SHILLONG: Having to brave traffic, sections of road in a poor state and Meghalaya’s famous monsoon, around 200 runners, young and old, male and female, took part in the first ever Sohra Marathon on Thursday morning in a true test of their endurance and determination.
Organised by Run Meghalaya in collaboration with the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs along with the invaluable assistance of the state’s police and volunteers, a full marathon (42.2km) began from Hynniew Mer, Upper Shillong, while a half marathon of 21.09km started at Mawkdok Bridge.
The finish line for both events was located in a foggy, rain drenched Sohra Saitsohpen where, the runners ended their tremendous journey wearing the mist in their hair.
There were three age categories in each event – 18-35 years, 35-50 and 50-plus.
The state’s most celebrated long-distance runner, Binning Lyngkhoi, was one of those who took on the full marathon and he predictably crossed the finish line first.
The distance of the half marathon also encouraged some non-regular runners in East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal and the Sohra SDO (Civil) Cyril Diengdoh.
Others who ran the roughly 21km race were two of the three Marwein sisters of South West Khasi Hills – Kyntimon and Bandasharai – who finished first and third in the 18-35 women’s category, although definitive results were not released by the organisers on the day. Darishisha took second place.
In the 18-35 men’s half marathon first place went to Tommy Shylla, while Michael Ramsiej and Synsharlang came second and third, respectively.
Phain K Jahrin took first place among the over-50s for the half marathon.
Also in the mix for the full race distance was ‘The Hubli Express’, Vishwanathan Jayaraman, the Gandhian marathon man who took to the road as he always does, shorn of shoes and wearing khadi shorts.
He ran with his shirt tied around his waist and joked with the photographers at the finish line not to take his picture until he put on his shirt.
Jayaraman works as a financial advisor with the Railways and is stationed in Hubli, Karnataka. A friend of Run Meghalay founder Gerald Pde, he explained the feeling of running in the rain.
“The feeling of running in the clouds was special,” Jayaraman said.
“The joy of running in the rain cannot be explained. I was told that I would get my full quota of running in the rain here and it was brilliant.”
The runners had to get up bright and early for the 7:30am start for the full marathon.
Given a morale-boosting speech before the start, they were cheered on by the volunteers, supporters and some bemused members of the public who were not sure what to make of it all. The half marathon began at around 8:30am.
While a competitive race with total prize money topping Rs 1 lakh, the participants took to the event more as a challenge to themselves and in a celebration of fun. Some also took part for a cause, with Goyal singling out the protection of the environment, for example.
There were first year problems, but that was to be expected.
While the police and volunteers marshalled the runners well and kept private vehicles aware of the participants, holding a race on an open road does pose some risks.
Overall, however, it was an excellent showcase of the spirit of running.
Some participants struggled to the finish line but made it across through their own determination and the encouragement of other runners, exemplifying the strong feeling of camaraderie that few outside the circle of long-distance runners can truly know.