Chicago, New York, Berlin, London etc marathons have a lottery system. You get in if your name is pulled out of a hat. Lottery system is in place for marathons in India too. In recent times, one or two names in each of the big races are pulled up not only from a hat, but from planet earth itself. To me that is simply not acceptable. 

I am a Sports-Exercise Medicine doctor, and I have been running for the last 40 years. I am a runner before being a doctor. I also happen to be the founder of the world’s cruellest ultra marathon, La Ultra - The High, in the extreme weather conditions of Ladakh, which we started way back in 2010, before running marathons was cool in India. We were told by army officers, doctor colleagues and local friends that we would end up killing someone or the other. We’ve had distances like 111, 222, 333 and 555 kms. We’ve put together 11 editions since. The record I’m most proud of is that everyone has come back home safely. That is not because I like to complicate matters, but because I prioritise basics over everything else. To me safety matters most.

At La Ultra - The High we converted Dangerous to Difficult and then Difficult to Doable. From being called Impossible by experts, we soon enough had people finishing those insane distances. All again because of applying the basic fundamentals. 

It bothers me massively what I have been seeing in the running fraternity, a death becoming a common occurrence in races. Up in Ladakh or my other races in Dehradun, Mussoorie and Dhanaulti, I always used to tell participants not to bank on us, the organisers, but rely on their own selves first. Yes, we were always there, but to use us only as a backup. I would say the same now. You take care of yourself, and rest will follow. But if you are reckless, even the best of planning by the organisers, sooner than later, will only lead to disaster. 

I analysed in detail kilometre splits of thousands of participants at Delhi Half Marathon 2022. Over 50% of them could have shaved off 5-30 minutes only if they had stuck to the basics. More importantly, at about 12-13 km, I witnessed that most were already struggling and suffering. The data indicates that many people were running in a manner that was not commensurate with their fitness. The body can deliver a lot, so long as you ask it to do so rationally. Its like trying to drive a Maruti 800 like a Ferrari.

So what am I suggesting? From data it seems that most people run the races with suboptimal racing strategies where they overestimate their abilities. If you send your current running status, I’ll be able to advise you, customised for you, as to how to approach your race. It will be useful to review recent blood reports to rule out some basic issues. Nothing in life is fool proof but this will be able to address the most obvious of issues. I want you to enjoy your race, get to the finish line with a smile, while you achieve your personal best, but most importantly, get back home to your loved ones.

This by no means is a medical advice, but purely racing strategy customised for you by someone who knows what 1hr 18min half marathon and 2hr 38min full marathon feels like.

What to expect?

• Running strategy for the race day - planning pacing better customised for you based on what is your current running level and what have you done in the past

• Planning Nutrition, Hydration and Electrolyte on the race day

• Planning for the 24 hour prior to getting to the start line

• Expect no magic as the intent is to improve your results based on what work have you put in so far and what your current running fitness level is. All I am trying to do is optimise your results by having a strategy in place.