4,500 take part in Calicut Half Marathon

As many as 4,500 participants— young and old alike— took to Kozhikode beach for the 16th edition of the Calicut Half Marathon (CHM), organised by students of the Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode (IIM-K), on Sunday (February 8).

The event transformed the iconic beachfront into a vibrant sea of runners united by sport, community spirit, and social purpose. It was flagged off by Olympian Jinson Johnson.

The 2026 edition, held under the theme ‘Run to Remember– Alzheimer’s and Dementia Awareness,’ aimed to spark informed conversations around cognitive health, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, caregiving, and the vital role of community support. The theme resonated strongly with participants, reinforcing the marathon’s tradition of blending endurance sport with meaningful social causes.

The event featured three race categories: 21-km half marathon (timed), 10-km run (timed) and 3-km dream run (non-timed). The marathon carried total cash prizes worth ₹4 lakh. India’s VKC was the supporting partner.

The event concluded with an awards ceremony attended by Anandakuttan Unnithan, dean (programmes), IIM-K, VKC Razak, managing director, VKC, representatives from KVR Honda, and senior officials of IIM-K.