Mumbai Marathon - a fitting reply!!

So this was my second time at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon; no I did not do the 'half' or the 'full'. It was the uncomplicated, feel good, make a difference segment called 'The Dream Run'. Not that there's anything less fun about it, but its just not something serious runners will ever take up:) Coz you just can't 'run' at the Dream Run!!Its only 34000+ citizens, running enthusiastically across the start line (most of the women gawking at the dimpled, raybanned John Abraham, yours truly included!) only to slow down to jogging 500 ms later, walking after another 1 km and strolling during the last 1.5. Anyway you look at it, you would have been extremely lucky yesterday if you had managed to run the entire 6 km stretch with road blocks like me and many others who were only there to savour the experience!
Savour it I did though! Every moment. I had the IPod synced to perfection, starting with the 'Ha Reham Khuda' from the 'Aamir' soundtrack and ending on 'Sweethome Alabama', I was quite geared up for a nice stroll and great pictures! So much so that I actually stopped to listen to the really cool band at the Oberoi turn on the way back to the finish (the bunch of guys with the cool long hair, if you're reading this, you guys rock!! You should totally play more Gigs around town!)
So thats what my Mumbai marathon experience was about;
Great photos,
very interesting slogans,
families and little kids on the sidewalks who were cheering us (Your presence makes it special every time! Too bad the media doesn't photograph you enough!),
the cool band and many others,
my own gang of friends that I went with (We went to eat at Shiv Sagar near Eros later, had a ball! Mumbai Marathon Sunday should always end at brunch with friends, what say you?)
our charity Nanhi Kali (power to every little princess, visit www.nanhikali.com)

Above all else though, I am going to say that Mumbai Marathon was as always about 'Mumbai' itself! I know, all of us who were there yesterday and especially those of us that are showing off blogging about it would have said the same thing! But it doesn't make it any less true!
And this time it was more special than ever, Barely 45 odd days after the fateful Wednesday night and here we were 34000 and more at Nariman point pledging our support! Thats Mumbai for you. We U-turned at the Trident, looked up at the building for a bit, felt forlorn, lost, enraged... and then kept walking, kept the spirit on and said to ourselves 'This can't stop us!' My friend asked me last Friday 'What if something happens on Sunday? Isn't this a security nightmare?' and all I said was 'Has it stopped any of us from coming to work, taking the train, buying groceries, hanging out at cafes? Why will it stop us from doing the Dream Run?' It is after all about Dreams right? And we ought to dream of peace, pray for hope, demand security and act with compassion and responsibility!' I was acting out with this message and I strongly believe most of Mumbai was too!
It was indeed an honest and fitting response to those out there that want to prove a point by scaring us.
We won't stop living! The sentiment brewing not only among those who participated, but all those who went about business as usual also-The street kids collecting garbage from the road, shopkeepers and restaurantiers who kept it going, the policemen who were doubly vigilant yesterday so the event could go on smoothly.
A great and hopeful day is how I would summarise it! Everyone out there for good causes, having fun. It really felt good to be there! Felt Right!