Vadodara:  The Vadodara International Marathon will be held this Sunday at the Navlakhi Ground. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi will flag off the race. Over 123,921 runners from seven countries have registered for the 12th edition of the marathon, which is being organized with a sustainability theme. Notably, 1,366 differently-abled runners have registered for the Divyang run.

Participants will compete in various categories including:

• 42.195 km Full Marathon
• 21.098 km Half Marathon
• 10 km Quarter Marathon
• 5 km Timed Run
• 5 km Cleanliness-Heritage Run
• 1 km Divyang (Disabled) Paralympic Run

This year’s marathon features runners from India, the USA, Singapore, Ethiopia, and Germany, among other nations. Organizers have reported that 25% of the 40,000 timed runners are women, and an 83-year-old is participating in the 10 km category. Approximately 18,000 runners from various religious organizations have also registered, and one lakh students from different schools have focused on the Sustainability Development Goal. As part of the event, 26 schools have collected one thousand kilos of plastic waste which will be properly disposed of or recycled.

According to Biju Balendra, Managing Director of MG Motors, 3500 workers of their car manufacturing plant will participate in the event. The participants will take oath of road safety ahead of the start of the run.

With the Vadodara International Marathon just around the corner on February 2nd, 2025, organizers have released detailed route maps for the various races, including the full marathon (42.195 km), half marathon (21.098 km), 10 km run, 5 km timed run, and the 5 km heritage run.

Full Marathon (42.195 km):

The full marathon will start at Navlakhi Ground at 4:30 am. Runners will proceed along a route that includes key landmarks like Rajmahal Road, Kothi Char Rasta, Jubilee Baug, Nyay Mandir, Mandvi Gate, Baroda Dairy Circle, and Susen Circle. The route then takes runners across the city, including areas like Bhayli Village and Sevasi, before concluding at Akota Bridge, near the Solar Panel area. Registration for the full marathon has 277 participants.

Half Marathon (21.098 km):

The half marathon, starting at 4:45 am from Navlakhi Ground, shares the initial route with the full marathon until Jubilee Baug. From there, runners will take a different path, going towards Vishwamitri Bridge and Shivaji Chowk, before circling back towards Akota Bridge for a similar finish as the full marathon. The half marathon has 1298 registered participants.

10 km Run:

Starting at 5:00 am from Navlakhi Ground, the 10 km run takes a more direct route towards Akota Bridge, passing through key areas like Lalbag Bridge and Yoga Circle. The run concludes at Navlakhi, near the VIP entry gate after crossing the Akota Dandia Bazar Road. This event has attracted 7386 participants.

5 km Timed Run:

The 5 km timed run starts at 5:15 am from Navlakhi Ground and takes a route that goes towards Rawpura Road, circles around Jubilee Baug, and then heads towards Akota Dandia Bridge, finishing at Navlakhi Ground. This run has 2681 participants registered.

5 km Heritage Run:

The heritage run, starting at 7:30 am from Navlakhi Ground, offers a unique experience, taking participants through the heart of the city’s historical and cultural landmarks. The route covers areas like Sur Sagar Lake, Nyay Mandir, and the iconic Kirti Stambh, before returning to Navlakhi Ground. This run has a large participation of 110,913 individuals.

Key Details for Runners:

• Race Day: February 2nd, 2025
• Reporting Time: 4:15 am
• Start Locations: Navlakhi Ground for all races except the 5km Heritage Run which starts at Akota Dandia Bazar Cross Road.