Rohi Mirza Pandya, a Brooklyn-based mother of two, ran nine races last year and trained herself under experts despite occasional dizziness and dehydration, just to be prepared and in shape for 2015 TCS New York Marathon.
Her efforts paid last week when she made it to the finish line and got a medal along with thousands of other New Yorkers and people from other states and countries in the largest and the most popular annual sports event in the Big Apple Nov. 1.
The TCS New York Marathon, as it has been called since last year when the Indian technology company became the major partner of the event providing technical as well as other support, attracted 50,235 starters, out of whom 49,617 reached the finish line, running a stretch of some 26-miles through five-boroughs starting in Brooklyn and ending in Manhattan.
It was watched by thousands of cheering spectators, including Indian-Americans along the route. Many of them community members also took part in the marathon, although officials could not immediately provide the figures.
A TCS official said that among the runners from India were Karan Singh and Arjun Pradhan, winner and runner-up respectively, of the 2015 Mumbai Marathon, to support distance running in India. They, however, did not produce any record in New York Marathon.
“It was my first marathon and it was amazing. I don’t think anything will top my N.Y.C. marathon experience,” Pandya, who describes herself as a ‘Desipina’ (half Desi and half Filipina), told News India Times.
Peter Ciaccia, president of events for New York Road Runners and race director of the TCS-New York City Marathon, said there were 20,703 female finishers this year, the highest in event’s history. Ironically, until 1971, women were not allowed to run in the marathon because it was considered too dangerous for women to run such a long distance.
Besides people from 50 U.S. States and Washington D.C. there were representatives from 125 countries from around the world, including India.
Khyati (Kat) Desai, who finished 4.58 and raised $3800 for Lend A Hand India, a New York-based nonprofit for poor children’s education in India. “It was an incredible, brutal and wonderful feeling to cross the finish line after months of training. It brings both freedom and pride to run such an epic race where millions are watching and supporting, shouting your name as you run by!,” she said.
“It might have been hard to run 26.2 miles but it’s harder for children with lack of access to education. That is what kept me moving forward,’ she said.
Men and women from many different professions, national backgrounds and age, took the challenge to do the arduous run all for the fun of it, and in some cases, to become a role model as well or to support or spread words about causes dear to them.
Pandya, who is a producer and film-marketing consultant based in Park Slope, Brooklyn, said that she is grateful that she is healthy enough and in shape to run the race. “I also do it to be an example for my children. Yesterday, my five-year-old daughter told me that she wanted to be a runner. That alone makes it all worthwhile,” the 42-year-old mother said.
TCS CEO, N. Chandrasekaran, who has run numerous marathons around the world, took part in the TCS New York Marathon as well.
“This was his second in a row at the TCS-New York City Marathon. “Being a runner has greatly shaped my thinking as a leader. You may call me a long distance leader,” a TCS spokesperson told News India Times quoting the company CEO.
But some people, who could not take part in the run this year, felt a bit nostalgic as well. Kamesh Nagarajan, a senior vice president at Morgan Stanley who ran in 2010 for India-based non-profit Lend-A-Hand, said he could not take part in the marathon this year, but would do next year.
“I ran in 2010 as I was inspired and ran for Lend a Hand India to help a wonderful charity. This year, the marathon went right by my apartment and I felt the urge to do it again because I was able to complete it in 2010 but in 2010 I got hurt at mile 16 and had to limp the rest of the way,” he recalled.
“I never felt more alive with the ability to push my body as I ran through all five boroughs starting in Staten Island. When you cross the Queens Borough Bridge coming into Manhattan, the crowds and the energy were overwhelming. You feel the crowds love and support push you to keep going even though your body is tiring. When you cross the finish line, the feeling of achievement and reaching for the unreachable is euphoric and the bond you then have for all 50,000 runners is a family bond. I will always cherish that run as one of my most special memories not just because just that I finished the race but that I didn’t quit even when I strained my tendon. I will run in the NY Marathon again, hopefully in 2016,” he said.
Pandya said she was not running for any sort of time record since she is not a natural athlete. “I wanted to be there for the party, and what a party it was. It was nothing like I have ever experienced before. I considered this marathon a test of endurance and a celebration of life and I am very happy to have been a part of it,” she said.
Ben Trounson of TCS, said that it was great run this year. “We do a lot of things, far more than title sponsorship, and try to make this event the most technically advanced and socially engaging event in the world.”
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