GOD'S OWN MARATHON.

Spice Coast Marathon 2016!

By Veloscope

February 1^st, 2017

Earth, sky, water and air redolent with the fragrance of spice. The Spice Coast Marathon is a test of the body and of the spirit but all along, the runners are aided and uplifted by the sights and the aroma as they run soaking in the history of what was once the Spice Capital of the East. A fact that was not lost on the 4,500+ participants who ran the full or the half marathons or the 8 Km. Family Fun Run on a misty November (the 13th) morning of 2016.

the mattanchery bridge.

The two Mattanchery Bridges make for to-see list for anyone in the city, apart from serving as the major transport route. Connecting the city of Kochi to Willingdon Island, India's largest man-made island, they are a thing of beauty alright.

Like most of the cities down south, Kochi wakes up very early, pre-dawn and sets about it's business as usual.

A quiet nervousness, perhaps? The wait for the start.

one last time.

beating the sun to the race.

"Give freedom to colours and then you shall meet the rainbow everywhere!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan

A visit to the spice capital and the first thing one would exclaim at is the exuberant spread of colours the city is soaked in. No colour is a favourite, yet no colour is left out. It's almost a celebration, on the streets and on water.

THE CITY TOUR.

The run was a festivity, an ode to the times gone by and a journey through times. The marathon had a landmark in every part of the route for the runners to visit, as they continued their 42 kilometers journey.

Running does get meditative and spiritual in a place like this.

are they here yet?

silence of the bridge is broken. March, march, march!

no letting the spirits down.

Intensity, dedication, joy! "I will take this road in my stride."

never too early to start.

different, yet same.

You put everything on the line and it’s been well worth it!! That final dash!

A destination marathon that does justice to the category. Difficult in nature and rewarding in spirit. Intricately knitting the spirit of the city and the craft of a serious marathon into one, the second edition of the Spice Coast Marathon brought in runners of all ages and groups to the relatively new city on the marathon map. Colourful architecture, ancient streets, gorgeous waterscapes and a route brimming with views; not an exaggeration calling it the 'God's own marathon'.