MUMBAI: On Sunday, Mumbai finally found a reason to trade its infamous traffic jams for human ones, over 65,000 pairs of feet — most in trainers, some on wheelchairs and a few bare — reclaimed the roads for the 21st edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM). The rhythmic thrum of the participants turned the city’s streets into a record-breaking sea of sweat and ambition.This 2026 edition eclipsed all previous figures with a staggering number of participants, benefiting from a comfortable 21°C morning, and the historic addition of the Mumbai Coastal Road to the course. In 2025, the total ground runners’ turnout was 59,967.This year also saw a peak in the premiere categories, with the full marathon field growing to 14,155 runners compared to 12,167 in 2025 and approximately 11,000 in 2024. The open 10km category introduced at TMM in 2018 saw 8,729 participants.
The event also showcased a remarkable spectrum of age and dedication, ranging from its youngest participants —12year-olds Devansh Kamble, Yugandhara Todkar, Shubham Balkhande, and Trisha Krishnatry — to its oldest, 94year-old Arvind A Desai in the Senior Citizens’ Run.For some, the day was a milestone of longevity. Shajan Samuel completed his 300th half marathon, walking the entire distance. “Finished my 300th half marathon exactly at the same time I finished my first half marathon,” he shared. Others, like 64-year-old Sudhir Gosar ran for their health. Completing his 10th half marathon, the retiree from Mulund noted, “The planning and facilities were better compared to last year. The clear skies and the gentle winter breeze were just perfect for running…”Anay Shrikar (27), who marked his debut, running his first-ever full marathon, observed, “The incline, even though gradual, was very palpable… while returning, it was definitely one of the harder parts.” He added that “the wind was actually refreshing on the coastal Road, especially on the return leg.” Anil Khandelwal (66), who completed his second 42km run in 3 hours 50 minutes echoed: “The coastal road had more elevations so it was a tad difficult or I would have finished sooner, but the weather was excellent.” For Bengaluru-based marketing professional Komal (39), who completed the half marathon, the new stretch offered a different vibe, “The coastal road was a beautiful and peaceful section… much quieter and darker than the sea link, which she found enjoyable.”Pune resident Sahil Shah (34) has done eight full marathons; this was his fourth at TMM. “I am expecting my second child next month and my daughter is six years old. Today’s run was dedicated to all new fathers and working professionals…While I enjoyed the run and the weather was also lovely I did feel a little fatigued at the Peddar Road climb however, the cheers from the crowd and a refreshing can of coke helped me sail through.”Actor Saiyami Kher who successfully completed her second Ironman 70.3 triathlon, held on July 6, 2025, in Jönköping in Sweden, also finished a decade in the city’s marathon. Running a full marathon, Kher praised the organisation and cheering crowds, but hoped that pollution levels would recede significantly for a better running experience.Zerodha founder Nithin Kamath proudly shared on his social media handle that his wife Seema ran the 10km in 57 minutes, about two and a half years after surviving cancer.While the coastal road was quiet, the rest of the city roared with support. Few from the 42km and 21km events reported a shortage of cooling and hydration stations along the coastal road, leaving many participants dehydrated.Laurenzo Moodley (45) a South African ultra-marathoner, praised the warmth of the people in his “motherland”, the organisation and described the finisher medals as some of the best he has seen. He did offer a few critiques for improvement, suggesting “splitting the events across two days (eg the 10km and 21km on Saturday and the 42km on Sunday) to reduce the ‘chaos’ of having everyone on the course at once.” He also noted that the race is not very “spectator-friendly”, pointing out that “in South Africa, there are stands for the final 2km, whereas in Mumbai, it was difficult for his cousin to find him at the finish line”.Whether it was Katelyn Quiñones, from Texas, USA, shaving 13 minutes off her previous time or Georg Stephan Dirk from Germany enjoying the new perspective of the sea breeze, the 21st edition proved that the city’s pulse beats strongest on marathon Sunday. Runners from Belgium, Scotland, Japan, Portugal, Brazil, Australia and England made the journey to Mumbai for the marathon.
