Training is "free" but the year of preparation costs ₹40-60K once shoes, race fees, and nutrition add up.

Marathon running positions as a free hobby — just run. The lived reality of training for and completing a first marathon in India runs ₹40-60K over the year. Shoes (₹8-12K, replaced every 600km), race entries (₹3K Mumbai, ₹5K Delhi, ₹15K+ international), training nutrition, GPS watch, and a half-marathon or two for prep. The number isn't a reason to skip the goal — it's a reason to plan honestly. The runners who complete their first marathon successfully treat it as a sport with a budget, not a free pursuit. Underestimating cost is the #1 reason first-time training plans collapse halfway through.