(L to R) Bruno Goveas, Race Director; Sandesh Jadhav, Chief Coordinator, IBVVMM; Ramesh Manale, Add Commissioner, VVMC; Prakash Rodricks, Dy. Mayor, VVMC; Shashank Chaphekar, CDO, Cigna TTK; Hon Mayor Mr Rupesh Jadhav; Prakash Vanmali, Chief Coordinator, IBVVMM at the launch of 8th Indiabulls Home Loans Vasai-Virar Mayor's Marathon.

The Vasai-Virar Marathon Muncipal Corporation is geared up to conduct the eighth edition of Indiabulls Home Loans Vasai Virar Mayor’s Marathon (IBVVMM) on December 9. The Corporation uses around 2000-man power of its employees to ensure smooth conduct of the event every year but this year they are hoping that there will be 20-30 runners from the corporation itself including their new mayor Rupesh Jadhav will participate also.

The Corporation employees ensure the race route will have adequate water and energy drink stations, besides cool sponge and orange stations. They also ensure medical base camp at the start/finish venue, medical stations along the route besides doctors on motorbikes and ambulances at regular intervals.

This annual event will see the introduction of a 5K Timed Run to attract new runners and provide them with an opportunity to participate in a National level running event. Supported by Indiabulls Home Loans and Cigna TTK, the IBVVMM will be held at New Viva College in Virar. The event will also see the addition of an age category in the Women’s Full Marathon.

IBVVMM 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 public-private partnership has ensured that it is one of the country’s very few sports events to offer the highest prize money — a fund worth `45 lakhs, rewarding both professional and amateur athletes in various age group categories. Additionally, a separate prize fund for participants from the Vasai-Virar belt has also been created to encourage the amateur runners from the region.

“The Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation in tandem with sponsors and partners is committed to keep growing the Vasai-Virar Mayor’s Marathon and continues to extend 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 and the 11K Run for men and women,” Jadhav said.

Another runner in the event Ashwini Hooda, DMD, Indiabulls Housing Finance, who finished 5k event last year at his personal best in below 20 minutes, said, “This is the second largest running event in Mumbai (after Mumbai Marathon). The event stands for ideal weather and track conditions for runners while enthusiasm of supporters bring huge energy to IBVVMM. Last year’s event saw participation of more 15,000 runners and through greater publicity in Mumbai and Vasai-Virar, Indiabulls aims to scale up the event by adding more than 20,000 runners by 2019.”