With less than 24 hours to go for the eleventh edition of the Mumbai marathon, it is time to get into the spirit, even if you are not competing. What makes Mumbai different from the other marathon cities in the world is the enthusiasm of the people, the encouragement they offer not just the elite runners, but amateurs too. Runners, who come in to race from other cities as well as overseas, have often spoken about one of the best things about the Mumbai marathon the charged atmosphere and the fillip they get from bystanders and those who are out to watch.

There is nothing more encouraging for failing legs and burning lungs than spectators’ cheers. The shouting gives new strength to legs that are not even finding the ground. Runners will attest to how they went that extra mile or five on encouragement alone. Even though traffic opens at a stipulated time, it is respectful to avoid driving for at least six hours if you have no emergencies. It shows that you have consideration for runners trying to finish the race.