Over 330 runners from 22 different countries have registered for the upcoming Bhutan International Marathon as of today. Unlike in the past, the Bhutan International Marathon this year will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will be held on the 17th of this month.
The 8th edition of the Bhutan International Marathon this year will be organized virtually through the Bhutan Amateur Athletics Federation (BAAF) Running Club on Strava. Runners will be able to compete in three different categories of 21 kilometres, 10 kilometres, and five kilometres. Strava is a fitness-tracking and social media app designed for runners and cyclists with three main features like tracking, connecting, and competing. User can track their fitness via GPS within the app.
“Using any smartphones, we can download the Strava app from the play store. Then if you want to take part in the upcoming Bhutan International Marathon, you have to join the BAAF running club. In that group, we will have a Google link to collect data on runners. On the main event day, as soon as the runners fill up their timings, we will be able to access all the records immediately through the app,” said Tshitrem Yoezer, a Coach at the BAAF.
Likewise, he added, unlike in the past, winners will not be awarded any cash prizes this time. However, participants will be provided with e-certificates.
“Since we cannot completely trust all the timings and running stats shared by various runners, we have decided to not give any cash prizes this time. Rather, we are planning to provide them with e-certificates. This is because by using the app, we can cheat. For example, we can run along with a professional runner and using his phone, we can share his finishing timing. This way we can be deceived.”
Since the disruption in sports by the pandemic, the BAAF has conducted numerous virtual running events using the Strava app.
As per the Bhutan Olympic Committee, registration will remain open until the event day. As of today, the BOC has received 92 registrations from other parts of the world.
The Bhutan Olympic Committee conducts the event every year to develop running as a flourishing sport for the Bhutanese as well as offer international competitors, opportunities to experience the beauty and culture of Bhutan through the unique sporting exchange.
Last year over 350 participants including 68 international runners registered for the event. However, due to the first COVID-19 positive case, around 170 participants withdrew from the competition.
Passang Dorji
