New Delhi Marathon 2025: Race Report

The NDM Half Marathon was a race I had set as a build-up run for Boston, and thankfully, it went off without much fuss.

There was a lot of pressure to perform well, especially after my October Half Marathon at VDHM didn’t go as planned. The lead-up to NDM wasn’t ideal either. Three weeks before race day, I had a solid 10K local race that boosted my confidence. But soon after, ITB stress, persistent knee pain to put a dent in my plans.

A clinic visit, some mobility drills, and plenty of icing later, things started to improve. Ten days before the race, I managed another decent 10K tempo run. Yet, given my recent race streak, I was cautiously optimistic and keeping my fingers crossed.

A Decade at NDM

Bib collection day brought an unexpected realization—I had unknowingly signed up for every edition of NDM since its inception! I had podiumed in the very first edition and even won my age category last year, but I had no idea how this year would go.

Unlike previous races, where I had a ‘crowded’ start, this time, I was placed in the VIP starting section as a 10th-year participant. No pushing, no jostling—just a clean start, something I hadn’t had all season.

The Race

I got into a strong rhythm right from the beginning, sticking to my race plan up to the 17th km. But then, fatigue hit. My pace dropped, and I couldn’t push as much as I wanted. I finished in 1:35:50, just 30 seconds shy of my personal best. It was good enough for a second runner-up position in my age category—a result that gave me a much-needed confidence boost for Boston.

Balancing It All

With the stress of planning the Bhatti Mines Ultra for Trail Femmes, I had been worried about how it might impact my training. But from the start, I drew clear boundaries between work, training, and race directing—and I’m glad I stuck to them. Each remained unaffected by the others.

Now, it’s time to shift focus—Bhatti race prep, Boston training, and gearing up for summer!