Ironman to bring full marathon to Gurgaon on Haryana Day

Abhishek Mishra, a 30-year-old resident of Gurgaon, who has won this year’s Ironman title in Spain, will launch the first community-oriented full marathon in Gurgaon on November 1.

Mishra said the full marathon will be titled Millennium City Marathon and it will be launched on November 1, which is also celebrated as Haryana Day.

The runner, who won the Ironman race in September, also plans to bring the 37-year-old event to India by next year.

The Ironman race is one of the world’s toughest one-day triathlon, comprising 3.8km of swimming, 180km of bicycling and 42km of running, to be completed in 17 hours.

Narrating his experience of the Ironman event that he won in September, Mishra said, “When I was in the middle of the race, a facilitator informed me that I am out of the race as I had failed to reach a distance of 125km within the required time. I was devastated but I continued with the race.”

“It was after completing the race that I got to know that I had won the title and the facilitator had the wrong information,” he said.

“So, it was my determination and hope that kept me going in the tough situation. I experienced failure and success both in one race,” he said.

Talking about the marathon, he said it is an initiative towards community building, healthy living and making Gurgaon greener.

The running event will be one-of-its-kind opportunity for tourists, runners and local residents to explore the city and adopt a healthy lifestyle, he said.

The marathon will start from Chowdhry Bakhtawar Singh Road and head towards Netaji Subash Marg.

After crossing DLF Golf Course Road, Gurgaon-Faridabad Road, St Thomas Marg and Vikas Marg, the marathon will reach Chowdhry Bakhtawar Singh Road again.

Mishra, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, has been living in Gurgaon for the past eight years. He quit his corporate job to take to running. He holds and engineering degree with a masters in marketing and international business.