Amongst other things, marathons are often associated with breathlessness, exhaustion, and a one-track mind trying to reach the end without collapsing. But what if we tell you that running can be a lot less stressful? And that there’s joy in experiencing the journey alone?
GoUnesco, an initiative founded by Ajay Reddy in 2012, is changing the game by organising Go Heritage Runs (GHR) across various heritage sites in India. With the dual objective of making running fun while also creating awareness, engaging local communities, and educating individuals, families, senior citizens willing to discover places of cultural significance, GHR’s 2018 edition has 9 marathons planned for its participants. The next marathon will be conducted in Coorg, Karnataka on 5 August 2018, Sunday. The registrations for the same have already opened.
These marathons are quite unlike anything else you might have seen. To begin with, they’re untimed and one can choose to either sprint, jog, or even leisurely stroll their way to the end. There are no restrictions in terms of age limit as well. In fact, people as old as 80 years and as young as 5 years have participated in the past. There are three run categories; 21km, 10km, and 5 km. The marathon will begin at 6 am in the morning from Field Marshal KM Cariappa College in Manderi.
Running past verdant coffee plantations while embracing the monsoon drizzle, the Coorg run has been carefully mapped out to include some of the most picturesque and historical locations along the way. You can interact with the locals—also known as the Kodava people. Or halt at Raja’s Seat for a panoramic view of the coffee and spice plantations below, before heading into the Western Ghats.
And if that still hasn’t quenched your thirst and there’s more you wish to discover about Coorg’s unspoken treasures, you can visit a bunch of other National Parks and waterfalls in the vicinity.
Bib and kits for the runners will be distributed on the Saturday before the run from 10 am-6 pm, at the run destination itself. From enroute refreshments like electrolytes and water to a GHR passport and stamp, the registration kit will include everything you need.
You can register for the marathon here. Registrations close on 25 July 2018. Find the marathon route here.
Feature Image Courtesy: Go Heritage Run
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