Hyderabadis woke up on Sunday to the Air Tel Hyderabad Marathon buzz on the entire stretch with hundreds of enthusiasts lined up on either side of the route to lustily cheer about 10,000 participants in the event, perhaps the biggest of all the Hyderabad Happening events being organised by the Telangana State Government.
The Run which was flagged off at 5 am at Hussainsagar Lake, featured three categories of races – full marathon (42.195 km), half-marathon and the most popular 5 K run from the GMC Balayogi Stadium
For me it was like homecoming and I am thrilled to complete this event, said the 37-year-old Dr. Badrinath Prathi, former HCA physio and now with the Delhi Cricket Association. “It is a great experience to complete my maiden marathon and full credit should go to the volunteers who have been fabulous right through,” the Delhi-based runner informed ‘The Hindu’. A notable attraction was the woman blade runner Kiran Kanojia.
Venkatesh Vijayraghavan, CEO, Bharti Air Tel, AP and Telangana said more than 90 Corporate groups participated. K. T. Rama Rao, Minister for IT and Panchayat Raj, gave away the Corporate Trophy to United Health Group.
One of the star attractions was well-known marathon coach Bill Pierce, who was also the event ambassador and who completed 40 marathons so far.
