Mumbai Marathon

Mumbai Marathon

Runners at the 2008 Mumbai Marathon.
Date Third Sunday of January
Location Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Distance Marathon
Primary sponsor Standard Chartered
Established 2004 (2004)
Course records Men's: 2:09:32 (2013)
Jackson Kiprop
Women's: 2:24:33 (2013)
Valentine Kipketer
Official site http://www.procamrunning.in/scmm/

The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, abbreviated as SCMM, is an annual international marathon held in Mumbai, India, on the third Sunday of January every year. It is the largest marathon in Asia as well as the largest mass participation sporting event on the continent. It is the richest race in India with a prize pool of USD 377,000.

SCMM has five different race categories: Marathon (42.195 km), Half Marathon (21.097 km), Dream Run (6 km), Senior Citizens' Run (4.3 km), and Champions with Disability (2.4 km).

The course records set in 2013 were the fastest times ever run for a marathon in India in the women's marathon category – 2:24:33 by the women's winner Valentine Kipketer, Kenya. In 2016, Gideon Kipketer broke the men's marathon record, completing the race in 2:08:35.

The marathon is an event where people from all walks of life participate including Bollywood celebrities, sports personalities, business tycoons and amateur athletes.

History

Inspired by the London Marathon, Procam International believed that Mumbai would support such a road race. The first event was held in 2004, then titled as the Standard Chartered Mumbai International Marathon.

The race became an IAAF Silver Label Road Race in 2009. The IAAF elevated the race to an IAAF Gold Label Road Race in 2010.

In 2005 SCMM was included as one of the legs of "The Greatest Race on Earth", an event sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank. The other three legs of this four-marathon race were the Singapore Marathon, the Nairobi Marathon and the Hong Kong Marathon.

Organization

SCMM is the property of Procam International Pvt. Ltd., a Mumbai based sports management company. Procam International also owns other road races in India such as the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bangalore, and Tata Steel Kolkata 25K.

The Race

The five categories cater to different participants. They are the Marathon (42.195 km), Half Marathon (21.097 km), Dream Run (6 km), Senior Citizens Event (4.3 km), and Champions with Disability Event (2.4 km).

The marathon starts opposite Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai. It passes many of the city’s iconic locations such as Flora Fountain, Marine Drive, Chowpatty, Haji Ali, Mahim Church, and the Bandra–Worli Sea Link. The London marathon winner and the secretary of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, Hugh Jones, is the race director.

Past winners

Key:   Course record

Edition Year Men's winner Time (h:m:s) Women's winner Time (h:m:s)
1st 2004  Hendrick Ramaala (RSA) 2:15:47  Wioletta Uryga (POL) 2:47:53
2nd 2005  Julius Sugut (KEN) 2:13:20  Mulu Seboka (ETH) 2:35:03
3rd 2006  Daniel Rono (KEN) 2:12:03  Mulu Seboka (ETH) 2:33:15
4th 2007  John Kelai (KEN) 2:12:27  Yang Fengxia (CHN) 2:36:16
5th 2008  John Kelai (KEN) 2:12:23  Mulu Seboka (ETH) 2:30:04
6th 2009  Kenneth Mugara (KEN) 2:11:51  Kebebush Haile (ETH) 2:34:08
7th 2010  Denis Ndiso (KEN) 2:12:40  Bizunesh Urgesa (ETH) 2:31:09
8th 2011  Girma Assefa (ETH) 2:09:54  Koren Jelela (ETH) 2:26:56
9th 2012  Laban Moiben (KEN) 2:10:48  Netsanet Achamo (ETH) 2:26:12
10th 2013  Jackson Kiprop (UGA) 2:09:32  Valentine Kipketer (KEN)[1] 2:24:33
11th 2014[2]  Evans Rutto (KEN) 2:09:33  Dinknesh Mekash (ETH) 2:28:08
12th 2015[3]  Tesfaye Abera (ETH) 2:09:46  Dinknesh Mekash (ETH) 2:30:00
13th 2016  Gideon Kipketer (KEN) 2:08:35  Shuko Genemo (ETH) 2:27:50

The event helped bridge the gap between Indian elite athletes and the international elite. SCMM provides Indian runners with a platform to compete with the best in the world. The dream of qualifying for the London Olympics became a reality for Ram Singh Yadav, who clocked his best marathon time of 2:16:59 at the 2012 edition.

