Thousands Line up for Trivandrum Marathon: Run for Rebuilding Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Imparting the energy of sports in rebuilding flood-battered Kerala, hundreds lined up tonight for Trivandrum Marathon that got underway with the two-km Family Fun Run, flagged off by  Minister for Industries, Sports and Youth Affairs E P Jayarajan, at Manaveeyam Veedhi here.

Hundreds also turned up along the route to cheer and applaud the enthusiastic participants of the ‘Run for Kerala – Run to Rebuild’, organised by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA) under the state government. Setting the event on course, Minister said the Marathon will help reinforce the harmony and fraternity of the society. Announcing that the marathon will be made a regular annual feature, he said it will be conducted on the second Saturday of November from the next year onwards.

The Family Fun Run was followed by marathon competitions, divided into full (42.19 km) and half (21.09 km), with a 10-km road race capping the all-encompassing event that brought together people of different age groups. Separate competitions were held for men and women. Southern Air Command Air Vice Marshal B Chandrasekhar flagged off this section at 11.59 pm.

Deputy Mayor Rakhi Ravikumar, Principal Secretary Sports & Youth Affairs, Dr A Jayathilak, and Director Sports & Youth Affairs Sananjayankumar were also present. Competitions came with attractive prize monies totalling Rs 10 lakh, to be given away at the valedictory at 11 am on Sunday by Minister for Industries, Sports and Youth Affairs, E P Jayarajan. Dr A Jayathilak and Sports Director Shri Sanjayan Kumar IFS will be among those attending the function.

An amount of Rs 1 lakh would be given to the winner of the Full Marathon, Rs 50,000 to Half Marathon winner and Rs 20,000 to the 10-km marathon winner. Registration fee for the Family Run was Rs 500 per family, while it was Rs 600 per person for the 10-km marathon, Rs 800 for half marathon and Rs 1,000 for full marathon.

The entire amount collected as registration for the marathon which was organised by the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs in association with Trivandrum Runners Club will be contributed to the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF).