JOIN USKenyans steal the show at marathon
Over 10,000 runners, regardless of their age, turned up in the middle of the night for the 6th Bengaluru International Midnight Marathon at KTPO Whitefield. The run began early Sunday morning.
Among the participants were more than 200 athletes from the armed forces.
The Bengaluru International Midnight Marathon is conducted every year by Rotary Bangalore IT Corridor (RBITC) as the main fund-raiser event for RBITC’s projects relating to environment, health, community and vocational services in and around the City.
Incidentally, the event is the only midnight marathon in Asia. The key events at BMM 2012 include the Full Marathon, Carewel Half Marathon, Target 10k Run, Adecco IT City Fun Run, Corporate Relay Cup and the Women’s Relay Cup.
‘Health-a-thon’
Marathons are not just about medals, they are about attaining personal goals.
For 63-year-old barefoot runner K Manjunath running marathons help him stay fit even at his age.
On completing half the marathon in 1 hour 50 minutes, he said, “This is my fifth Midnight Marathon, and every year it just gets better. It is well organised and I love the feeling of running at midnight. I have been running a distance of about 5 km everyday for the past 15 years.” He has no plans on stopping anytime soon.
In the closely-fought men’s full marathon of 42.195 km, Daniel Yegon from Kenya ran his way to the first place timing 2 hours, 27 minutes and 40 seconds. Joseph Keino, also from Kenya, came in second with a timing of 2 hours 40 minutes, followed by Santhosh from MEG & Centre at 2 hours 41 minutes.
In the half marathon of 21 km, which had a field of over 1,200 runners, Isaac Kipkemoi from Kenya came first, followed by Kipkering Hillary from Kenya and Anbu Kumar from the Indian Army was in the third place. Anbu Kumar hails from Tamil Nadu and is just 21 years old. Gladys Tarus from Kenya came first in the Women’s Full Marathon.
The winners had different views about the experience of running during night. Some found it easier and relaxing because of the cooler weather, while others found it difficult to breathe and adapt to the night time.
Daniel Yegon, upon winning the full marathon, said, “This is my first ever full marathon. I think the weather and the timing made it more relaxing and easier to run for me. This was also the first ever midnight marathon I heard of and I hope to continue participating in these wonderful events, year after year.”
The crowd was kept pumped up by the DJ who played numbers that got the athletes up on their feet and dancing. ‘One Night Stand’, the local live band, got the good vibes going on through the night.