The National Level Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation Marathon (VVMCM) is back with the 11th edition, which will be held on December 10, 2023 with a host of new features, planned to provide a more fulfilling running experience to all participants in one of the country’s lading events for Indian athletes and amateur runners,
With increased prize money of Rs 54 lakhs, the event continues to offer the highest prize money among races in the country, exclusively for Indian athletes. Additionally, a proportionate increase has been made in the separate prize fund for participants from the Vasai-Virar belt to encourage the amateur runners from the region.
This was announced by the honourable Commissioner of the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation, Shri Anil Kumar Pawar at a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday, along with other dignitaries and personalities associated with the conduct and organization of the Marathon.
To reward the participants, this year too it has been decided to give every runner a branded running T shirt from the renowned sports brand Berge. Besides this, every participant will get a 3D Finishers medal, a loaded goodie bag, hot breakfast, a timing certificate valid around the world and a free finish photograph. Besides this, all outstation participants will be provided with free stay and all their meals will be taken care of by the Corporation.
In order the encourage the amateur runner, the Corporation has also ensured no increase in the registration fees, which stands at Rs 750 for the Full Marathon, Half Marathon and 11K and Rs 700 for the 5K, exclusive of convenience fee and GST. Registration can be done through the event website www.vvmm.in. Running places are fast filling and registrations will close on November 20.
Parul Chaudhary to be Event Ambassador: In keeping with the tradition of inviting top Indian sports persons to grace the event with their presence, the 11th edition will have Asian Games multiple medalist and World Championships finalist Parul Chaudhary as the Event Ambassador. The 28-year-old athlete from Ikaluta Villge, near Meerut, who has risen from humble origins and emerged as the top track star from India, will be arrive in Virar on Saturday and address a press conference and her presence at the event on Sunday will help in encouraging young athletes, especially girls, from the region to strive harder for excellence.
Also sharing the stage with Parul as ‘Face of the Event’ will be Rudranksh Patil from Thane, a member of the Asian Games gold medal winning team in the 10m Air Rifle event. The 19-year-old Rudranksh has also secured qualification to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after wining gold in the 10m air rifle event at the ISSF World Shooting Championships in 2022.
Junior races with free entry will be held for boys and girls from schools in the Vasai Virar Region in the age groups of 12-14 and 14-16, while races for boys and girls under-18 will be held for athletes from the entire Palghar District, with a minimal fee. All these races also offer prize money and all facilities.
The VVMCM is the only National Level running event in the country which is organized by a Municipal Corporation. Since its inception in 2011, the event has attracted the country’s leading professional long distance runners and now is also witnessing an increase in the number of amateur participants.
The VVMCM will be run under the aegis of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), while the route has been measured and certified by the Association of International Marathons (AIMS) and has been certified by ‘World Athletics’.
“The Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation will continue in its efforts to keep growing the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation Marathon and extends a warm welcome to athletes from all over the state as well as other parts of the country to come and participate in the Full Marathon for men and women, the Half Marathon for men and women, the 11K Run for men and women, the 5K Run for men and women and the Dhamaal Dhavv,” said the Hon’ble Commissioner, Shri Anilkumar Pawar.
“The Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation is proud to be organising an event of this scale, which attracts athletes from all over the country. The Corporation will make every effort to ensure a memorable running experience for each and every participant,” he added.
Among these efforts to provide a better running experience has been the decision to provide separate routes for the 11K and 5K runs, which will help in decongesting the route of the Full Marathon and the Half Marathon, increasing the chances of all runners to register their personal bests in this event.
High powered elite athlete field: The Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation Marathon has once again attracted the country’s top long distance athletes, who will be vying for glory and piece of the prize money purse. The Full Marathon will feature two time defending champion and course record holder Mohit Rathore of UP, besides Aurangabad’s Dhanwant Prahlad, with a PB of 2:20. 38; Tirtha Pun from the Gorkha Regiment, Army, with a PB of 2:22, Rajasthan’s Hemant Singh, with a PB of 2:22.24 and Tribhuwan from the Kumaun Regiment, Ranikhet, who has a PB of 2:26.
The Half Marathon for women will feature Maharashtra’s Prajakta Godbole, who has PB of 1:14.21, besides Rima Patel (Railways) , 2nd runner up in the Delhi Half Marathon (1:17.45) and Tamshi Singh (Ranikhet, Uttarakhand), winner of the World 10K, to name a few.
The Half Marathon elite field for men will be led by Armay’s Dharmender, who as aPB pf 1:03.54, Maharashtra’s Vivek More, PB of 1:06 and Anand Singh Rawat, who represented the country at the World Cross Country Championships in Feb 2023.
The Full Marathon winner stands to win a purse of Rs 3 lakh, while the half marathon winners will be richer by Rs 2 lakh each.
Partners to the event: The occasion was also used to introduce the partners to the event, namely IASIS Hospital, Medical Partner and Enerzal, Hydration Partner, besides Zixa Strong, Pain Relief and Recovery Partner. Also lending support to the event are Art Media, Outdoor Media Partner and Viva College, Virar as Venue Partner. The event is being promoted by Aryanz Sports.
IASIS Hospital is one of the leading state of the art hospitals in the Vasai Virar Region, led by Dr. Mahabali Singh, which has amongst its facilities and services Cardiology Pulmonary Diagnostics, Imaging, a full-fledged laboratory, Neonatal ICU, operation theatre suites, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Interventional Cardiology, Consultation Services, Delivery Suites and Dialysis.
To ensure a safe run to all participants and prompt and quick medical action in the event of any untoward incident, extensive facilities will be put in place for Race Day. There will be a Medical Base Camp at the New Viva College, which will have an ICU setup provided by IASIS Hospital, which will be staffed by Cardiologists and doctors from the hospital as well as from the Medical Associations of Virar, Nalla Sopara and Vasai. Seven fully equipped Cardiac Ambulances will be stationed along the route, along with ambulances at each of the 14 medical stations on the route. There will also be 40 doctors patrolling the route on motor bikes to ensure a quick response time in case any of the participants require medical assistance.The race route will have adequate food, water and energy drink stations, besides cool sponge, and orange stations.
Photography Competition: The Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation Marathon will continue awards for the Best Published Photograph of the Marathon. Cash Prizes of Rs 15,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 will be awarded to the top three winners. The Corporation is also inviting local bands and dance groups to perform at the Cheer Zones which will be set up along the Marathon Route.