Charity

SCMM is India’s largest charity platform for non-profit organisations to raise funds. NGOs represent causes such as arts, culture and sports, civic and community development, disability, education, environment and wildlife, health, human rights, social services, vocational training, and women, children and the aged. Organizations register with the Event’s official Philanthropy Partner, United Way Mumbai. Some NGOs used this event as a platform to raise awareness for their work, and some to directly raise funds. Fundraising is facilitated by an easy-to-use model designed for all groups to raise funds.

Over ₹1.6 billion (USD 24 million) has been raised from year 2004 to year 2016.

The first race in 2004 had 22,000 participants and raised ₹14.4 million (USD $269,000). Both the number of participants and amount of money raised rose drastically over the years with 30,000 people running in 2007 (₹79.4 million, USD $1,490,000). The 2016 edition hosted 42,000 runners (₹281 million USD 4,194,000 for 286 NGOs).

Dream Team

This special category is meant for highly motivated individuals who feel passionately about a cause and commit to raise a substantial sum of funds. Over the years, the Dream Team has seen a mix of business magnates, celebrities, socialites, NGO trustees and students. Levels include:

Corporate Challenge

The Corporate Challenge is a category for companies who wish to sponsor employee teams to participate in event and raise funds. 166 companies fielded 257 Corporate Challenge teams at SCMM 2013.

Pledge Raising

Fundraising through SCMM is encouraged through donations/contributions received from friends, family, and colleagues in support of the charity/cause chosen by the participant.

The 10th edition raised a record INR 180 million for 217 NGOs.

Philanthropy Partner

United Way of Mumbai is SCMM's Philanthropy Partner. UWM assumes the role of a "Philanthropy Exchange" for charities and non-profit organizations that register with the Event. The Philanthropy Partner's roles are to:

UWM maintains neutrality and ensures a level playing field among all participating NGO's. UWM also serves as an assurance to the donor that the NGO and the cause for which money is being donated are credible.

Sponsors/partners

Pre-race activity

A week before the race an Expo is organized where the runners can collect their running bibs and kit. The expo hosts a range of running related product stalls that cater to the runners. For those stationed outside Mumbai a special expo is held on Saturday before race day.

Standard Chartered hosts a Pasta Party on the Saturday morning before race day. The Pasta Party celebrates the running tradition of carbo-loading. A pasta cooking competition is held where the organizers, sponsors, event ambassadors and special guests have a cook out.

Flame of Marathon

SCMM was the youngest marathon to be awarded the "Flame of the Marathon". It was flown in from Greece by Maria Polyzou, Greek Marathon Champion and Director of the Museum of Marathon Runs. They were received by then Mayor of Mumbai Smt. Shraddha Jadhav at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The flame was carried by sports luminaries, celebrities, sponsors/partners and dignitaries from the government in a flame relay to the Hutatma Chowk in Fountain, Mumbai. The participants of the torch relay were celebrities including Priya Dutt, Jaspal Bindra, Rahul Bose, John Abraham, Shobha De, Milind Soman, Dhanraj Pillay and Kiran More.

Anthem

SCMM's official anthem was composed by Taufiq Qureshi, with lyrics by Rachna Dixit and sung by Shaan. It was released in December 2010. The music was inspired by the sound of Mumbai.[4]

Trophy

To commemorate SCMM's 10th edition, a rolling trophy was instituted, to be handed over to the men’s and women’s marathon champions.

The trophy was unveiled by Shri K. Sankaranarayanan, Governor of Maharashtra.

The trophy was designed by artist and sculptor Shri Paresh Maity.

Event Ambassadors

The international ambassadors for the Mumbai Marathon have been:

Bollywood actor John Abraham is the Face of the Event.

References

  1. ↑ Mumbai Marathon 2013 Winner
  2. ↑ "Kenyan Evans Ruto, Ethiopian's Dinknesh Mekash sweep titles, Lalita Babbar breaks Indian Women's course record". Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  3. ↑ "Ethiopians ruled the roost in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2015". Online News India. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  4. ↑ "Mumbai Marathon anthem releases today". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
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