New Delhi, Jan. 24 -- The national record for the full marathon was hardly challenged last Sunday when more than 65,000 people turned out for the Tata Mumbai Marathon - Asia and India's biggest race. The record has stood undisturbed since 1978 when Shivnath Singh ran a marathon in 2 hour 12 minutes in Jalandhar. Olympian and former Indian elite winner at Tata Mumbai Marathon, Gopi Thonakal came the closest in Valencia in December 2025 when he ran a career best 2:12:23 - the long-standing record eluding him by mere seconds. But a new record is coming, and soon, say India's top marathon coach and athletes.

Dr Kartik Karkera, 28, the fastest Indian, and tenth overall, at the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2026 said, "India's marathon record will be b...