Media Release

Mangaluru, Nov 10: The most awaited marathon extravaganza of Karnataka’s coastal city – the Niveus Mangalore Marathon 2024 – achieved remarkable success, with over 5,000 participants painting the streets of Mangaluru blue on a bright Sunday, November 10 morning.

Runners of all ages and backgrounds, from Mangaluru and beyond, gathered at the start point – Mangala Stadium – where the energy and enthusiasm were palpable. The day began with a warm-up routine led by professionals from NMM2024’s fitness partner, Kasharp Fitness. The rhythmic beats of the chende drums added an extra layer of excitement, creating a festive atmosphere that set the tone for the race.

The event kicked off with the flag-off for the full marathon by Shashir Shetty, chief growth officer at Niveus Solutions, and Najma Farooqi, ACP Traffic, Mangaluru. This was followed by the 20-miler, flagged off by Satish Gujaran, event ambassador, and Kevin Pereira, senior vice president at Procam International. The half marathon was flagged off by Suyog Shetty, CEO of Niveus Solutions, alongside Shivanand and Shivanand Rao, partners at Grahini Masalas.

The 10K race, with over 1,200 participants, was flagged off by Manjoj Kumar, mayor of Mangaluru City Corporation, joined by Ananthesh Prabhu, MD of Aruna Masalas; Geetha Kulkarni, ACP CCRB; Kunal Dixit, CTO at Fed bank financials; Neil Mani Sahu, head of IT at JWS Paints; and Prabhu S, AVP IT at Shriram Group.

The 5K run which also featured a student run powered by CFAL, had a large number of participants and was flagged off by Krishna Hegde, DGM at MRPL, Anand Prabhu, MD, Kasharp Fitness, Umashanker Prasad, AGM at Canara Bank, Nikhil Bhushan, CTO of Starbucks, Kenuit Coelho, director IT at Shaadi.com, and Ashish Shah, partner manager at Google.

Police commissioner Anupam Agarwal, who was present at the felicitation ceremony, praised the marathon, stating, “Mangaluru needs more early morning celebrations like these, which bring the community together with energy and enthusiasm, rather than late-night parties.”

Also, in attendance were Vijay Moras, managing director of CFAL; Prashanth Shet, partner at SL Shet Jewellers, K S Rao Road; Rakesh Kamath, business development manager at Hangyo Ice Creams; and Prof Hilda Rayappan, founder-president of Prajna counselling Centre, the event’s charity partner.

The third edition of NMM showcased international participation from countries like Denmark, Ethiopia, Kenya, Spain, and Japan. The event hosted approximately 5,000 runners, including over 110 runners in the full marathon (42.2K), 150 in the 20-miler, 600 in the half marathon (21.1K), 1,200 in the 10K, 2,000 in the 5K, and 1,000 in the 2K Gammath Run. This impressive turnout highlighted the growing enthusiasm for fitness and long-distance running in Mangaluru.

The marathon route took runners through some of Mangaluru’s most scenic landscapes, providing breathtaking views of the city and its natural beauty. The 10K race ended at the Tannirbhavi ferry point, from where participants enjoyed a unique ferry ride back to the city, adding an adventurous element to the event.

Throughout the race, hydration, nutrition, and safety were prioritized, and the carefully designed route map received high praise. At the finish line, every finisher received a commemorative medal showcasing the intricately engraved art of Kambala, symbolizing strength, endurance, and cultural pride. This design beautifully reflected NMM2024’s marathon theme. The race concluded with a delicious breakfast, a perfect ending to an unforgettable experience.

Event ambassador Satish Gujaran, along with run ambassadors Deepthi, Karthik, and Paul renowned figures in the running community were honored for their contributions. The event was hosted by MC Anurag.

Sachin from Udupi emerged as the winner of the Full Marathon in the open men’s category with a time of 2:43:55, while Bijoya Barman from Assam took first place in the open women’s category with a time of 3:38:08. The provisional results will be uploaded on the event website after verification.

This monumental event was brought to life by the dedication of the Mangalore Runners Club, led by race director Abhilash Dominic, who, along with his team, worked tirelessly to make the marathon a reality. The support of sponsors, volunteers, medical professionals from KMC Hospital, the police force, and local administration was invaluable in ensuring smooth traffic management and an enriching experience for all participants.

The Niveus Mangalore Marathon 2024 was truly an extraordinary event, bringing together fitness enthusiasts from around the world in Mangalore. It celebrated community spirit, the pursuit of fitness, and a commitment to a healthy lifestyle, leaving a lasting impression on everyone involved