Registering for a race or booking a concert ticket. The fees are competitive, and so should be the experience. More on this at #GeeksOnfeet
Donkey calf raises strengthen the calf muscles and Achilles tendon, improving push-off power and running efficiency. Know more in #WoW
Don’t ignore invisible water loss at high altitude; more on this at #TipOftheWeek
Whether you are new to running or a pro runner. #RunStrong training plan serves you just right.
Happy Reading!
India’s major marathon fees are rising fast. A higher fee should give runners something more.
In your view, what should that “something more” be? (Reply for others.) #geekspoll
Answer Live Poll Here.
The results of last week’s poll on what is triggering the super-fast sell-out of race registrations are now out.
Donkey calf raises strengthen the calf muscles and Achilles tendon, improving push-off power and running efficiency. They build calf endurance, helping runners maintain pace with less fatigue during long runs and hill workouts. Regularly performing this exercise also improves ankle stability and lower-leg strength, reducing the risk of calf and Achilles injuries.
Place your hands on a raised bench and hinge forward at the hips.
Stand with the balls of your feet on the edge of a step, allowing your heels to hang freely.
Raise your heels as high as possible, pause briefly at the top, then lower slowly until you feel a stretch in your calves.
Perform each repetition in a slow, controlled manner
India’s major races are filling faster than ever, even as entry fees continue to climb. The Tata Mumbai Marathon will cost ₹5,000 in 2027, up from ₹1,500 in 2016. That is a 233% increase in eleven years, including a 47% jump in a single year.
Mumbai is the sharpest example, but fees have risen across Bengaluru, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai. While Indian races still appear cheaper than international marathons after currency conversion, the comparison changes when local purchasing power is considered.
Premium pricing is not necessarily unreasonable. Producing a safe, high-quality city marathon is expensive. But higher fees should buy runners something more: smoother baggage handling, better corrals, improved course safety, flexible refunds and transfers, and a genuinely better race-day experience.
Personalised training plans designed to make your run efficient, pacier, and get you race-ready. Whether you’re chasing a PB or training for your first race, we’ve got your plan and support!
Access the plans now at https://runstrong.geeksonfeet.com/training-plans/
If you are new to running or a pro runner. This one is for you. The training plan offers:
Personalised mileage and flexibility with training days per week
Pace calculator
Strength training, supported by workout videos
Got Running Questions? We’ve Got Answers. Hit a training plateau or need advice on your next race? Join the new RunStrong Community Forum to ask questions, share tips, and connect with fellow runners.
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Tata Mumbai Marathon 2027 Registrations Open for Full and Half Marathon
Registrations are now open for the 22nd Tata Mumbai Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, January 17, 2027.
Full Marathon registrations opened on July 31, 2026, and will remain open until November 5, or until places fill. Half Marathon registrations opened on August 4 and will close on August 18, subject to availability.
A valid timing certificate is mandatory for both categories. Full Marathon applicants can qualify using a marathon under 7 hours, a 25K under 3:18 for men or 3:35 for women, or a half marathon under 2:45 for men or 3 hours for women.
Half Marathon entry follows a fastest-runner-first system within age and gender groups. Runners may submit certified times for a 10K, half marathon, 25K, or full marathon completed on or after July 17, 2025. Qualifying standards for half-marathons vary by age. (Tata Mumbai Marathon)
Only results from on-ground, RFID-timed races on AIMS or World Athletics-certified courses will be considered.
Race Calendar
Search and find races using our Race Finder at geeksonfeet.com/races.
At high altitude, you breathe faster and more deeply to compensate for the lower oxygen levels. Every breath requires your body to humidify the dry air, causing additional water loss through respiration. This is called “insensible” water loss because it happens without obvious sweating.
If you are running the upcoming Ladakh marathon. Ladakh’s cold, dry air can make dehydration difficult to notice. You may lose more fluid than you realise because of the above phenomenon. Cold weather can also suppress thirst, while the strong sun and physical exertion increase fluid loss.
Drink regularly during your acclimatisation days and use thirst, urine colour and body weight as practical guides. Avoid forcing excessive water, since overhydration can also be dangerous.
Source: Practical Applications in Sports Nutrition. Alan E. Mikesky and Heather Hedrick, Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2023.
Gulveer Singh has brought Indian track athletes into the limelight by winning two medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Over the past couple of years, he has consistently excelled in the 10,000m and 5,000m events.
In 2025, he won two gold medals at the Asian Championships, defeating strong rivals from Japan and Bahrain. He also became the first Indian male runner to complete a half marathon in under one hour — a historic achievement that highlights his world-class ability.
Gulveer is considered a favorite for gold in both the 10,000m and 5,000m at the 20th Asian Games Aichi–Nagoya 2026, scheduled from 19 September to 4 October 2026 in Japan. He is ranked above his Asian rivals and is showing excellent consistency.
Let us keep our fingers crossed and eagerly await the track and field events, as Gulveer’s journey continues to inspire Indian athletics.
Contributors to this edition: Aditi Pandya, Karthik Nadar, RameshBabu PV, & Aravind Yarra
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