Centroxy Bhubaneswar City Marathon: 6th edition sees remarkable participation

Bhubaneswar: Kalinga Runners Trust successfully organised the 6th edition of the annual Centroxy Bhubaneswar City Marathon, starting from the iconic Shikhar Chandi temple gate, here on Sunday.

The event was flagged off by Dr Sarthak Pattnaik, orthopaedic surgeon, and Dukhshyam Padhi, president of Kalinga Runners, in the presence of Swati Mohanty, vice-president Kalinga Runners, Sangram Keshari Jena, secretary of Kalinga Runners, Jajati Badu, founder CEO of Centroxy, Deepak Kumar Mishra, race director at Kalinga Runners, and Anil Mohapatra, race convenor at Kalinga Runners.

Expressing their commitment to promoting fitness and supporting enthusiasts, Padhi said, “One run can change your day, many runs can change your life. We are Kalinga Runners, a sports club in Odisha working for uplifting and supporting current and upcoming fitness enthusiasts.” He also highlighted the trust’s pride in having Centroxy as the sponsor for the fourth consecutive year.

Over 600 participants from various parts of India had gathered in this edition of the marathon. The event featured three run categories – Half Marathon (21km), 10km and 5km, with cash prizes and trophies awarded to the top three finishers in both men’s and women’s divisions.

Badu, expressed his pride in being associated with Kalinga Runners for the past four years, emphasising the positive impact of running on mental strength and personal achievement.

Notable participants included an 80-year-old woman running 10km from a distant Odisha village and Babita from Kalinga Runners, who had recently completed a 42km marathon in Mumbai wearing the traditional Sambalpuri saree, showcasing the pride of Odisha. Differently-abled participants and amateur runners also joined the run, making it a diverse and inclusive event.

This year’s marathon was a timed event, adhering to national standard marathon guidelines, providing a platform for participants to push their limits and achieve their personal bests.