WHAT: The Amway Darjeeling Police Marathon — Let’s run for peace
WHY: To send across the message of peace and harmony in the hills
WHEN: 9am on Sunday, January 12, 2014
ORGANISED BY: Darjeeling police and the state department of tourism. The title sponsor is Amway, the associate partner is The Telegraph
THE DISTANCE: 13km. Strictly
speaking, the distance does not make the run a marathon, which should
be 42.19km. But on hilly terrain, a 41km run may be tough for many
participants
WHERE: The run starts from Ghoombhanjyang, near the Ghoom railway station, and ends at Chowrasta, Darjeeling town’s famous promenade
ROUTE: From Ghoombhanjyang
through Sukhia Road, Tenzing Norgay Road (which is NH55), 18th Lebong
Cart Road, Birch Hill Road, Mall Road to Chowrasta
HOW TO ENTER: With Rs 100,
register at any one of the 14 police stations in Darjeeling district or
one of the seven police outposts. Registration for local residents will
close at 9am on Saturday, but outstation runners will be allowed to
register till 3pm on Saturday
MEDICAL CHECK-UP:
Participants will have to undergo medical check-up at Dali police line
that will start from 9.30am on Saturday. The earlier you turn up, the
better, as the queue is expected to be long and the number of runners
may far exceed the number of T-shirts available. “Once the check-up is
over, we will hand over T-shirts to the participants. We ordered 1,000
T-shirts as we were expecting around 800 runners. We have decided to
give the T-shirts on first-come, first-serve basis,” said Sudeep
Sarkar, additional superintendent of police, Darjeeling. Till 5pm on
Thursday, 997 participants had registered
WHAT IF T-SHIRTS RUN OUT: Those who enroll and complete the health check-up can still run. They would not be barred, the police have assured
WHEN TO REPORT: By 8am on Sunday, participants must reach Ghoom
WORD ON WEATHER: Outstation runners not used to hill climes must be prepared for 10-12 degree Celsius during the run
PRIZE: The winner in both
the male and female categories will receive a cash prize of Rs 1.25 lakh
each. The first runner-up and second runner-up will get Rs 50,000 and
Rs 25,000 each, respectively. “Those finishing 4th, 5th, 6th,7th, 8th,
9th and 10th will get Rs 7,000, Rs 6,000, Rs 5,000, Rs 4,000, Rs 3,000,
Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000, respectively,” Sarkar said. The top ten will
also get gift hampers worth Rs 10,000 each. Certificates will be given
to the first 100 runners past the finishing line in both categories
STAR PARTICIPANTS: State
sports minister Madan Mitra and north Bengal development minister Gautam
Deb will flag off the event. Former Indian football team captain
Bhaichung Bhutia is expected to be present at the starting line to cheer
the runners. The Darjeeling police band will lead with the marathon
flame. A cultural event will be held at Chowrasta after the run. The top
three winners will be handed over prizes by chief minister Mamata
Banerjee at Chowrasta on January 22. The others will be given their
prizes and certificates on Sunday at the same venue
ROAD ARRANGEMENTS: Traffic
will be blocked along the route from 9am on Sunday. “We will give time
to the participants to complete the run in one hour. After one hour,
vehicles will leave Ghoombhanjyang and start collecting participants
who haven’t completed the run. The road will be opened for traffic
accordingly,” Sarkar said
WHERE WILL OUTSTATION RUNNERS STAY:
Outstation runners will be put up in four community halls at
Jorebunglow in Darjeeling town. Transport will be provided to reach the
marathon starting point
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