On a pleasant Sunday morning, Mumbai witnessed an extraordinary transformation. The city's notorious traffic jams vanished, replaced by a massive human wave of determination and sweat. Over 65,000 participants took over the streets for the 21st Tata Mumbai Marathon, setting a new participation record.
Record-Breaking Numbers and New Route
The 2026 edition shattered all previous attendance figures, benefiting from ideal 21°C weather and the historic inclusion of the newly constructed Mumbai Coastal Road in the marathon course. Last year's event had attracted 59,967 runners, but this year's numbers surged past that mark significantly.
The premier categories saw particularly strong growth. The full marathon field expanded to 14,155 participants, up from 12,167 in 2025 and approximately 11,000 in 2024. The open 10km category, introduced in 2018, welcomed 8,729 runners this year.
Remarkable Range of Participants
The event showcased an incredible spectrum of age and dedication. Among the youngest participants were four 12-year-olds: Devansh Kamble, Yugandhara Todkar, Shubham Balkhande, and Trisha Krishnatry. At the other end of the spectrum, 94-year-old Arvind A Desai completed the Senior Citizens' Run.
For many runners, the day represented personal milestones. Shajan Samuel completed his 300th half marathon, walking the entire distance. "Finished my 300th half marathon exactly at the same time I finished my first half marathon," he shared proudly.
Runner Experiences and Coastal Road Debut
The new coastal road section generated significant discussion among participants. Anay Shrikar, a 27-year-old running his first full marathon, noted the challenging inclines. "The incline, even though gradual, was very palpable... while returning, it was definitely one of the harder parts," he observed. However, he appreciated the refreshing sea breeze along the coastal stretch.
Anil Khandelwal, 66, completed his second 42km run in 3 hours 50 minutes. He echoed similar sentiments about the coastal road's elevation changes. "The coastal road had more elevations so it was a tad difficult or I would have finished sooner, but the weather was excellent," he said.
Komal, a 39-year-old marketing professional from Bengaluru who completed the half marathon, found the new section peaceful. "The coastal road was a beautiful and peaceful section... much quieter and darker than the sea link, which she found enjoyable."
Personal Stories and Dedications
Sahil Shah, a 34-year-old Pune resident running his fourth Mumbai marathon, dedicated his run to new fathers and working professionals. "I am expecting my second child next month and my daughter is six years old. Today's run was dedicated to all new fathers and working professionals," he shared. While he enjoyed the lovely weather, he admitted feeling fatigued during the Peddar Road climb, but crowd cheers and refreshments helped him through.
The marathon also featured inspiring recovery stories. Zerodha founder Nithin Kamath proudly shared that his wife Seema completed the 10km run in 57 minutes, about two and a half years after surviving cancer.
International Participation and Feedback
Runners from around the globe converged on Mumbai for the event. Participants came from Belgium, Scotland, Japan, Portugal, Brazil, Australia, England, Germany, and the United States. Katelyn Quiñones from Texas, USA, shaved 13 minutes off her previous marathon time, while Georg Stephan Dirk from Germany enjoyed the sea breeze along the new coastal route.
Laurenzo Moodley, a 45-year-old South African ultra-marathoner, praised the organization and described the finisher medals as some of the best he has seen. He did offer constructive suggestions for future events, including splitting races across two days to reduce congestion and making the finish area more spectator-friendly.
Areas for Improvement
While most runners praised the event organization, some participants from the 42km and 21km events reported insufficient cooling and hydration stations along the coastal road section, leading to dehydration concerns. Actor Saiyami Kher, who completed her second Ironman 70.3 triathlon last year, praised the cheering crowds but expressed hope for reduced pollution levels in future editions.
The 21st Tata Mumbai Marathon proved once again that the city's pulse beats strongest on marathon Sunday. From record-breaking participation numbers to inspiring personal stories, the event demonstrated Mumbai's growing prominence on the global running calendar.
