My 10th Hyderabad Marathon - A Pacing Journey

The Hyderabad Marathon is immensely close to my heart. Back in 2013, I ran my first Hyderabad, and I have kept running ever since. Around 2015, I promised myself I would run 10 consecutive Hyderabad events. That plan continued up until my seventh, when the pandemic struck. This year marks my tenth Hyderabad Marathon.

Once registration opened, my friends Shilpa, Sandeep, John, and Mohan all signed up too. The moment the Hyderabad Runners (HR) email hit my inbox asking for pacers, I immediately responded—this is an honor I never pass up. Wanting to ensure reliability, I chose a comfortable pacing slot versus my usual speed, volunteering for the 2:30 group.

Hyderabad Runners have really refined the onboarding process: the form is thoughtfully detailed, though my “IT guy” brain couldn’t help but wish there was an easier way to auto-fill race timings from previous years! Soon enough, Sravan called to explain the pacing process and understand my philosophy. There were Zoom calls with the entire pacer crew, and a dedicated WhatsApp group for constant updates between pacers and coordinators.

Race Weekend

This year, our usual travel plans shifted: instead of booking the Bangalore–Delhi Rajdhani in advance, Shilpa pulled off her usual magic and scored us Tatkal tickets for the train, disembarking at Secunderabad for Hyderabad. We stayed in Lakdi-ka-pul as always, but this time checked into the Hampshire Plaza Hotel.

Attending the marathon expo on Saturday was a highlight, with the full HR team present. Having my photo on the pacers’ wall made connecting with old friends easy—runners stopped by not just to catch up, but to chat pacing and race strategy. It was wonderful to bump into Rajesh, with whom I first attempted an ultramarathon at Vagamon 80. He’d just returned from travels in Mizoram and the North East, which brought back memories of my own school days there. Then I got an even bigger surprise—Amit and Dinesh from Goa showed up! I was certain they’d skip Hyderabad this year and fly straight to Leh for KC and Ladakh.

I also met several GKVK regulars—Parameshwaran, Prashanth, and Suhas—at the expo. At the HR booth, the pacer kit pickup experience felt special. The ultra-light jacket, snug with Velcro, held the pacing flag securely; using it for the first time, I was impressed by its comfort despite its showy size.

After group photos and being introduced on stage, a quick lunch plan fizzled—we ended up taking an adventurous but unsuccessful auto ride, finally returning to our hotel. I crashed into a deep sleep after the day’s activities, waking groggily to Pamela’s calls, and joined the team for dinner, though my appetite was nowhere to be found.

A Sleepless Night, Then Race Day

The night before the race was rough: our hotel room faced the highway and the constant, blaring horns made true rest impossible. John had the same complaint, but Mohan somehow slept through everything!

At 3 AM, I woke, showered, and left for the lobby. Other marathoners were preparing for the full; we shared an auto to the start. The driver, as always, tried quoting an inflated fare, but dropped it when I reminded him the distance was only 2 km and mentioned last year’s price.

I reached the start line first among the half-marathon pacers. As the full marathon pacers suited up with their flags, I got ready, too, and passed the time chatting and calibrating.

Corral C was my starting point. To my surprise, even speedsters like Tamal were queued up there.

The Race

I began conservatively, gradually finding my rhythm. Runners began joining me, tracking my pace. Drawing on years of Hyderabad Marathon experience, I slowed at the first big flyover near the 4 km mark, just as promised to my pace contingent. By 15 km, I was 20–40 seconds ahead of target—just about perfect. Only one runner continued glued to my side; at the downhill by IKEA, despite trying, I picked up time and landed almost two minutes fast.

Approaching the steep final climb near Gachibowli stadium, I slowed deliberately, cheering others to give all they had for the finish. In the end, I completed my segment just seven seconds above my 2:30 target, with everyone nearby comfortably under their stated goals.

This year, HR expanded the finish zone for breakfast. Unlike last year’s cramped seating in the stadium stands, breakfast was now held in an open field behind the main stadium, making for a much more pleasant runner experience.

We caught a (miraculously empty) bus back—usually an ordeal after the finish at Gachibowli—direct to Lakdi-ka-pul. Our reward: Irani chai at Cafe Niloufer, the perfect post-race ritual.

There was no time to relax—just a quick shower before hotel checkout. A pounding headache from dehydration and lost sleep killed my appetite, but as tradition demands, I joined the customary “beer hydration” at the hotel bar. Afterwards, we walked over to Shah Ghouse to eat; last year I feasted, this year I simply rested and sipped a fresh lime soda with sugar and salt, it really did the trick. Rehydrated and tired, I took another break at the hotel lobby before heading out for my MACT (Bhopal) alumni mini-reunion in Hyderabad.

Navigating the traffic near Lakdi-ka-pul was a nightmare; after a 300-meter walk with bags to dodge the gridlock, I finally made it by auto, and was delighted to reconnect with Sundershan after 30 years. He’s running a 50-person company now and actively recruits from our alma mater; I met a junior who graduated in 2000 and now works at his firm.

Evening mini reunion

Sunset found us at the rooftop of the Marriott, enjoying the view over Tank Bund. For a moment, there was confusion—some thought the meetup was at the Hitec Marriott—but in the end, everyone made it over, including Sunil and Pruthvi, my first meeting with them since before the pandemic. Later, I met Ravibabu after three decades—moments that capped the day’s mini-reunion.

To top it off, Sunderesan reserved me a room at the heritage Taj Mahal Hotel-Abids near Kacheguda, setting me up perfectly for my early train back to Bangalore.

The return on the Vande Bharat was predictably uneventful, though I’m convinced it could make the Hyderabad-Bangalore run in under six hours if they tried.

Here’s to ten Hyderabad Marathons. The city and its people keep drawing me back, every single time.