Spirited crowd sweats it out at 5K Hope Run

While serious runners pushed their limits at the full and half marathons at the fourth edition of Bengaluru Marathon, thousands also took part in the non-competitive ‘5K Hope Run’. The crowd was no less energetic and had people of all ages, including young children, take part in it.

The weather was pleasant as participants geared up for the run at 8.30 am. Any sleep that the runners had, vanished with a high-energy warm-up routine. A group of Zumba instructors from the city got the participants to jump and stretch their muscles to powerful workout music.

The run started at the Kanteerava Stadium and followed a route shorter than the competitive runs. People in bright red, green, blue and yellow T-shirts marched out of the stadium.

The Hope Run is a fundraiser and several non-government organisations took part in it.

Visually-impaired children from the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled ran in the 5K with guides. There were physically-challenged participants on wheelchairs from the Mathru Foundation. Students from Parikrma Foundation, which runs schools for children in orphanages and slums, also participated.