About ten years back, when the running revolution was just taking off, a bunch of happy-go-lucky, but very fitness minded Goans ran their first Mumbai Marathon (back then, the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon) - the first year the Bandra-Worli Sea Link was part of the iconic race route, in fact.
They fell in love with the race, the energy, the idea, and wanted to have something of their own, back home, with all the Goa chill thrown in, to make it more fun.
10 months later, with a little help with some friends, the first edition of the Goa River Marathon was born. The race started at Baina beach, and a kilometre inland, a river joined the runners on the left side of their race route. The Zuari river, the rusty gigantic ships moored there, the gorgeous passage to St. Jacinto's Island, the green fields, the super friendly locals who did everything from race support, to playing music to spur you on, to pace you on a scooter, to race back 200 metres to an aid station, full speed, to get you a biscuit or a Volini spray: there was nothing about the race that was not spectacular. Running the race were many many gregarous Goans, mast Mumbaikars, bubbly Bangaloreans, hearty Hyderabadis, and who not. Given the timing, people tended to race hard, then stay back in Goa in December, and party hard.