time limit (as mentioned in registration form). After this time the trafic controls were supposed to be lifted. Also, for Kolkata marathon you need to undergo medical test 1 day before marathon by a team of doctors.
I completed 31 km in 3.15 hrs, after that I was forced to move out of the marathon route as they lifted the traffic control. There are special buses arranged for runners who are not able to complete the race within specific time to bring them back to start (or finish) area. Only 212 full marathoners were present for the race including elite. Most of them were basically athaletes or related to police/para military forces/other sports. Only few were amateurs like me.
Start was smooth and all elite and professional marathoners were out of sight in a while. Water stations were adequate and well stocked with water, glucose and oranges. Sponge facility was also available. Also, you get good reception at every water station as not many runners are in sight for kilometers. Throught the race i was alone as no one was in sight after 10 km mark who was at my pace of approx 6 min/km. If you can finish a marathon in 3.15 hrs then only you should participate in this race. Temperature was very hot nearing 27-28 degree with high humidity levels of Kolkata.
Race management should increase the time limit to atleast 4 hrs to give chance to amateurs like me to finish. Also, let me share you that unlike Delhi or Mumbai marathons where the entire entire road is blocked for runners, here in Kolkata, only when a runner reaches a signal/cross road is the traffic stopped by traffic police (after 3.15 hrs you yourself need to do this) and in normal course you are running with old buses/taxis/ auto rickshaws/thelas of Kolkata. And in case you are thinking that on Sunday the traffic is not heavy in Kolkata you are making a big mistake.
Still if you can run fast enough in heat and could complete the marathon in 3.15 hrs you can enjoy Kolkata marathon (dont mind traffic). The race route encircles almost entire Kolkata city.
Alok may be contacted at ealokshukla at gmail dot com.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
First I thought that you meant a time limit of 3.15 (perhaps 3:15) for half marathon. Because in India many organizers don’t make the distinction clear between half and full marathon. If they don’t organize a full marathon and just do half, they call it marathon.
However, I was shocked to find later that indeed 3:15 limit was for full marathon. This is outrageous. Either they meant this event for elite/sub elite runners or someone messed up on the time. Any reputed marathon has about 15-16 min/mile time limit to accommodate slow runners/joggers.
The fastest time one needs to qualify for Boston marathon is 3:10 (Male less than 35 years). Looks like someone who is not a runner himself/herself was in charge of organizing this marathon. In any case, Kolkata disappointed me in this.
Cheers,
Neeraj
Agree with Neeraj- 3.15 limit is crazy, pure dumb. Some fatso non-runner is at the helm.. not knowing the difference between 13.1 and 26.2.