Vizag hosts Navy Marathon 2019 on November 17

Visakhapatnam: With the ambition to make Vizag the landmark destination for runners across India and make a marathon the best experience for the runner, the sixth edition of the Vizag Navy Marathon 2019 is slated to be held on Sunday, November 17 2019.

Compared to the last five editions, the sixth edition of the Vizag Navy marathon is special as the race route has been certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Running (AIMS) which makes the Vizag Navy Marathon a qualifying race for world major marathons. Runners who run and achieve a qualifying time in this race can enter the Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon and New York City Marathon said Captain Animesh Nagar, Captain of adventures and sports and Officer of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC).

The AIMS certificate is going to attract runners not just from across India but the city will see a good number of internationally renowned runners gracing the event. We want to make this a signature running event in the country and make the City of Destiny – Vizag, a destination for all runners, Animesh Nagar and Commodore Rajesh Debnath, commanding officer of INS Kalinga added.

The poster for the Vizag Navy Marathon (VNM) was unveiled by VNM's Race Director Dr Muralidhar Nannapaneni and others. Muralidhar said that the run starts at Beach Road outside Viswapriya Function Hall and goes along the stretch of Beach Road towards Bheemili. "We are expecting the number of participants, both civilians from parts of the country and the globe and those from the navy, to touch 20,000," he added.

The Navy Marathon will be held in four categories such as Full Marathon titled Courage Run (42.195Kms), Half Marathon titled Destiny Run (21.1Kms), Friendship Run (10 km) and Run for Fun (5km), the organizers said.