Each race is a personal achievement, and every runner has their own unique reason for lining up on a half marathon start line. Not all races – particularly for new runners – are about time and position. Only one in 10 runners have completed a half marathon. So, just completing the distance is an achievement itself.
The 4th Half Marathon, organized by the Central Civil Services Cultural & Sports Board (CCSCSB), under the auspices of the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), in collaboration with the Youth Hostel Association of India (YHAI), was held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. The event featured three race categories—21 km, 10 km, and 5 km—designed to promote physical fitness and healthy lifestyle across all age groups, from 10 to 60 years. A total of 1,072 individuals including 833 males and 239 females participated in the Half Marathon.
The event was graced by distinguished guests, including Shri Praveen Kumar, a young and accomplished Indian Paralympic athlete, as the Guest of Honour, senior officers of DoPT, along with Shri Manoj Johri, National Chairperson of YHAI, Shri Amod Kanth, IPS (Retd), former DGP and several YHAI officials, and officials of other Departments.
Shri Praveen Kumar has brought immense pride to the nation with his exceptional performances in international competitions. He is a recipient of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (2024), India’s highest sporting honor, and was previously honored with the Arjuna Award (2021) for his outstanding achievements in para-athletics.
The race was flagged off by the Joint Secretary (Welfare) DoPT and Director (Welfare) DoPT along with senior YHAI officials. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from the Government officials and all races were completed on time ensuring its overall success.
Comprehensive arrangements were made for the participants, including registration and baggage counters, help desk, warm-up and Zumba areas, cool-down zones, refreshments, physiotherapists, medical team, and ambulances stationed both at the stadium and along the marathon route.
Finishing participants were awarded medals, while the winners in each category were presented with trophies and prize cheques. A total of 18 winners—9 males and 9 females—received prizes in the three race categories.
Praveen Kumar, the Guest of Honour, was accorded a warm welcome. In his address to the participants, he commended their dedication and enthusiasm, and encouraged them to pursue sports and fitness with passion. His presence was a source of great motivation for the participants, especially the younger generation. The event concluded with a vote of thanks to all participants and organizers for their enthusiastic participation, making the half marathon a huge success.
A half marathon is a road running event with a distance of 21.0975 kilometers – half the distance of a marathon. It is common for a half marathon event to be held concurrently with a marathon or 5K race, with a late start, early finish, or shortcut over roughly the same course.
For more experienced runners who might have a few half marathons under their belt already, completing the course within two hours is a popular goal. That equates to an average pace of 9:09 min/mile, or 5:41 min/km if you prefer to work in kilometers.
As per sources, the men’s half marathon world record is a phenomenal 57:30, which was set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha on 27 October 2024 at the Valencia Half Marathon. Kejelcha stormed to victory at this Super Half to take one second off Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo’s previous mark of 57:31, which he clocked at the Lisbon Half Marathon – another Super Half event – on 21 November 2021.
Educationist/Administrator/Editor/Author/Speaker
Commencing teaching in his early twenties, Prof Aggarwal has diverse experience of great tenure in the top institutions not only as an educationist, administrator, editor, author but also promoting youth and its achievements through the nicest possible content framing. A revolutionary to the core, he is also keen to address the society around him for its betterment and growth on positive notes while imbibing the true team spirit the work force along with.
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