Visually impaired and physically challenged persons will be among who will take part in the seventh edition of Manipal Marathon-2025 on February 9.
Hosted by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), the theme of the marathon is ‘Innovation in motion: Embracing technology for health and fitness.’ It highlights advancements in promoting wellness and physical fitness.
As many as 20,000 runners are expected to participate in the marathon. It will include over 100 international athletes from the US, France, Germany, England, Turkey, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Japan, Uganda, Malawi, Congo, Ghana, Sudan, Abu Dhabi, UAE and Australia, a release said.
The highlight of the marathon is its focus on inclusivity. Over 300 visually impaired participants from the Samarthanam Trust, and more than 200 physically challenged individuals from across Karnataka will take part in the race, showcasing their resilience and dedication to fitness.
Race categories
The race categories will include full marathon (42 km); half marathon (21 km); timed runs (10 km and 5 km); fun run (3 km); and global virtual 5K run which allows runners from across the world to participate remotely.
The full marathon is designed for professional and experienced runners, while the half marathon is perfect for semi-professional and endurance athletes. The timed runs cater to amateur runners and fitness enthusiasts, and the fun run, which offers free on-spot registration, allows beginners and families to enjoy the event in a relaxed and enjoyable environment, the release added.
The global virtual run has been added this year to ensure that the spirit of the Manipal Marathon extends beyond geographical boundaries, making it an inclusive and global fitness movement. Participants in the virtual run will receive e-certificates, digital bibs, and exclusive Manipal Marathon merchandise, creating a shared sense of community and purpose, it said.
Evening carnival
Post-run, there will be a carnival at Greens Manipal from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. It will feature live performances, cultural events, fitness activities and food stalls.
H.S. Ballal, Pro-Chancellor of MAHE, said that the theme of the marathon ‘innovation in motion’ stresses the transformative impact of advancements such as wearable fitness trackers, virtual race experiences, AI-driven training plans, and real-time performance tracking. These innovations will be showcased at the event, allowing runners to engage with the latest trends in health and wellness. Participants can expect cutting-edge race timing systems, AI-powered fitness analytics, live race tracking applications, and Virtual Reality (VR) booths.
Sharath Rao, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences), MAHE said that the BIB Expo, scheduled for February 7 February 8, will serve as a key pre-event highlight, providing participants with race kits, interactive fitness workshops, and the opportunity to explore emerging innovations in the fitness industry. All registered runners can pick up their t-shirts and kits at the expo, while 3K runners will receive their t-shirts on marathon day.
There will be prizes over ₹25 lakhs to winners. For routes of marathon and other details log on to https://manipalmarathon.in/, the release said.
Published – February 02, 2025 08:00 pm IST