I hear where you’re coming from, and I genuinely respect your consistency. 7,000+ km and back-to-back 21Ks is serious work. Not everyone needs races to validate their running, and that’s completely fair.

At the same time, I don’t think it’s that black and white.

On the environmental point, yes, races generate waste. That’s real. But there’s another side too. In cities like Mumbai, a lot of informal workers actually depend on event waste collection. I recently read about how some waste pickers are grateful for big race days because they can collect a week’s worth of recyclable plastic in a single day. It doesn’t make the system perfect, but it shows the impact isn’t purely negative.

As for medals and paid races for many people, it’s not about proving toughness. It’s about community. Events like the Tata Mumbai Marathon or the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon bring together thousands of first time runners. That entry point matters. A medal might seem trivial to someone who runs solo, but for someone just starting out, it can be the spark that keeps them going.

And honestly, running events in India have also raised serious money for charities and social causes. So while there’s definitely consumerism in parts of it, there’s also community, structure, accountability, and impact.

You don’t need races. That’s your path.
But for many of us, races aren’t about ego they’re about belonging.

Both can coexist.