Few Pluses and Minuses, as usual of the Hyderabad Half Marathon, since I participated in half, will restrict my comments to that portion of the race only. PLUSES 1) First of all, a BIG Thanks to Hyderabad Metro Rail, yes, thats right if the HMR railings had not been there in the middle of the road, then we runners could not have got the shade to run in during most of the route. So unwittingly the infrastructure project has helped the runners 2) The arrangements of water, foods & energy drinks during the entire route was simbly superb. Race organisers who are charging a bomb and providing pittance, learn from the Hyderabad Runners, though i thought Chennai Runners were also good during the recent Chennai half marathon in end June. 3) There was some music being played, a couple of live bands, few wedding duos playing gallantly, but the guy singing Yeh Shaam Mastani in the early morning heat deserved a kick. I thought since the route passed through some well known offices like TCS, Wipro, Infosys etc. why not throw some competition to judge who is providing the best live music to the runners. You know, good team bonding eh!! 4) Quality of medal good though quality of snacks could have shown some improvement, MINUSES 1) The expo was again situated in goddamn far away place making it a pain to travel all the way to Hitex City. The expo should have been kept in the centre of the city. Perhaps next year you should ask some well known delicacies like karachi bakery guys to keep a stall there so that it makes two in one for us outstation runners who mandatorily pick up one or two boxes of the famous biscuits. Seriously not interested in buying more t-shirts, shoes, socks, shorts, headbands, wrist bands, etc. 2) I guess the kilometre markings were some way off the mark, though i am not absolutely sure of that, but a couple of guys did mention that they were off the mark. 3) Water should be provided in 200 ml bottles so that runners can run with it for some distance instead of in paper cups, which slows down the runners doing a competitive race. 4) The overall cheering from the local hyderabadis was just not enough, though the volunteers did a splendid job of exercising their vocal chords. The Hyderabadis should learn from Mumbai and Vasai Virar Marathon for that one - though i did see a solitary brave effort by a mother daughter duo of providing some much needed glucose water just before the last flyover at 18 kms marks. 5) Lastly, i seriously think this route is two or three or five uphills too many, there is no reason for making a city marathon so tough for the runners, they should enjoy it while running. Now with this kind of route it becomes a kind of self induced torture, making one think twice before registering again.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 12:28:27 +0000