Colombo Marathon set for 2 October

Chairman LSR Thilak Weerasinghe addressing media whilst (from left) CEO SriLankan Airlines Capt.  Suren Ratwatte and Chairman SriLankan Airlines Ajith Dias looks on.

By Madushka Balasuriya

The 16th annual Lanka Sportsreizen (LSR) Colombo Marathon (www.srilankamarathon.org) will take place on Sunday 2 October, it has been announced, with a record 7,500 runners - up from 6,500 last year - of all ages expected to take part. 

More than 200 foreign runners from over 40 countries are also taking part this year, with the increase in competitors seen as a sign of the growing popularity of the event on the global distance running calendar. 

Having secured both AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Running) and IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) certification, the LSR Colombo Marathon is also one of just 56 of the 110 AIMS members with voting rights. AIMS and IAAF certification also means that any world records set or broken at the Colombo Marathon are internationally recognised.

This year’s marathon, while being the largest yet, will also be a bittersweet affair with it being the final year that the much loved Colombo-Negombo route will be used. Originally known as the LSR International Marathon, the first five editions were held in Galle, Negombo, Kandy and Dambulla, before it was renamed the LSR Colombo Marathon and moved permanently to Colombo in 2004, where a route through to Negombo via the western coast has been in use ever since. 

However, from next year onwards certain areas of Colombo will be cordoned off, and the marathon will take place as a true ‘city marathon’.

“We have wanted to take this event to Colombo for a few years now but my only concern has been that we would have to close roads for up to six hours. These were the difficulties we had faced, but finally, with the help of the Police we found roads and a route which we could close for the required period of time,” explained LSR Chairman Thilak Weerasinghe. 

“We worked on having it for this year’s marathon actually, but we couldn’t get international approval. They said they required more time - at least six months prior to the event - to complete their evaluation. For now, we have the route mapped and we’re confident we will receive IAAF certification next year.”

This year’s event will begin at 6.00 a.m. at the Independence Square in Colombo and proceed towards the Negombo Beach Park via Borella, Dematagoda, Peliyagoda, Wattala, and around the scenic Muthurajawela Marshes along the Hamilton Canal, Pamunugama, Thalahena, Pitipana and Duwa.

Apart from the main Full Marathon, which is open to men and women 18 years and over, there will also be several subcategories: A Full Marathon - 50 years and above (Veterans); Half Marathon - 17 and above; Half Marathon 50 and above (Veterans); Fun Run 10-15 km and above; and Fun Run 5km-15 and above.

The winners of the men’s and women’s Full Marathon will receive $ 2,500 in prize money, while other prizes will also be on offer. Last year saw Antony Muga of Kenya and Sri Lanka’s B.G.L.A Bogahawaththa win the men’s and women’s Full Marathon events respectively, while in the Veteran’s category Sri Lanka’s Sunil Premarathne and Yen Nguyen of the United States came away victorious.

This year’s event will once again see SriLankan Airlines and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau support LSR in organising the event. The is also supported by the Western Provincial Council, the Ministry of Sports, the Athletic Association, the Colombo Municipal Council, the Negombo Municipal Council, the Sri Lanka Police and the Tri Forces.

Registrations for the marathon will be open on 1 October from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Find out more information on www.colombomarathon.com/cm_2015/Registration.