Delhi Half Marathon: Runners stand to lose more than win
NEW DELHI: With the Air Quality Index (AQI) numbers consistently hovering around north of 400 (with the hazardous zone starting at 250), here are a few ways to remain healthy and fit in Delhi-NCR’s worst pollution spell of the year: Stay indoors, wear activated carbon (hepa-filtered) masks when you venture out, get an air purifier for your bedroom if you can afford it, and last, but not the least, run a half marathon in the smog at that time of the day when the particulate matter is at its highest!
The irony cannot be missed here though; the situation is far from ironic. Like all things, Delhi is split about air pollution too, with many even branding it as a ‘passing phase’, or a sign of the ‘onset of winter’. This despite the fact that the government has declared it an emergency.
Meanwhile, the running community in Delhi, rather alarmingly one should add, has been braving the pollution to gear up for the city’s most celebrated annual public sporting event --the Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM), organised by Procam International, who holds similar long-distance city-based event across the country through the year.
In the last couple of years, Procam’s stance, or rather, its reluctance to work towards a better and relatively pollution-free window for the Delhi race, makes us wonder if the firm (Procam is not a non-profit organisation), has forgotten that it is not just in the business of organising races and making money out of it but also, even if inadvertently, is in a noble cause of spreading health and fitness as a culture.
Clear Air a Myth (Subhead) A week before the race day, November 19 this year, Delhi Half Marathon’s race organisers have chosen to ignore tangible data as well as advice from experts. They
are hopeful the air would clear in a week.
The Delhi Half Marathon will witness an elite field of athletes led by men’s world marathon champion Geoffrey Kirui of Kenya and world record holder and Rio Olympics women’s 10,000m champion, Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia.
Vivek Singh, one of the founders of Procam and its joint managing director, pointed out the presence of champions as a
positive sign, and listed out some stopgap means they would employ on the race route, as ways to minimise the effect of pollution on the runners.
“Since all top global runners haven’t withdrawn, it’s evident they are supporting the event,” said Singh in an interaction with journalists on Wednesday.
Of course, one understands the business dynamics involved. The race is not just about a few elite athletes and recreational run- ners completing a distance of 21km. The whole event has a wellset scaffolding of brands surrounding it. Sporting greats come in as brand ambassadors -- this year American Olympic swimmer Anthony Ervin will be in town as well -- and there is a lot at stake for the organisers.
But what’s at stake for the city and its citizens is bigger -- health!
One does understand the organisers’ problem with cancelling or postponing the race at the last moment. But then, pollution is not a last-minute problem in Delhi. The organisers should have put some serious effort into rescheduling the event, getting the required clearance from the international body (IAAF), to a better time.
They chose not to. Procam derives clout from the running community, who are caught up in this idea that any form of running, in any environment, is a personal mission to prove their physical mettle.
If the run takes place on November 19, of course it would be a success. But will it signify a victory over pollution. No! In fact, it would just be a validation for pollution and its causes -- as if saying, for Delhi, nothing matters, and the show will go on.