NMDC Hyderabad Marathon Set for August 29-30 with 32,000 Runners

The 15th edition of the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon is scheduled to take place in Hyderabad on August 29 and 30, bringing together approximately 32,000 registered participants. The event is organised by the Hyderabad Runners Society in partnership with NMDC Ltd, IDFC FIRST Bank, and the Government of Telangana.

The annual marathon has seen a significant rise in participants travelling from outside the region, reflecting a broader trend of sports tourism and running vacations, known as "runcations." Organisers reported that roughly 8,200 runners are travelling to the city for the event, including close to 4,200 participants from outside the Telugu states and about 4,500 from other parts within the Telugu states. Additionally, close to 90 international runners have registered for the upcoming races.

Rajesh Vetcha, founder of Hyderabad Runners and race director of the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon, stated that outstation participants contribute significantly to the local economy. According to Vetcha, visiting runners typically stay for at least one night, while around 30 percent stay for two nights, visiting local establishments and exploring the city alongside family and friends.

Arunkumar Kaliappan, president of the Hyderabad Runners Society, noted that participants increasingly look at marathons as a way to explore new destinations and experience the local culture and community spirit. Organisers across running circuits have also been creating multi-event series that encourage participants to travel across destinations to complete race circuits.

Representatives from the tourism and business sectors highlighted the growing economic role of athletic events. Sangeetha Parisaboina, incharge of the FTCCI Tourism Committee and director at FTCCI, noted that marathons help turn sporting fixtures into wider tourism opportunities that benefit local hospitality and retail businesses.

Dr Valmiki Hari Kishan, managing partner of Valmiki Travel and Tourism Solutions in Hyderabad, added that major sporting events increasingly act as catalysts for pre- and post-event travel, encouraging runners to combine their races with leisure trips across the host city.