Mysore: The fourth edition of Celebration Mysore Half Marathon and 10-km run was flagged off by SP Abhinav Ashok Khare from Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple in city early morning on Sunday September 7.

Prior to the flag off the participants were given a warm up session by a group of Zumba trainers. There were nearly 3,000 runners, most of them from the city and a good number of them from other places.

The event also saw about 100 specially-abled employees of Vinyas, a city-based industry, participating in the run.

The events were held in three distance categories: A 5 km Celebration Run & Walk for participants above 11 yrs (boys and girls), 10 kms Run: Open Category (16 yrs to 45 yrs), Senior Category (46 yrs to 60 yrs) and Veteran Category (61 yrs and above for Men & Women), 21 kms Half Marathon: Open Category (16 yrs to 45 yrs), Senior Category (46 yrs to 60 yrs) and Veteran Category (61 yrs and above for Men and Women).

P.B. Mithra, Director, Life is Calling Sports, Bangalore, who conducted the run, speaking to SOM said that the event was scheduled for today morning so that the participants from outside Mysore could have the weekend to enjoy the culture and heritage of Mysore before they run and head back to their cities.

He further said that this year’s event saw nearly 600 to 700 more participants than last year.

The winners were announced later but the timings of the winners is set to be announced later this evening. Prizes were distributed by City Police Commissioner Dr. M.A. Saleem, Raja Velu of Karnataka Athletic Assn. and Sridhar, Senior Divisional Manager of LIC.