Two girls run four rounds of a 300-meter track, at a small park in Dadar at 4.30 a.m. Unlike other privileged runners in pricey spandex and dri-fit running gear, their attire is regular, not strictly sporting clothes. They also wear worn out shoes, when they train. Post an hour of training, they rush back to a small room in an old garment factory in Dadar they call home, to change. Then, it is off to their part time jobs at 7 am.

Laxmi (left) and Rupali (right) train for the half marathon. They need to raise Rs 50,000 each to be able to participate in the event on January 17. Pic/Urja Trust