ENERZAL Mumbai Ultra Marathon, 2025 – The 12 Hour Run.

The ENERZAL Mumbai Ultra Marathon, a unique 100% charity event to raise fund for the Pediatric Cancer patients under treatment at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai is being scheduled on 15^th. August, 2025.

ABHIJIT SHOME – Fervid Marathoner:

What more can a Journo ink, about a champion whose greatest glory in living manifests, not in never falling, but in rising every time he falls. The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination, from Giorno till Notte.

Abhijit Shome’s running journey is so enriched with amazing experiences and races that words are simply insufficient. A regular in the Marina Chapter of the Chennai Runners had grown up in the hills and tea gardens of Silchar in Assam. Sports to him was playing football, cricket, tennis, kabaddi or anything under the sun, when life used to encompass around classrooms to playground.   

Eventually, scholastics took precedence and sports eventually phased out. After the completion of Engineering from NIT Trichy, Abhijit had landed with a job in one of the Navaratna’s – ONGC, followed by the nuptial knot in 1992. During his days, when buoyed by the encouragement of his peers, basking in the praise of his proven goodness, his only trait was demonstrated in the form of teaching his princess how to ride a bicycle.

Just when the entire world had started realising that, mirror neurons were the cornerstone of human social skills, particularly empathy and theory of mind, it is then in January, 2004, one of Abhijit’s colleagues in ONGC had taken a call in participating in the inaugural Mumbai marathon, and had successfully completed the Half-Marathon. Inspired by him, Abhijit started going out on Sundays across different trails in Mumbai, as preparations, for the next chapter of Mumbai marathon were closer.  One of them was Sanjay Gandhi National park, Borivali, which in those days was vulnerable due to man-eating leopards out in the woods.

After registering for Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, in January 20025 at the age of 35, with lot of hesitations, he adopted the ‘race day strategy’ about keeping going on and never stop. Accomplishing the marathon clocking 02 hours 15 minutes, he realised, “The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start. I had then planned for the Delhi Hutch Half in November, 2005”.

In what an apparent setback, he got transferred to Gujarat after spending 13 years in Mumbai. Separated from all his running buddies, Abhijit started training alone across the stretch of Mehasana – Ahmedabad Highway. which at times were scary with stray dogs, vehicular pollution and decibel level.  

He has inculcated the deep philosophy of breathing in strength and breathing out weakness.

“I ran in the inaugural Hutch Delhi Half Marathon, 2005, and Mumbai Half Marathon in 2006 more convincingly.  Soon, I had shifted from my Public sector job to MNC, and flew off to Dubai on a project.  During the peak summer of 2006, I started running with Malcolm Murphy’s (fondly Murph) running club called Dubai creek strider. With so many experienced expert runners comprising few Indian runner, I soon found myself a connoisseur in the world of running community”.

He had completed his first full marathon in 2007 at Dubai clocking 04:15 :15. Immediately thereafter he was back in Chennai after completing the project, wherein he got to know about Chennai Runners.

During those days in 2007, Chennai Runner used to conduct Quarterly ECR run for 26 KM’s. The most memorable was ECR 3 when he ran from Toll-Plaza to TTDC resort, Mammalapuram.

Abhijit further added, “My first Bangalore Ultra in 2007, 50 Kilometres was covered in 06 hours and 03 minutes; 01st. Hyderabad marathon in 2009 clocking 04 hours 45 minutes; Dubai marathon in 2011 clocking 04 hours; Comrade 2012, at the start line in Durban the enthusiasm of more than 19,000 runners was mesmerising and I could gather a lot of strength looking at cheerful, excited and motivated fellow runners. Running up the hill along with 19000 runners, required a strong will on my part and I fought against all the odds pushing myself more while running uphill. From 6500 Kilometres mark onward, I stuck to the 11 hour bus led by Tabohe, that helped me to overcome last steep hill, the dreaded Polyshorts with ease. Running the race of my life with 2 kms left to the finish line, I started pacing and soon was inside the Oval stadium which was full of cheering crowd. It was spectacular, and I sprinted in the end to cross the finish line in testing 10 hours and 51 minutes. Truly I must say, completing Comrades was a life time experience and I felt elated and like a champion”.

He has taken part in Kolkata police marathon in 2022, National Master Athletic, sports meet at Salt Lake stadium Kolkata, along with Calcutta Maha Marathon.

“Going in, you have to remember that the race is supposed to be the fun part. The race isn’t to be feared, it’s supposed to be the things we look forward to. It’s why you have done all the preparatory job in the first place, so have fun”.

Abhijit reaffirmed that it is the nation’s freedom struggle, that had drawn inspiration to participate in the Mumbai Ultra Marathon. He has participated in the 12 hours Mumbai Ultra 2014 and 2024 and deeply dedicate his efforts to the martyrs, for which India had regained Independence. “This year having lost my idol Fauja Singh who is the icon of endurance and amateur senior citizen runner, who has proved that human is born to run irrespective of age. Running is all about discipline determination and dedication. His accidental death again highlights the awareness to road safety for runners”.

“I wish all the stake holders of Mumbai Ultra to create community feelings, and instill comradery in our eco system and be the inspiration of the society at large”.

Following the Ultra-Marathon on 15^th. August, 2025, Mumbai Ultra Blood Donation Drive is scheduled across SIX (06) places in Mumbai; Greater Mumbai, and Navi Mumbai locations from 08.00 AM to 08.00 PM on 17^th. August, 2025. The places are:

Dadar: Shivaji Park; Swatantryaveer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak, Near (Old) Mayor’s Bunglow, 252, Veer Savarkar Marg,  Dadar (W), Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400028.

Bandra (West): St. Andrew’s College, St. Dominic Road, Bandra (W) Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400050.

Borivali (East): Raheja Old Club House; Raheja Estate, Kulupwadi, Borivali East, Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400066

Goregaon (West): Shaheed Smriti Krirangan; Mahesh Nagar, Goregaon West, Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400104

Thane (West): EEH Runners; Fittfocus; 201, Tulsee Chambers; Opposite Teen Petrol Pump; LBS Marg; Naupada; Thane West; Maharashtra – 400602.

Kharghar: ACTREC, Tata Memorial Centre; Sector 22, Utsav Chowk – CISF Rd, Owe Camp, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 410210.

Writer Suvro Sanyal

Log on : www.mavericknews30.com
Follows us on : Twitter @mavericknews30
YouTube : @MarvickNews30