The Mumbai marathon is barely a week away January 18 to be precise and next week, the city plays host to a number of elite, international guests, who arrive both as ambassadors of the event and as athletes. Meanwhile, thousands of runners are in the final tapering stage of preparations, especially the full marathoners, who must have completed the course in practice by now.

The stage is set for the 12th edition of the event, a showpiece running stage for Mumbai. In fact, the marathoners finish opposite the CST, as the world heritage building is an iconic Mumbai symbol. The marathon is about world-class competition and also a lens for the commercial nerve centre of India. So, it is of utmost importance that the roads of Mumbai are run-ready.