Chances are that most long-distance runners have logged their ‘long run’ this past Sunday as the New Year has dawned. Many of these runners may be running the 42-km distance in the upcoming Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM) scheduled for January 18.

While accomplished runners, or those running for years do know how to prepare, it is vital that those who are not prepared or under prepared do not attempt last-minute efforts to complete the distance and then enter the race. It is simply too late to make any kind of effort for the full TMM distance and if training has been insufficient it is better to opt out from the beginning.