The monsoon season is here, and so is the Mumbai Monsoon Marathon 2023. And although your first instinct might be to curl up with some hot chai (or Old Monk) and onion pakoras, why not use the rain to strengthen your fortitude? Imagine going for a run while wearing water-resistant headphones and having intense raindrops strike your face to wash away the sweat. Those who have never done something similar may find it strange, but once you make the first run, there is no turning back.
Mumbai Monsoon Marathon
Monsoon organizes several races throughout the city. There are 5K events available if you’re a beginner who only wants to try it out because some of them are ultra races, which require extreme fitness.
An annual international marathon is conducted in Mumbai, India, on the third Sunday in January. It is known as the Mumbai Marathon (sometimes known as the Tata Mumbai Marathon for Tata Group sponsorship reasons). It is both the biggest marathon in Asia and the biggest sporting event in terms of overall mass participation. With a $405k prize fund, it is the wealthiest race in India.
Six separate racing categories are available at the Mumbai Marathon: the Marathon (42.195 km), Half Marathon (21.097 km), Dream Run (6 km), Senior Citizens’ Run (4.3 km), Champions with Disability (2.4 km), and a Timed 10K run.
Marathon Champions
The women’s marathon champion from Kenya, Valentine Kipketer, ran the fastest timing ever for a marathon in India in 2013 with a time of 2:24:33. Derara Hurisa ran the men’s marathon in 2:08:15 in 2020, shattering the previous record. In 2023, two new course records were made. Hayle Lemi won the marathon for men in a time of 2:07:32, breaking the previous record. Anchialem Haymanot won the women’s marathon in a time of 2:24:15, breaking the previous record.
The competition aided in closing the gap between the top athletes from India and those from other countries. Ram Singh Yadav, an Indian runner, qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics with a best marathon performance of 2:16:59.
The marathon did not take place during the COVID-19 epidemic in 2021 and 2022. The next edition took place on January 15, 2023.
History
Procam International believes that Mumbai would welcome such a road marathon. The concept was inspired by the London Marathon. The Standard Chartered Mumbai International Marathon was the name of the inaugural competition, which took place in 2004. Up until 2017, Standard Chartered Bank remained the event’s title sponsor. For a decade, starting in 2018, the Tata Group and Tata Consultancy Services took up sponsorship of the Boston Marathon from Standard Chartered.
The Mumbai Marathon was one of the legs of “The Greatest Race on Earth” in 2005. Standard Chartered sponsored the race. The Singapore Marathon, the Nairobi Marathon, and the Hong Kong Marathon were the other three legs of this four-marathon race, and they were all sponsored by the Bank.
In 2009, the event was upgraded to an IAAF Silver Label Road Race. In 2010, the IAAF upgraded the competition to an IAAF Gold Label Road Race. This designation was removed in 2013, and the race remained unlabeled until 2018 when the Silver Label was given. The 2019 edition was once again given the Gold Label designation.
Inspirational Award
When Tata Group took over management of the competition in 2018, the Inspiration Medal became an award. The goal of the project was to boost participation and motivate runners to finish the 42-kilometer marathon. The finisher is listed on one side of the medal, while the motivation is listed on the other. So it’s beneficial to let them in on your victory and share your excitement with them.
The Race
There are six categories of races that are catered to by different participants. They are the 42.195 km Marathon, 21.097 km Half Marathon, 6 km Dream Run, 4.3 km Senior Citizens Event, and 2.4 km Champions with Disability Event. The Mumbai Marathon’s 2018 edition saw the introduction of the Timed 10K.
The marathon begins in front of Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. Numerous major landmarks, including the Flora Fountain, Marine Drive, Chowpatty, Haji Ali, Mahim Church, and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, are traversed. Hugh Jones, winner of the London Marathon and secretary of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, is in charge of organizing the competition.
The 2023 Mumbai Monsoon Half Marathon
The Mumbai Monsoon Half Marathon will hold its second iteration on August 6, 2023, in Bandra Fort. The course has AIMS certification. As a result, the timing certificates will be acceptable for qualifying for major road races.
EVENT DATE: August 6, 2023
RACE CATEGORIES
- HALF MARATHON
- 10K
- 5K
RUNNER GIVEAWAYS
- T-Shirt
- Finisher Medals
- Goodie Bags
- Timing Certificates
- Bib with Timing Chip
- Breakfast
- Prizes for Winners
Are you anticipating the Mumbai Monsoon Marathon? Will you participate and contribute towards a better tomorrow?
Do let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
