09 Dec 2017  |   04:52am IST

Goa River Marathon is back

The 2017 edition of Goa River Marathon (GRM) is scheduled to take place this Sunday, on December 10, 2017. Café finds out what’s happening this year at GRM

Team Café

It is that time of the year when fitness

enthusiasts are gearing up to make a run for the yellow line. Goa River Marathon is back in its 2017 avatar and one that marathoners have been eagerly waiting for. Ever since Suresh Raina and Kavita Tungar unveiled the logo of the 2017 edition of Goa River Marathon a few months ago, the buzz around the annual marathon event has been palpable. For the uninitiated, the annual Goa River Marathon is a 42 km run on a picturesque route along the Zuari River in Vasco, held every year in the second week of December, organised by Vasco Sports Club. Goa River Marathon (GRM) also features in the top five marathons of India.

Completing a feat like the marathon requires dedication, practice and a rigorous regime that challenges your limits. Goa River Marathon has been catering to all kinds of runners - marathon and half marathon routes for long distance marathoners, 10K route for short distance runners and a 5K route for everyone who wants to have some fun whilst staying fit.

This year, the marathon will begin in the early morning hours of December 10, 2017 - at 4:30 am, followed by the half marathon at 6 am. The 10 km competitive run will be flagged off at 7:30 am while the 5 km fun walk / run event will begin at 9 am. Furthermore, to ensure that the participants are adequately hydrated, the organisers have set up hydration points at regular intervals. Every alternate hydration station also has medical aid staff and additionally, there will be four or five emergency response ambulances patrolling the route. The route will be closed to vehicular traffic for at least six hours. Participants will be eyeing to secure a pie of the total prize money of over Rs 7 lakh that is spread across categories this year.