in indian file: Trainees for the Mumbai Marathon against the city?s skyline (Photo: AFP); Tara Sharma (below)

A sea of people in multi-coloured T-shirts, shorts, track pants and caps, jogging past Mumbai?s seafront. That?s a glorious sight. Luckily, I am going to be part of that enthusiastic lot this year again. Last year, too, I participated in this event.

Actually, running has been my hobby for a while. I have also been participating in Hope Run, an annual event organised by Magic Bus, an NGO that I work with. That is an eight-kilometre run.

This year, I am taking part in the Dream Run category of the Mumbai Marathon, which covers a distance of seven kilometres. I think it will take me a while before I can think of running the Full Marathon of 42 kilometres or even the Half (21 kilometres).

I am not doing any special preparation for the event. Running is part of my fitness schedule. So whether it?s the gym or the race course, you?ll see me doing the rounds everyday. It?s been a habit since my schooldays.

I didn?t leave the practice even when I went off to London for college. I just changed the location of practice. But even today, I see old faces at the racecourse while I am running. It feels good because when you are running your body releases endorphin and that gives you pleasure.

I am doing my usual bit of power yoga in the gym. And I am not consulting any specialist for the marathon. There will be many people running with me tomorrow. Some of them, I bet, are going to be fitter and more agile than I am. And some are going to be much older than I am. But knowing all this doesn?t make me nervous.

As I said, running is one of my biggest joys and I have signed up for the marathon to do what I like doing best. The good news is that the proceeds from the event will go to charity. So it?s time to do one?s bit for social good.

So, catch us live on your TV sets tomorrow. It?s quite an amazing feeling to be a part of a mega event, whether in the shoes of the participant or a spectator.

Factfile:

• Diana Hayden, Tara Sharma, Nandita Das, Sachin and Anjali Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Prahlad Kakkar, Ajit Wadekar and Ashutosh Gowarikar are only some of the celebs joining the Mumbai Marathon this year.

• Exactly 944 men and 96 women have signed up for the Full Marathon; 3,741 men and 670 women are running the Half Marathon; the Dream Run ? of seven kilometres ? has received 18,000 applications.

• This year, a special feature has been added to the Dream Run in response to great enthusiasm shown by senior citizens. The Senior Citizen?s 5k ? a special five-kilometre run ? is strictly for those above 60.

Look before you run:

Ask yourself the following before you begin training for a marathon:

Do you have a heart condition? If yes, hang up your boots.

Do you lose your balance because of dizziness or do you ever lose consciousness? Not a good sign, go to the doc.

Do you have a bone or joint problem? Get your doc?s opinion.

Do you feel uneasy after physical activity? If yes, get your plans okayed by your doc.