For some, it was a race against the clock. For others, it was about challenging themselves, staying healthy, or simply enjoying the run with family and friends. The second edition of the Thimphu Marathon brought together around 600 runners today. Organised as a run for global peace, the event also promoted health, mindfulness and environmental awareness.
Before the sun rose over Thimphu, the runners were already on their feet.
At five in the morning, hundreds of participants gathered at Kuenselphodrang, ready to take on routes stretching through the capital.
But the Thimphu Marathon was about more than reaching the finish line.
The event brought together people of different ages and backgrounds.
From the 42-kilometre GNH Marathon and 21-Kilometre Mindfulness Half Marathon to the 10-kilometre Peace Run, 5-Kilometre Green Run, and 2.5-kilometre Memorial Run, participants took part for different reasons.
And for some of the winners, the results came as a surprise.
“I did not expect to finish first. I owe this achievement to the support and encouragement I received from my senior officers and elders in the army,” said Gyem Tenzin, Winner, 42-kilometre GNH Marathon.
“I am very happy to have had the opportunity to participate in today’s marathon. I didn’t have much time to practice. So, I did not expect to finish first,” said Phuday, Winner, 21-Kilometre Female Category.
“Today’s experience was great. I actually came here for a leisure run rather than a competition. I found the 10-kilometre run quite manageable, and after I reached the finish line, I was told that I had come first,” said Dechen Wangmo, Winner, 10-kilometre Female Category.
For others, the marathon was as much about the experience as the result.
“This was my first time taking part in the Thimphu Marathon. I met new people, made new friends and had the opportunity to get to know one another,” said Pem Gyaltshen, Winner, 5-Kilometre Male Category.
And the marathon was not only for seasoned runners. The 2.5-kilometre Memorial Run brought families together, with children as young as four and five years old taking part alongside their parents and guardians.
150 participants, including international visitors and foreign residents living in Bhutan, took part in the marathon, adding an international dimension to the event.
But putting together an event of this scale also comes with its own challenge: funding.
“The biggest challenge we face is funding. We have to rely on sponsors, but many businesses, both within Bhutan and abroad, have still not fully recovered from the effects of the pandemic. As a result, securing sponsorship has been quite difficult,” said Sonam Phuntsho, Chairman, Thimphu Marathon Committee.
Despite the funding challenges, the organisers say they want to build on this year’s event and bring together even more participants next year.
Pelden Wangchuk
Edited by Sonam Pem
