by Larry Eder
John Kelai, two time winner, Standard Chartered Mumbai, plus 2010 Commonwealth Champ, photo by PhotoRun.net.
The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon will happen on Sunday, January 16, 2011. John Kelai is the focus of much attention, as the three time winner and also the current Commonwealth champion.
Our global photographer, Victah Sailer, is in Mumbai and should have some great pictures from Sunday’s race!
Kelai geared to record his third SCMM win; women looking for new course record
“It’s great to be back home” said John Kelai, two
time winner of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon at the Elite
Athletes media meet & greet session at the media centre on Thursday.
time winner of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon at the Elite
Athletes media meet & greet session at the media centre on Thursday.
Besides Kelai, also present was Shami Mubarak
from Qatar and women athletes Irene Mogaka and Rose Kosgei, both from
Kenya, along with elite athlete coordinator Ian Ladbrooke.
from Qatar and women athletes Irene Mogaka and Rose Kosgei, both from
Kenya, along with elite athlete coordinator Ian Ladbrooke.
Fresh from his Commonwealth marathon win in
Delhi, John Kelai said, “the key difference between Mumbai and Delhi was
that in Mumbai virtually the whole city turns up to cheer the runners on.
Delhi, John Kelai said, “the key difference between Mumbai and Delhi was
that in Mumbai virtually the whole city turns up to cheer the runners on.
John Kelai, at Standard Chartered Mumbai marathon press event, photo by PhotoRun.net.
In Delhi, due to security, the crowd was
restricted to pockets every 10 km.” However, he also added that in Delhi
it was his own spirit that drove him on and that motivating oneself is
the true challenge. With such a small window between the Commonwealth
Games and the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, Kelai says that he was
back to training in a matter of weeks after his return from Delhi.
Kelai’s last visit to Mumbai in 2009 ended in disappointment as he
missed out on a hat-trick of title. This time, however, he is confident
of wearing the winner’s crown. He raced selectively in 2010, winning
both the events he competed in, at Netherlands and at the Commonwealth
Games and he is looking forward to kickstart 2011 with a win at the
Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon on Sunday.
restricted to pockets every 10 km.” However, he also added that in Delhi
it was his own spirit that drove him on and that motivating oneself is
the true challenge. With such a small window between the Commonwealth
Games and the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, Kelai says that he was
back to training in a matter of weeks after his return from Delhi.
Kelai’s last visit to Mumbai in 2009 ended in disappointment as he
missed out on a hat-trick of title. This time, however, he is confident
of wearing the winner’s crown. He raced selectively in 2010, winning
both the events he competed in, at Netherlands and at the Commonwealth
Games and he is looking forward to kickstart 2011 with a win at the
Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon on Sunday.
The climate in Mumbai is something that has been a
sore point, both literally as well as metaphorically, especially for
those who aren’t acclimatized. Irene Mogaka, on the other hand, said
that the climate here suited her and she was looking forward to a good
run this Sunday. Rose Kosgei echoed Irene’s sentiments,
while acknowledging her recent injuries have played a spoilsport to her
performance recently. She also added, “If the weather holds, it is
possible that we can set a course record for women this week,” added
Kosgei.
sore point, both literally as well as metaphorically, especially for
those who aren’t acclimatized. Irene Mogaka, on the other hand, said
that the climate here suited her and she was looking forward to a good
run this Sunday. Rose Kosgei echoed Irene’s sentiments,
while acknowledging her recent injuries have played a spoilsport to her
performance recently. She also added, “If the weather holds, it is
possible that we can set a course record for women this week,” added
Kosgei.
Having grown up in a village in Kenya, his former
country, Qatari Shami Mubarak said that while he always enjoyed running
as a child, he never thought he would make a career out of it. In a
lighter vein, he also added, “My school was 7km away from my house so I
had to run there and back every day. Sometimes I would run home for
lunch.” He maintains a regimen of running at least 16 km a day, both in
the morning and evening. He also quipped, “Winning a marathon is easy.
It is the training that is difficult.”
country, Qatari Shami Mubarak said that while he always enjoyed running
as a child, he never thought he would make a career out of it. In a
lighter vein, he also added, “My school was 7km away from my house so I
had to run there and back every day. Sometimes I would run home for
lunch.” He maintains a regimen of running at least 16 km a day, both in
the morning and evening. He also quipped, “Winning a marathon is easy.
It is the training that is difficult.”
All the athletes agreed that in marathon running,
as in all sports, it is less about who your opponents for a particular
race are, but more about giving your best and finishing at the top of
your form. They also agreed that in Mumbai the last few kilometers, with
all its ups and downs, including a flyover, were the toughest in the
course.
as in all sports, it is less about who your opponents for a particular
race are, but more about giving your best and finishing at the top of
your form. They also agreed that in Mumbai the last few kilometers, with
all its ups and downs, including a flyover, were the toughest in the
course.
—
Bruno Goveas
Director Media Relations
Airtel Delhi Half Marathon
Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon
