The first edition of Mettupalayam Marathon 2026, which witnessed the participation of 650 runners from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, on Sunday (July 19, 2026), was flagged off by L. Baskar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mettupalayam.Organised under the theme “Run for a Drug Free Society’”, the marathon promoted fitness, community spirit, and social awareness. The starting and finishing points of the marathon, held in 10K and 4K race categories, were Shiri Kumaran College of Arts and Science. Cash prizes along with trophies were awarded to the top three finishers in the men’s and women’s 10K categories, while trophies were presented to the first three finishers in the men’s and women’s 4K categories.One of the major highlights of the event was the participation of 40 students from the Metro Matriculation Higher Secondary School, whose lively band performance along the route kept the runners motivated. The organisers also placed on record their appreciation for the student volunteers of Shiri Kumaran College of Arts and Science and the members of Bluemount Runners, whose dedicated service in race management, hydration stations, route support, registration, and overall event coordination ensured the smooth and successful execution of the marathon.Sponsors of the run included Shiri Kumaran College of Arts and Science, Hindustan Hospital, Rotary Club of Mettupalayam, Venkateshwara Blue Metals, Govan Steels, Ambiply, Ruba Traders, Fine Jewellers, Guru Essence, Mobil 1, PR Sarees, S S Chits, Kumaran Flex and The Turf City. Published - July 21, 2026 06:57 pm IST