Mumbai Marathon

Runners at the 2008 Mumbai Marathon

The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon is an annual international marathon held in Mumbai, India, on the third Sunday of January every year. The course records set in 2013 were also the fastest times ever run for a marathon in India in both men's and women's categoriesl – 2:09:32 by Jackson Kiprop, Uganda and 2:24:33 by the women's winner Valentine Kipketer, Kenya. The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon has five different race categories: the Marathon (42.195 km/26.218 miles), the half marathon (21.097 km), the Dream Run (6 km), the Senior Citizens Race (4.3 km) and the Champions with Disability category (2.4 km). It also hosts a very diverse group of runners such as the international elite athletes, Indian elite athletes, amateur runners, fun runners, senior citizens and the differently-abled. It is the largest marathon in Asia as well as the largest mass participation sporting event on the continent. It is the richest race in India with a prize pool of USD $350,000.

History

After being inspired by the spectacle of the London Marathon, Procam International believed that the unique energy of Mumbai could be harnessed in the form of a road race. The first race was held in 2004, then titled as the Standard Chartered Mumbai International Marathon. With the global positioning having been well established in the inaugural year itself, the word ‘International’ was no longer required to be used; thus the event title of today – the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. The race became an IAAF Silver Label Road Race in 2009. The IAAF went on to recognize the race as an IAAF Gold Label Road Race in 2010, 2011, 2012. In 2005 the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon was included as one of the legs of "The Greatest Race on Earth", an event sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank. The other three legs of this four-marathon race were the Singapore Marathon, the Nairobi Marathon and the Hong Kong Marathon.

Since its first edition, the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon has stood true to the 4 pillars of marathon – international pride and prestige to the host city, health and fitness, communal harmony and charity. Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon is now recognized as India’s largest charity platform for non-profit organizations to race funds for their projects. Over ₹90 crores (USD 17 million) have been raised by non-profits from year 2004 to year 2013.

The first race in 2004 had 22,000 participants with ₹1.44 Crores (USD $269,000) raised for charity. Both the numbers rose drastically over the coming years with 30,000 people running in 2007 and ₹7.94 Crores(USD $1,490,000) raised for charity. The 2013 edition hosted 40,000 runners with ₹17.9 Crores (USD $3,330,000) raised for over 232 NGOs.

Organisation

The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon is the sporting property of Procam International, a sports and leisure management company based in Mumbai. Procam International also owns the other big road races in India such as the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bangalore and Jamba Cloud Hyderabad 10K.

The Race

There are five categories which cater to different participants. Marathon (42.195 km), Half Marathon (21.097 km), Dream Run (6 km), Senior Citizens Event (4.3 km), Champions with Disability Event (2.4 km),

The Course

The Marathon starts opposite Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Terminus Mumbai. It runs along many of the city’s iconic locations such as Flora Fountain, Marine Drive, Chowpatty, Haji Ali, Mahim Church, and of course the Bandra-Worli Sea link. The legendary London marathon winner and also the secretary of AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) Mr. Hugh Jones is the race director of the Mumbai Marathon.

Past winners

Key:   Course record

Edition	Year	Men's winner	Time (h:m:s)	Women's winner	Time (h:m:s)
1st	2004	Hendrick Ramaala	2:15:47	Wioletta Uryga	2:47:53
2nd	2005	Julius Sugut	2:13:20	Mulu Seboka	2:35:03
3rd	2006	Daniel Rono	2:12:03	Mulu Seboka	2:33:15
4th	2007	John Kelai	2:12:27	Yang Fengxia	2:36:16
5th	2008	John Kelai	2:12:23	Mulu Seboka	2:30:04
6th	2009	Kenneth Mugara	2:11:51	Kebebush Haile	2:34:08
7th	2010	Denis Ndiso	2:12:40	Bizunesh Urgesa	2:31:09
8th	2011	Girma Assefa	2:09:54	Koren Jelela	2:26:56
9th	2012	Laban Moiben	2:10:48	Netsanet Achamo	2:26:12
10th	2013	Jackson Kiprop	2:09:32	Valentine Kipketer	2:24:33

The event has also helped bridge the gap between Indian elite athletes and international elite. The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon provides the Indian runners with a platform to compete with the best in the world. The dream of qualifying for the London Olympics became a reality for Ram Singh Yadav who clocked his best marathon time of 2:16:59 at the 2012 edition.

Charity

The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon is India’s largest charity platform for non-profit organizations to raise funds for their projects. All charity generating efforts are coordinated, monitored and driven by Event’s official Charity Partner. NGO’s representing varied causes like arts, culture and sports, civic and community development, disability, education, environment and wildlife, health, human rights, social services, vocational training, and women, children and the aged, register with the Event’s official Charity Partner, United Way of Mumbai. Some NGOs used this event as a platform to raise awareness for the work they undertake, and some to raise amounts for their charitable activities. Fund raising is facilitated by an easy-to-use model designed for all people to raise funds for their preferred cause/NGO.

THE DREAM TEAM
This is a special category meant for those highly motivated individuals who feel passionately about a cause and commit to raise a substantial sum of funds towards their charity. Over the years, this Dream Team has seen a mix of business magnates, celebrities, socialites, NGO trustees and even young students.
• Dream Champion - minimum target of INR 10 lacs. Some of the individuals who fall under this category are Shantanu Mukherji and Anand Mahindra.
• Dream Wizard - minimum target of INR 5 lacs
• Dream Maker - minimum target of INR 1 lac. Some of the individuals who fall under this category are Abhijeet Sawant, Dia Mirza and Sanjeev Kapoor.

THE CORPORATE CHALLENGE
The Corporate Challenge is a category specially designed for companies who wish to sponsor employee teams to participate in event and raise funds for charity. 166 companies fielded 257 Corporate Challenge teams at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2013. .

PLEDGE RAISING
Fund raising through the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, is encouraged through pledges. Pledges are donations/contributions received from friends, family, and colleagues in support of the charity/cause chosen by the fund raiser.

The 10th edition of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon set a new benchmark of sorts; a record of INR 18 crores has been raised by 217 NGOs across the country with the help of benevolent contributions from individuals, corporate and groups.

CHARITY PARTNER: UNITED WAY OF MUMBAI
United Way of Mumbai is the Charity Partner of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. As the Charity Partner, United Way of Mumbai assumes the role of a Philanthropy Exchange for various charities and non-profit organizations registering with the Event. Role of the Charity Partner -
• Facilitate & supplement pledge raising efforts of individuals, companies and NGOs.
• Create, build and communicate the Charity Structure.
• Work on all aspects of Charity like registrations, race day logistics, communications and receiving donations.
• Accounting & reconciling of Pledges.
• Disbursement of funds to beneficiary NGOs.
• 80G receipts to all donors.

United Way of Mumbai maintains neutrality and ensures a level playing field amongst all participating NGO's. UWM also serves as an assurance to the donor that the NGO and the cause for which money is being donated is credible.

Sponsors & Partners

Title Sponsor: Standard Chartered
Associate Sponsor: Tata Consultancy Services
Channel Partner: Star Plus
Broadcasting Partner: Prasar Bharati (Doordarshan Sports)
Official Car: BMW
Good Times Partner: Kingfisher Premium Packaged Water
Sport Goods Partner: Asics, Japan
Health Equipment Partner: Omron, Japan
Logistics Partner: DHL
Timing Partner: Timex
Hospitality Partner: Trident Nariman Point
Medical Partner: Asian Heart Institute
Print Partner: The Times of India
Radio Partner: Radio Mirchi
Charity Partner: United Way of Mumbai
Institution Partner: Harmony for Silvers Foundation
Supported by: Government of Maharashtra & Indian Navy
Under the Aegis of: Athletics Federation of India
Certified by: AIMS

Pre-Race Activity

The lead up to the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon adds more flavour to the event. A week before the race an Expo is organised where the runners can come collect their running bibs and kit. The expo also hosts a range of running related product stalls which cater to the runners. For those stationed outside Mumbai a special expo is held on Saturday before race day. “Kingfisher Good Times Nite” is the pre-event party hosted by Good Times Partner: Kingfisher Premium, Hospitality Partner: The Trident, Nariman Point Mumbai & Promoters Procam International. It is held on the Friday before the race. Standard Chartered, Title Sponsor, hosts a Pasta Party on the Saturday morning pre race day. The Pasta Party celebrates the oldest running tradition of carbo-loading. A pasta cooking competition is held where the organisers, sponsors, event ambassadors and special guests have a cook out.

Flame of Marathon Run

The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon was the youngest race to be awarded the prestigious Flame of the Marathon. It was flown in from Greece by Maria Polyzou, Greek Marathon Champion & Directress of Museum of Marathon Runs. Received by the first citizen of Mumbai, the then Mayor of Mumbai Smt. Shraddha Jadhav at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, the flame was carried by sports luminaries, celebrities, sponsors/partners and dignitaries from the Government in a flame relay, all the way to the Hutatma Chowk in Fountain, Mumbai. Here the flame, lit by Shri Chhagan Bhujbal and Shri Anil Deshmukh, burnt bright within a 10 feet specially created cauldron, for all to see for a week till end of race day. The participants of the torch relay were luminaries like Priya Dutt, Jaspal Bindra, Rahul Bose, John Abraham, Shoba De, Milind Soman, Dhanraj Pillay, Kiran More.

Official Anthem

The Mumbai Marathon’s official anthem was composed by Taufiq Qureshi, sung by Shaan and the lyrics were written by Rachna Dixit. It was released in December 2010. The music of the anthem was inspired by the sound of Mumbai.

Coffee Table Book

A coffee table book was launched December in 2011. It was written Anil Dharkar and is available in book stores across the country.

Marathon Trophy

To commemorate the 10th edition of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, a specially designed rolling trophy has been instituted, to be handed over to the men’s and women’s marathon champion.

The trophy was unveiled by His Excellency, Shri K. Sankaranarayanan, Governor of Maharashtra, in the presence of media and other dignitaries.

The trophy has been designed by the artist and sculptor Shri Paresh Maity. While it showcases the spirit of Mumbai, it also represents the aspiration and iconic stature of this event.

Event Ambassadors

The international ambassadors for the Mumbai Marathon have been: Year Ambassador 2004 Michael Anthony Powell, Michael Duane Johnson 2005 Paul Tergat, Stephen Ovett 2006 Anju Bobby George, Linford Christie 2007 Rahul Bose, Dames Kelly Holmes, Aravinda De Silva 2008 Gabriela Szabo 2009 Gail Devers 2010 Daniel O'Brien 2011 Catherine Freeman 2012 Vijay Amritraj 2013 Haile Gebrselassie

Bollywood Actor John Abraham is the official Event Ambassador.

References

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External links

• 2009 Mumbai Marathon in Photos
• Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2013
• Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2014