Over 21,000 participants join Coimbatore Marathon 2024

The 12th Walkaroo Coimbatore Marathon attracted 21,000 participants, raising funds for cancer patients with various race categories.

The 12th edition of the Walkaroo Coimbatore Marathon held on Sunday in the city attracted over 21,000 participants across India. Organised by the Coimbatore Cancer Foundation (CCF) in partnership with Coimbatore Runners and Show Space Events, the event raised funds to support cancer patients.

The marathon, recognised by the Tamil Nadu Athletic Association, included a half marathon (21.1 km), 10 km run, 5 km run, 5 km walk, and a corporate relay. All events started and ended at the Stanes School Grounds.

The half marathon was flagged off by Coimbatore District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati and Coimbatore City Police Commissioner V. Balakrishnan. Former Tamil Nadu Director General of Police C. Sylendra Babu flagged off the 10 km run, alongside T. Balaji, Managing Trustee of CCF, and V. Noushad, founder of Walkaroo.

Mr. Balaji highlighted the collaborative efforts in organising the event. “This year, the government town bus service was made free for all participants to promote the use of public transportation, ease congestion, and address parking issues. The event saw the largest turnout to date, and we are working on plans to further increase participation in the coming years,” he said.

D. Vignesh, 24, participating in his ninth marathon, said, “Being part of an event with participants ranging from experienced runners to first-timers builds mental resilience and determination. Knowing that the effort supports cancer patients gives the experience a sense of purpose and fulfillment.”

The winners included Deepak Babu Kumbhar in the 21km Open Men’s race, Divya Bharathi in the 21km Open Women’s race, Vaibhav Patil in the 10km Men’s Open, and Samya Sri in the 10km Women’s Open. Col. Harish Ramachandran topped the 10km Veteran Men’s race, while Urmila Surana finished first in the 10km Veteran Women’s race. Cash prizes were awarded to the top performers in each category.