Runners in action during the 14th edition of the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon in Hyderabad on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR
Hyderabad put its best foot forward on Sunday as the city hosted the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2025, with a record 28,000 participants pounding the streets in what has now become India’s second-largest marathon.
Runners in action during the 14th edition of the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon in Hyderabad on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR
The event, flagged off at dawn from People’s Plaza on Necklace Road, wound its way through the city’s landmarks, including Tank Bund, Punjagutta flyover, KBR Park, Jubilee Hills Check Post, Road No. 45 and the Durgam Cheruvu cable bridge, before concluding at the G.M.C. Balayogi Stadium in Gachibowli.
Runners in action during the 14th edition of the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon in Hyderabad on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR
About 5,000 runners came from over 150 Indian cities, while 56 athletes from India, Kenya and Ethiopia added an international edge to the event.
Runners in action during the 14th edition of the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon in Hyderabad on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR
For many, the challenge was personal. Edla Ramesh, an employee at NIMS, Hyderabad, completed his second marathon. “I completed my second marathon today. It was both challenging and rewarding,” he said.
Runners in action during the 14th edition of the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon in Hyderabad on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR
Vikram Goud, a lead volunteer, admitted that the flyovers test every runner’s endurance. “This is being considered the toughest marathon in the country because of the flyovers. Across the world, marathons are run on flat courses, but our city has slopes. Even then, we had many aged participants and physically challenged runners completing the course.”
Runners in action during the 14th edition of the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon in Hyderabad on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR
One such example was Sivabalan Pandian, a runner from Mumbai who is a month away from turning 67 and has already completed 950 marathons. “This was my 951st. I started running at 54, first walking, then running, and then it became an addiction. At this age, what else matters more than health?,” he said.
Runners in action during the 14th edition of the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon in Hyderabad on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR
Published – August 24, 2025 09:12 pm IST
