Indore Marathon '09 | History & Us
Marathon traces its history back to as far as the 1st century AD when paeans were sung about the unbelievable run of Pheidippides, from Marathon to Athens to convey the message that the Persians were defeated. This event formed the basis of this great run, making its way into the first modern Olympic Games in Athens (1896). Marathons over the last few decades are being run across the world to test the runners’ stamina and determination levels, putting them under intense physical and mental pressure.
The concept of Marathon has undergone a multitude of changes in recent times. It has now assumed great significance not only in the field of athletics, but also at a social level. Marathons are held all over the world, all year round, to promote and champion causes ranging from AIDS awareness, to promoting peace, to fighting disability, etc. Marathons have thus metamorphosed into becoming platforms for people to express their unity and solidarity for a cause. It is this recognition by the people who may not be strictly be athletes, that passion towards a cause can and does overshadow physical pain.
October 2nd, 2008 was a symbolic moment for the IIM Indore community, for it was on this eventful day that the first steps were taken to utilize this unique medium to mobilize masses to associate and express themselves for a common cause. Close to 5000 people ran for Peace, establishing what will now become an Annual event that the whole of Indore looks forward to. Calling this event a grand success would be an understatement; the only way to describe it is that it achieved what it was meant to achieve.
Organizing the Indore Marathon has never been smooth sailing. With bouquets, came brickbats in plentiful. At times, the Marathon Team was censured by many regular Marathon runners across the country. We were repeatedly told that our event did not deserve to be called a ’marathon’, as it did not qualify as one, according to the distances assigned for an event to be called a ’marathon’.
We couldn’t agree with them more. We massively fall short of the stipulated requirement of a Marathon distance of 42 kms. However, in our defence, we would like to say that this is just the beginning. We planted a seed which started to germinate in 2008 and will be bigger and better in 2009. Eventually, the Indore Marathon will touch the 42 km-mark in the not-so-distant future. The Indore Marathon is a young and fresh brand, trying and testing itself in unchartered territory. As and when the Marathon grows, people over will know what we stand for and what has been our history. We are just working towards building that history in our own small way.
A child doesn’t start running right after it takes its first few steps. It starts with those beautiful baby steps, progresses with its strides and finally culminates into a fast, rhythmic foot movement. We are still in the infant phase taking baby steps, but even those have immense confidence backing them up. And they promise that one day they will grow into a perpetual series of matched leg motions, capable enough to cover any distance possible.
One day, they will be running... a Marathon!