The 6th edition of the premier running event, Vodafone Coimbatore Marathon 2018 successfully organised
Sets a new milestone with participation of over 15,000 runners
Over 15,000 plus runners participated across three categories in the Vodafone Coimbatore Marathon 2018 held in the city. The event saw participation of people from all walks of life. An army of runners lined up at the start line to fight cancer is worth a sight as they prepared to accomplish their personal goals and live some beautiful moments on the streets of Coimbatore. Despite the monsoon, hundreds of supporters and common people turned up to cheer the runners and stand up for the spirit of Coimbatore.
The Marathon was flagged off early morning on Sunday with 21.1 km half marathon, which had 2,000 plus runners, was flagged off by Dr. C. Sylendra Babu ADGP- Railways. The 10 km run, which had over 5,000 plus runners, was flagged off by Sujit Kumar IPS, DCP Traffic. The 5 km run, which had over 8,000 plus runners, was flagged off by S.Murali, Business Head, Vodafone Idea Pvt. Ltd. Tamil Nadu.
The race started on Park Gate road and later in the morning the prize distribution ceremony was held at Stanes School. The marathon route covered the neighbourhood areas and was fully supported by aid stations, hydration points, medical facilities, ambulance services, route markers, and course marshals thus ensuring a hassle-free experience for the runners. Timing chips were used to keep track of the participants and provide official and personal times.
Dr. T Balaji, Managing Trustee of the Coimbatore Cancer Foundation said, “The Vodafone Coimbatore Marathon has become more than just a running event. We are delighted to see the participants rise up the city and its well-being as much as they do for their personal goals. Community support is always crucial in raising awareness on a social cause and in this event, we have been highly successful in making the participants the ambassadors of cancer awareness. The event has given us more insights on utilizing the power of collective participation in our initiatives. We appreciate the support and encouragement from all invested in making this event a successful and meaningful one. The proceeds from this edition will enable us to reach out to many more in the community who need our services.”
Ramesh Ponnuswami, Race Director said, “This sixth edition of the marathon will find a special place in our journey. The spirit of the runners has outsmarted the weather forecasts and other external factors. This moment provides an additional vigor to all the participants and inspires more people to take up running. We respect the passion and dedication of our runners and express our gratitude towards the people of Coimbatore, the Police department, the Coimbatore Corporation and several organizations for their continued patronage. Looking forward to seeing everyone again at the next edition on October 06th, 2019.”
