A number of community members successfully participated in the Mumbai Marathon held on January 15, 2012, with Chirag Prakash Mehta completing the gruelling full marathon – a 42km distance from Mumbai CST to Bandra Sea Link and back in 5hrs and 7m.

Others who completed the no less taxing 21 km half marathon were father-son duo Ashish Ramesh Mehta and Aditya Ashish Mehta, and Nirav Milan Mehta.

Chirag has taken part in all the nine Mumbai marathons and has successfully completed the full Marathon for the last three years. “I participate each year,” the 35-year old sports and fitness enthusiast told Palanpur Online, “not just because of its sheer canvas, but mainly because of a social angle to it; in terms of advocating the noble cause of human spirit, endurance and fitness."

He admits that along with the “passion to run”, the feat became possible because of some bit of “discipline in life style and habits, a bit of will power, exercising regularly and family support”.

Ashish R. Mehta was running the half marathon for the fourth time, having completed four Dream Runs before that. For him, “the Dream Run was not challenging enough”, nor was it a place to run “as there were thousands of people”.  Aditya, his son, a little short of his 17th birthday, too moved to the Half Marathon three years ago after four Dream Runs. A strong karate background enabled him to finish the race in a very good time of 2hrs and 32 minutes, and accomplish his aim of both supporting his father and also finishing ahead of him. Ashish completed the 21 km run in 2hrs and 55m. While Ashish’s ultimate goal is to do the Full Marathon, Aditya is keen to move to the longer distance as soon as he becomes eligible next year.

Nirav Milan Mehta also completed the 21 km half marathon in 2hrs and 22m. This was the first time that he participated in the event, and he did so after some training under his coach, Savio.