After months of staying indoors, you may yearn for a fitness regimen in the great outdoors. What better way to burn off the pandemic weight than running off those calories in some of the most picturesque setups in India. All the huffing and puffing is sure to bear rewards. While the elevations and trails may leave you breathless, so will the views. From Gokarna to Munnar, we’ve rounded up a list of marathons in India in 2021-2022:
Goa River Marathon
This December, do Goa a little differently. Take some time off from bumming around the beach and the buzzing nightlife to run along the picturesque Zuari river with the beautiful island of St. Jacinto in the background. In its 11th year, the Goa marathon attracts locals, tourists, and celebrities from all over the country.
Distance: You can choose between 42km, 21km, 10km, or 5km
New Delhi Marathon
The New Delhi Marathon is back in its sixth edition. This year, the race will begin at JLN Stadium in the city. To participate, you will have to present a certificate that proves you have been vaccinated with both doses.
Distance: You can opt to run 21km, 10km, or 5km.
Aravali Trail Run, Gurugram
This one is for beginners and pro runners alike. You can choose to run as little as 8km or an ultra which means you will spend 12 hours in the beautiful Aravalli forests. The running trail is a combination of rough, uneven and flat terrains.
Distance: You can choose to run 85km, 68km, 51km, 34km, 17km or 8km.
Malshej Ghat Winter Marathon
Held in a mountain pass in the Western Ghats in Maharashtra, you are promised gorgeous views on this run. Rivers, hills, green fields, waterfalls and dams are just some of the many things you will pass by on your run along this route.
Distance: You can opt for 21k, 15k, 10k, 5k or 3k
Gokarna Half Marathon 2022
Fancy the idea of a ‘run-cation’? Race along the beaches of this beautiful town in Karnataka. The run begins from Gokarna Beach, and is designed for both walkers as well as pro runners, with varying distances.
Distance: You can choose to run 21k, 10k or 5k.
Munnar Half Marathon
The marathon route winds through the tea plantations, grasslands and forests of this hill station in Kerala. You’re sure to see 50 shades of green for as long as you keep running along the mud paths.
Distance: You can choose to run 71k, 42k, 21k or 7k.
Maha Marathon in varying cities
Maha Marathon organised by the media group Lokmat will be held in Aurangabad, Pune, Kolhapur, Nagpur and Nashik between December and February. While you can choose to run in an individual city, you can also go for a multi-city circuit run of 21km and 10km in three to five cities.
Distance: Depends on the city you choose. The distance could be between 5km to 21km.Maha Marathon organised by the media group Lokmat will be held in Aurangabad, Pune, Kolhapur, Nagpur and Nashik between December and February. While you can choose to run in an individual city, you can also go for a multi-city circuit run of 21km and 10km in three to five cities.
Distance: Depends on the city you choose. The distance could be between 5km to 21km.
Garhwal Temple Run 3.0, Uttarakhand
This run is not for the weak-hearted. There are three categories: Lite (a one-day run), Heavy (a two-day run) and Run the Sun (a 12-hour run from sunrise to sunset). Runners will cover a distance of anywhere between 25km to 102km depending on the category. Those who choose the latter will run to an elevation of 8,000ft over two days, with a night’s rest in a homestay in Chirbatiya village. The path traverses tar roads with patches of mud roads through dense jungles and villages.
Distance: You can choose to run 25km, 75km, 102km.
Chandigarh Freedom Ultra Run
Here’s your chance to run or cycle for a cause. This marathon donates all its proceeds to Arushi, an organisation that works with differently-abled children. The ultra run starts from Sukha Lake in Chandigarh and traverses through lush fields before it ends at the Maharani Club in Patiala.
Distance: If you aren’t experienced enough to run an ultra (75km), you can opt to run 21km.
The Buddha Trails, West Bengal
The beautiful forests of Sandakphu near Darjeeling form the setup for this race. Held around springtime, runners will pass by rows of pink and red rhododendrons and magnolia blooms, and four peaks–Mt Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu during the run. The route is a combination of easy-accent slopes and rocky outcrops overlooking the valley below.
Distance: You can choose between a 12k, 30k and 65k run.
Original Post CN Traveller.com
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