Hyderabad: Over 25,000 runners participated in Airtel Hyderabad Marathon 2019 at Necklace Road in Hyderabad on Sunday. More than 1,600 Optum employees also participated in the 9th annual Airtel Hyderabad Marathon 2019.
The 5K run and 5K CXOs run which has been flagged off by Minister for Tourism, Telangana, V Srinivas Goud and IAS Rayesh Ranjan, secretary, IT electronics & communications department in the presence of dignitaries.
Several enthusiastic runners participated in the marathon supporting different social causes. The Airtel Hyderabad Marathon is aimed at active participation from corporates has focussed at CXOs and CEOs.
ABOUT AIRTEL HYDERABAD MARATHON
The Airtel Hyderabad Marathon is the Flagship event of Hyderabad Runners Society and a signature event of Hyderabad City. It is held on the last Sunday of August every year. Started in 2011 with an aim to spread awareness about running, active lifestyle and to bring the city together for one cause.
Airtel Hyderabad Marathon has grown from being a 1,250 participant event in 2011 to being the country’s 2nd largest event and among the top most popular marathons, with more than 21,000 participants in 2018. There has been a 25% growth in participants Year on Year.
The race starts from the heart of the city, at Peoples Plaza, and takes the runners through the prime areas of Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, the IT corridor and terminates at the Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Gachibowli.
Hyderabad as a city is known for its history and world famous Biryani and pearls. However, today with the number of people taking up fitness activities for an active lifestyle, it has emerged as one of the leading cities in India in terms Sporting Culture.
Airtel Hyderabad Marathon is a great platform for awareness with 1000’s of runners directly participates.
For the sixth consecutive year, Optum, a United Health Group (NYSE: UNH) company, was awarded the trophy for Maximum Employee Participation.
This year’s Optum team included over 1,300 men and 330 woman.
More than 150 employees ran the 21k half marathon, and 16 employees ran for the 42K full Marathon, exceeding last year’s numbers. LiveWell, a part of Optum employee assistance program, helped the employees enhance their running techniques through regular coaching and practice runs designed to help them prepare for this annual running event.
Optum also supported CHORD NGO, a local non-profit organization that helps foster social and qualitative changes for underprivileged children and their families in the desperately poor sections of society, to organize a first-of-its-kind 5K for underprivileged children, with the goal of instilling in the children the importance of fitness and healthy living during their formative years.
“Optum is pleased to win the Maximum Employee Participation trophy at the Airtel Hyderabad Marathon for the sixth year in a row,” said Kshitij Kashyap, vice president of Human Capital, Optum Global Solutions, and an avid runner himself. “Each year we have seen a steady growth in employee participation, which affirms Optum commitment to fitness and holistic wellness. The Optum LiveWell program helps people maintain a healthy lifestyle and achieve their health and fitness goals.’’