New Delhi, Dec. 27 -- Food, culture, cricket, football. Kolkata is associated with a lot of things but running isn't one of them. In my early (and enthusiastic) days of distance running in the 2010s, there was not a single proper race in the country that could compel a smattering of runners from the city to travel and participate in it.

In the Kolkata of the early 2010s, you'd be met with only a handful of runners at the start line for the 25km race, and about twice that number for the 10km run. Despite poor turnout, however, the organisers always ensured a great experience for the participants with roads closed to vehicular traffic, properly measured and ratified race routes running past iconic locations of the city, hydration, medical ...