Cold weather could see new record: Hugh Jones

There has been a gradual dip in the temperatures that the city has witnessed over the past month or so with December 15, 2014 being the coldest this season where the minimum temperature dropped to 12 degrees centigrade — the ideal temperature for a marathon

There has been a gradual dip in the temperatures that the city has witnessed over the past month or so with December 15, 2014 being the coldest this season where the minimum temperature dropped to 12 degrees centigrade — the ideal temperature for a marathon.


Race director Hugh Jones explains Mumbai Marathon's route at Marathi Patrakar Sangh, CST yesterday. Pic/Shadab Khan 

It's no wonder then that Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon (SCMM) race director Hugh Jones is optimistic that the course record of 2 hours nine minutes and 32 seconds can be broken come January 18.

"The ideal start temperature for a marathon is 12 degrees. The weather (in Mumbai) this time is comparatively cooler than the earlier editions, so there is a definite possibility that the runners could beat the previous record.

However, there are other factors too that determine the setting of a new mark. The runners themselves should be wanting to go that extra mile and break the mark," Jones said during a media briefing yesterday.

Last year, defending champion Evans Ruto of Kenya complained of 'joggers' coming in his way while he was trying to break the course record and eventually missed equalling it by one second.

Jones explained that the problem area is near the end of the race — at the stretch between Marine Drive and Flora Fountain. "This time there will be barriers, volunteers with ropes and race marshals to guide the elite runners closer to the finishline," said Jones.

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