The annual city marathon has grown into one of Hyderabad's major running events, bringing together professional athletes, amateur runners, fitness enthusiasts and first-time participants. This year, the event is also taking the spirit of running beyond the city, with communities associated with NMDC's mining operations getting an opportunity to participate.

NMDC, the Hyderabad-based public sector mining company, is the Title Sponsor of the 2026 marathon and has been working with the Hyderabad Runners Society (HRS) to promote fitness and community participation.

From mining towns to Hyderabad

Ahead of the main event, NMDC organised the NMDC Freedom Run 2026, a series of 5K runs at its operational locations in Karnataka and Chhattisgarh.

More than 2,000 runners participated across three locations. Donnimalai in Karnataka recorded around 700 participants, while Bacheli and Kirandul in Chhattisgarh saw about 900 and 450 runners respectively.

The runs brought together NMDC employees, their families and members of surrounding communities, turning the initiative into a community fitness movement rather than an employee-only activity.

A distinctive feature this year is the selection of 130 runners from different villages who will get an opportunity to participate in the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2026. For many of them, the event in Hyderabad will provide an opportunity to experience a major city marathon outside their home communities.

Speaking about the initiative, NMDC Project Head, Bacheli, Kodali Shridar, said the Freedom Run was aimed at promoting fitness, community engagement and inclusive participation. He said bringing runners from different villages to the Hyderabad marathon made the initiative particularly meaningful.

Hyderabad Runners Society president Arun Kumar Kaliappan said running had the ability to bring people together irrespective of age, background or geography. He described the Freedom Run as an example of how a sporting event could develop into a wider community movement.