ProSportify Announces The Great India Run - The Country’s 1st Multi-City Ultra Marathon

by  EVENTFAQS Bureau Entertainment | March 3, 2016 | News

The Great India Run Marathon

ProSportify, with an ambition to shed light on sports beyond cricket in India, announced their second IP - The Great India Run. The multi-city marathon aspires to change the perception of running in the country, and will be flagged off on July 3, 2016 from the India Gate in New Delhi. The country will bear witness to a unique event featuring 12 elite runners making their way across six states to cover the distance between the capital city and the maximum city within 18 days. To convey the message that running is for everyone, the initiative has adopted the tagline - Jeet Har Kadam Par.

ProSportify began their journey last year, with Pro Wrestling League, and hope to further break boundaries with India’s first multi-city marathon. The cross-country run will witness 12 Indian and International runners set a new record for the fastest time, covering a distance of 1480 km. The inaugural edition of The Great India Run will see athletes Arun Bhardwaj, Mathias Jorgensen, Siddharth Choudhary, David Slotsgaard Bredo, Yuri Esperson, Lisa Stoddart, Meenal Sukhija, Satish Gujaran, Ranjana Deopa, Naresh Bharadwaj, Dinesh Heda, and Joginder Chandna, going the distance. The run will end at the Gateway of India in Mumbai on July 20, 2016. 

Speaking about his association with the Great India Run, celebrity and Iron Man participant, Milind Soman, who is also a keen promoter of running in India, said, “The running scene in India is beginning to gain momentum, and promoters such as ProSportify are bringing it to the fore inspiring events such as The Great India Run. Apart from helping to spread the message of health and fitness, the cross-country run will also aid our athletes as they compete at the Olympics. I think this will be a fantastic initiative and look forward to it.”

The Great India Run has partnered with mobile fitness start-up, MobieFit, creators of a free running and fitness training app which allow runners to get marathon-ready. The app also has a virtual TGIR challenge and users can participate remotely from wherever they are in the country and contribute to the cause by accumulating running distances. The ultra-marathon has also joined hands with GoSports Foundation who will be generating funds to be further donated to the country's deserving Olympians. The Great India Run is a call to all citizens, to come join the movement toward a healthier and fitter lifestyle, and join the ultra marathoners for either a 5km or 21km run in their city. 

The Great India Run intends to promote the universal concept of running and hopes to influence Indians towards a healthier, less sedentary lifestyle. Speaking about the event, conceptualiser, Vishal Gurnani, Director - ProSportify said, “The mission of ProSportify is to break boundaries when it comes to any of our properties. So when we wanted to bring out a running intellectual property, it was only natural that it would be truly one-of-a-kind. In a country that needs to get fit, The Great India Run serves as a clarion call to motivate people to take up running earnestly. This in turn, we hope, will cause a revolution to promote running, and inspire citizens helping eventually to support our countrymen at the Rio Olympics.”
 
Commenting on the event, MobieFit co-founder and actress Gul Panag said, “It is great to see more running initiatives in the country. Apart from the awareness generated about running, it shows citizens that anyone can run. It is a great opportunity to see self-made athletes take this up, and they are truly an inspiration to all.”

Registrations for the ultra marathon is open from Mar 3, 2016 on the www.thegreatindiarun.com and the Mobiefit app. Registration fee start at INR 350 for 5 km and INR 600 for 21 km. 

*Festivals, Lifestyle, Sports, and Business... Click here for the full list of categories in Event Intellectual Properties at WOW Awards Asia 2016.