The marathon is expected to gather more than 8000 participants including 20 elite international runners, India’s top distance runners and several other beginning marathoners, running lovers, the fitness community, enthusiastic corporates and energetic youngsters, among others. The Marathon will cover a distance of 21 kms will take the participants from the Maharaja College Grounds to the quaint town of Mattancherry before culminating at Maharaja Stadium.
Commenting on the occasion, Alexander George Muthoot, Director, Muthoot Group says: “We have seen marathons playing an increasingly prominent role in bringing people of all walks of life closer. The objective of the marathon is to make the state a better place and strive to do everything possible to transform the state and make it greener, eco friendly and pollution free for the citizens to lead a happy, healthy and prosperous life. We are proud to be affiliated with this annual sporting event and hope that this marathon will celebrate the common passion of running as well as pledge for a better healthy Kerala. .”
The Muthoot Finance Cochin International Half Marathon has been certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and is being conducted under the aegis of the Athletic Federation of India. The Technical Conduct of the event will be the responsibility of the Kerala State Athletics Association.
“Muthoot has always been in the forefront to promote sports and celebrate sportsmanship. Till now we had tied-up with Delhi Daredevils and focused on cricket but as the athlete-fan relationship is evolving, we decided to associate with a prominent sports platform that can motivate and mobilise people from all walks of life. Marathon was the unanimous platform that could captivate and engage the consumers and further enhance our brand equity,” adds Alexander George Muthoot.
The Half Marathon will have an overall category, besides different age group categories, giving athletes of all ages an opportunity to bask in the limelight. Besides the half marathon, a 7-km amateur run will be held for people from all walks of life. The Amateur Run will give every runner above the age of 15 years an opportunity to emerge as winners in their own right and promises to be a crowd putter.
The event will carry a total cash prize of Rs. 60 lakh with separate prize money for Indian athletes. The event will witness the participation of around 20 foreign athletes from countries, including Kenya and Ethiopia. The male and female winners of half marathon will bag USD 5,000 each while the runners-up will get USD 3,000 each. Prize money will be awarded to first eight finishers in both men and women categories. The fastest man and woman athlete will take home Rs. 2 lakh each. The half marathon will be a timed event and all successful finishers will be provided with a finishers’ medal and timing certificate.
