On December 5th, Bengaluru will flag off the ninth edition of the Bengaluru Midnight Marathon (BMM) which, quite uniquely, is run in the dark. The concept was “inspired from the Midnight Sun Marathon that is hosted in Tromsø, Norway,” said chairman Viraf Sutaria in an interview with HuffPost India, “However the city (unlike Bengaluru) experiences broad daylight at the time.” he said. The event will feature star sportsmen including ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh, boxer Mary Kom and shuttler Saina Nehwal.
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Supposedly a tribute to the city itself, the marathon has, for the first time, received certification from AIMS – IAAF – Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, making it only one of two marathons in India to be certified and eligible as qualifiers for international runs, such as the Boston and Rome marathon.
Sutaria also explained that this atypical timing was chosen because of the weather: “The weather is cooler for the runners and the pollution lesser. A marathon of this scale – over 11,000 runners are expected to participate this year – also has heavy infrastructural requirements and the time slot that we have chosen reduces the marathon from being a (public) obstruction.”
![bengaluru midnight marathon]()
The Midnight Marathon also features its own collection of eclectic and inspiring runners. “One such runner, a gentleman named Manjunath from Kolar, runs the marathon barefoot,” said Sutaria “ We provided him with shoes on numerous occasions to participate. However he would unlace them and continue without shoes.” Sutaria also spoke about another runner who would complete every lap with a cartwheel – no small feat - as well as a few grateful people who had spoken about their change of lifestyle. Another regular wrote to the team saying he'd lost 40 kilograms since he took up running.
The first year of the run, in 2007, saw 2,500 participants, and picks a different theme every year. “This year the theme is ‘Run For (A) Happy Bengaluru,” said Sutaria. Two bands, Agam and Parvaaz, would be performing this year alongside several college and corporate bands and there would also be magic shows, flea markets, food stalls and dholaks peppering the run-route.
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Supposedly a tribute to the city itself, the marathon has, for the first time, received certification from AIMS – IAAF – Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, making it only one of two marathons in India to be certified and eligible as qualifiers for international runs, such as the Boston and Rome marathon.
Sutaria also explained that this atypical timing was chosen because of the weather: “The weather is cooler for the runners and the pollution lesser. A marathon of this scale – over 11,000 runners are expected to participate this year – also has heavy infrastructural requirements and the time slot that we have chosen reduces the marathon from being a (public) obstruction.”
The Midnight Marathon also features its own collection of eclectic and inspiring runners. “One such runner, a gentleman named Manjunath from Kolar, runs the marathon barefoot,” said Sutaria “ We provided him with shoes on numerous occasions to participate. However he would unlace them and continue without shoes.” Sutaria also spoke about another runner who would complete every lap with a cartwheel – no small feat - as well as a few grateful people who had spoken about their change of lifestyle. Another regular wrote to the team saying he'd lost 40 kilograms since he took up running.
The first year of the run, in 2007, saw 2,500 participants, and picks a different theme every year. “This year the theme is ‘Run For (A) Happy Bengaluru,” said Sutaria. Two bands, Agam and Parvaaz, would be performing this year alongside several college and corporate bands and there would also be magic shows, flea markets, food stalls and dholaks peppering the run-route.
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