The course is as flat as one can possibly expect. The single-loop route of 21.9 km has a 3km stretch of scenic beauty; the runners will pass through some of the edifices that add splendour to the occasion. They will have the Parliament House and India Gate for backdrop and a cool and quiet Sunday morning providing the right mixture of aura with a wonderful telegenic view. In other words, the participants at the Hutch Delhi Half Marathon will have a lot to look forward when the event kick-starts at 7.45 am from the Nehru Stadium tomorrow. But the half marathon, despite being the much-publicised and the richest event, also has some hiccups — about 150-200 m after start the road has dipped a bit, and the runners will have to cope with the congestion in negotiating the two immediate bends. Course director Hugh Jones, while admitting that it was not a desirable thing, brushed it aside saying the professional runners will have no problem. But what he did not comprehend was the number of runners — said to be some 5,000 overall —— participating in the event. The strong presence of Kenyans in both sections points to one thing: the Kenyans, who love running as a team, could run away with the titles in both the sections. The likes of Paul Kosgei with a personal best of 59.58 minutes, world No. 4 Paul Kimugul, 2004 runner-up, Paul Kirui in the men’s section and Edith Masai, a hot favourite, in the women’s section could prove a handful to their rivals. However, the Ethiopians with a similar culture like their African neighbours, may be fewer in numbers but discounting them at this juncture is hazarding a risk. Despite the presence Masai and a few other Africans, the women’s section will see some lively competition, thanks to the presence of top Russians in Irina Timofeyeva, Lidiya Grigoryeva and Alina Ivanova. The last three named may not be ranked highly at present but when it comes to giving a shot at the title, they will not lag behind. The Indian participation — limited to mere four competitors — points to the marathon effort one has to make to convince people that after all running is not bad for health. The lure of prize money — the top two Indian winners in the men’s section will get $ 2500 each while women runners will receive $ 2000 and $ 1500 — is a good enough encouragement towards that end.
