Could Gurgaon now be assuming a new identity, one that prioritises wellbeing and goes beyond its globally connected boardrooms? Well, this is what govt and the Gurgaon administration led by DC Nishant Kumar Yadav are hoping to achieve with the first edition of the Gurgaon Marathon, which is likely to boast a very large turnout this Sunday.
It’s not as if the city does not already have a fitness culture, promoted at one level by health-conscious executives and at another by the many members of running collectives that have sprouted here, comprising housewives, schoolkids and the elderly alike. Not to forget, of course, the cycling and walking groups.
The city has played host to road races before, but its first official marathon is being recognised by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. While this makes it a magnet for international runners, the city already boasts a number of residents who have taken part in iconic marathons abroad, not to mention ultramarathons, triathlons and Ironman events. For them, it’s a chance to embrace their home in a new light, to feel pride as Gurugrammers.
Sumit Singh, a regular marathoner and Ironman triathlon winner, said the Gurgaon Marathon has the potential to emerge as a major event because of the city’s running culture and the participation of Gurgaon residents in many global marathons.
This first edition has received more than 40,000 registrations. Much of this is bulk registrations from corporate organisations, but people from all walks of life have entered, including CEOs of India Inc, startup founders, Army, Air Force BSF and NSG officers, senior management from public institutions, as well as, of course, the many who have made running a happy habit.
“For any place to get on the map and be a destination for all activities, it should have an event like this,” said Group Capt Sameer Kumar, who will run in the 10km category.
So, what can this new ‘branding’ do for a place that regularly finds itself ranked the most polluted in the country? An urban space where one or a combination of potholed roads, garbage-strewn streets and pervasive choking dust brings down the quality of life for its residents?
Typically, a globally certified event generates exposure for the host city, a chance for it to present its best face. Certainly, the aim of the Gurgaon Marathon fits in with the open-to-all ethos of the NCR city, a cosmopolitan place to which people from across India and the world have migrated, one buzzing with a youthful vibe, boundless corporate ambition, and a determination to face day-to-day civic problems with a mix of activism and community spirit.
For the authorities, going all out to promote the marathon, it’s an opportunity to set a standard, to create an experience that is adopted by participants and spectators alike, and to commit to making this spring date an anticipated part of the city calendar. A successful 2024 Gurgaon Marathon can create a mark for the future, one the organisers must seek to emulate every year.
Officials said most people have registered for the 10km and 5km while mainly professional runners have registered for the full and half marathons. The winner will qualify for selection for the Olympics. “Many people from foreign countries have also registered themselves,” said Narender Singh, a member of the organising committee.
“The registrations have exceeded our expectations. It’s going to be a big event and people are turning out in large numbers from across sectors and communities to support the marathon,” said Nishant Yadav, the deputy commissioner. Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan is the event’s brand ambassador.
Three are competitive categories, in which winners will get cash rewards. Those running the full marathon (42.2km) will have to report at Leisure Valley Ground – the starting point – at 4am. The run will start at 4.30am. Only those aged 18 years and above can participate.
Here, then, is a wonderful opportunity for govt and civil society to put its best foot forward – literally – and demonstrate to its big neighbour to the north, and to the world too, that Gurgaon can put on a world-class show.