The Mumbai Marathon (known as the TataMumbai Marathon for sponsorship reasons by Tata Group),[1] 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 US$405000.
The Mumbai Marathon has six different race categories: Marathon (42.195 km), Half Marathon (21.097 km), Dream Run (6 km), Senior Citizens' Run (4.3 km), Champions with Disability (2.4 km), and a Timed 10K.
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 2020, Derara Hurisa broke the men's marathon record, completing the race in 2:08:09. In 2023, 2 new course records were set. For the men's, Hayle Lemi set a new record of 2:07:32 as the marathon's winner. For the women's, Anchialem Haymanot set a new record of 2:24:15 as the marathon's winner.
The event helped bridge the gap between Indian elite athletes and the international elite. Indian runner Ram Singh Yadav qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics with his best marathon time of 2:16:59 at the 2012 edition.
It was not held for two years in 2021 and 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following edition was held on 15 January 2023.[2]
History
Inspired by the London Marathon, Procam International believed that Mumbai would support such a road race. The first event was held in 2004, titled as the Standard Chartered Mumbai International Marathon. Standard Chartered Bank continued as the event's title sponsor for 14 years up until 2017. In 2018, the Tata Group and Tata Consultancy Services replaced Standard Chartered as the Marathon sponsor for a period of 10 years.[3]
In 2005, Mumbai Marathon was included as one of the legs of "The Greatest Race on Earth", sponsored by Standard Chartered. The other three legs of this four-marathon race were the Singapore Marathon, the Nairobi Marathon and the Hong Kong Marathon, which were all sponsored by the Bank as well.
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, which was taken away in 2013[4] remaining unlabelled until 2018 when the Silver Label was awarded. The 2019 edition was classified as a Gold Label again.[5]
Inspiration Medal
The inspiration medal is an award that started in 2018, when Tata Group took control of the event. The initiative was to increase participation and encourage marathoners to complete the marathon run (42 km).The medal has two sides, and it reads the finisher on one side and the inspiration on the other. Hence, it helps to share the joy of winning with their inspiration.[6][7][8]
The six 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 Timed 10K has been introduced from the 2018 edition of the Mumbai Marathon.
The Mumbai Marathon 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 ₹1.9 billion (US$29 million) has been raised from year 2004 to year 2017.
The first race in 2004 had 22,000 participants and raised ₹14.4 million (US$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, US$1,490,000). The 2017 edition hosted 42,000 runners (₹329 million, US$5,087,761).
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:
Dream Champion – minimum pledge of INR 1 million.
Dream Wizard – minimum pledge of INR 500,000
Dream Maker – minimum pledge of INR 100,000
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 Mumbai Marathon 2013.
Philanthropy Partner
United Way Mumbai is Mumbai Marathon'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:
Facilitate & supplement pledge raising efforts of individuals, companies and NGOs.
Create, build and communicate the Charity Structure.
Work on all aspects of Charity like registrations, race day logistics, communications and receiving donations.
Accounting & reconciling of Pledges.
Disbursement of funds to beneficiary NGOs.
80G receipts to all donors.
UWM maintains neutrality and ensures a level playing field among all participating NGOs. UWM also serves as an assurance to the donor that the NGO and the cause for which money is being donated are credible.
Flame of Marathon
Mumbai Marathon 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.
Trophy
To commemorate Mumbai Marathon's 10th edition, a rolling trophy was instituted, to be handed over to the men's and women's marathon champions.
