Over 35,000 runners will be participating in this year’s Mumbai marathon on January 18, not only for fitness or altruism, but also to exorcise the ghosts that the 10 machine-gun toting terrorists had set free on that fateful night of 26/11.

“The city will run in memory of those who lost their lives and for the heroes who helped us during those tragic moments of that terror attack. An event of this magnitude will be our first challenge in spatial management after 26/11,” said Joint Police Commissioner of Traffic Sanjay Barve.

He was speaking from the rooftop of Hotel Trident. The very same hall had been the nerve centre of the operations against the terrorists holed up on the 18th floor of the building, he said.

Around 3,000 traffic constables will be deployed for the marathon. It would show that Mumbai had put behind the trauma and was ready to welcome participants from all over the world, Barve said, backed by Vivek Singh of promoters Procam International, who said there have been no cancellations on account of the terror strikes.

Film actress Tara Sharma said she was gratified to be present at a venue that had been a 26/11 target. Sharma, who has participated in all marathons so far, noted that this year would be special as she expects people of the city to come out and show the indomitable spirit of Mumbai.

Jayant Pendharkar of associate sponsors Tata Consultancy Services said people were running a tough race every day from home to office and back. “This upcoming marathon will be symbolic of the spirit of Mumbai,” Pendharkar said.

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