Guwahati Half Marathon was organized for the first time in August, 2009 under the Social Initiatives Module of Techniche, the annual Techno-Management festival of IIT Guwahati. The event received a great response from the Guwahati populace, with over 1000 participants in the two races organized - The Glory Run and The Dream Run. In 2010, Techniche introduced a 21-km cycle race with the motto of shaping the youth's attitude towards the environment with the motto "Youth for environment". As the years unfolded, the initiative grew, now standing as the largest of its kind in North-East India. Also in the same year, a new marathon was introduced, namely, the Courage Run for specially-abled participants. The marathon continues to grow every year, with a new vision each year, including - "Run for Digital India", "Run for Organ Donation – Live Life Give Life", "Run for Peace", "Run to affect the shift" and "Run for a better tomorrow" respectively. The 2019 edition of the marathon was a "Run for Clean and Safe Drinking Water". Over the years, many prominent personalities have endorsed the event, including the illustrious Milkha Singh, Shimit Amin, and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Their support has been integral in drawing large crowds to the event. Special attendees to the event include singer Zublee Baruah, cricketer Akash Chopra and the world's largest parkour group, "American Parkour". Coverage of the events are usually provided by Assam Tribune and NDTV India.
Events
Spirit Run
This is a 6 km run specifically designed for the citizens of Guwahati. The run is open to participants of all ages.
Glory Run
This is a 21 kilometre half marathon, the first of its kind in North-East India and the flagship event of the day. The race is open to everyone above the age of 14. All participants receive certificates of participation from the Assam Athletic Association.
General Championship
This event was started in 2014, to inspire young students to hone their athletic skills. The event is exclusive to schools and colleges in and around Guwahati. Participants compete in the Spirit Run, and the institute that garners the most points takes home the General Championship. The points are awarded on the basis of the total number of participants from the institute and the number of participants that end up in the top 50 positions.
Creativity Event
This event is targeted at all the artists in the crowd who are not athletically inclined. A painting competition is held at the venue, in two separate subgroups - For those below 14 years, and those above 14 years. The best paintings in the competition are awarded.
