CHIKMAGALUR, India — The 3rd edition of Coffee Day Malnad Ultra, one of India’s premier endurance runs held in Chikmagalur, ended on a high note as new course records were set in the 50 km and 80 km category run.
Florent Bouguin grabbed the pole position in the 110 km run as he completed the run in a total 13:50:00. Hayden Hawks and Tim Hewitt emerged victorious in the 50 km and 80 km category respectively completing their run in 4:19:38 and 7:59:08 respectively.
Coffee Day Malnad Ultra 2018 set a new milestone with over 800 participants for the first time. Another key highlight of the third edition was the evolution of the event into a cultural melting pot of diversity bringing together runners across gender, age groups and nationalities.
As many as 43 international runners from U.K, Poland, France, U.S.A, Maldives, Germany, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Singapore, Colombia, Japan, and Malaysia participated in the run with U.S.A having the highest representation of 7 endurance runners. An incredible number of 143 female runners participated across all three categories including accomplished athletes like Jo Meek and Corrine Malcolm.
The event saw a substantial increase in the number of registrations from India too with participation from 22 states across India. People across different age groups participated in the ultramarathon ranging up to 75 years of age.
The growth in the number of professional and world-class runners at the Coffee Day Malnad Ultra is a testament to the quality and magnitude of the run.
Malnad is home to a large number of coffee plantations and Coffee Day is an integral part of this region’s coffee tradition. Coffee Day Malnad Ultra is the brand’s vision to reach out to endurance runners across the globe to experience the natural splendor of Malnad that Coffee Day has added to protecting and nurturing over the years.
The run is non-intrusive, eco-friendly and designed to bring to focus the indigenous flora and fauna of the beautiful region and showcase India’s wildlife at its best.
Coffee Day understands its responsibility of reaching across to a young India that is increasingly aware of creating a sustainable, ecologically balanced environment. The run encourages the love for nature and drives home the message of endurance which is very relevant to the Coffee Day group’s young audience.
Speaking about the run, Dr. Pradeep Kenjige, Head, R&D, Café Coffee Day, said, “We are delighted with the success of the third edition of Coffee Day Malnad Ultra. Participation was the highest ever and the runners found the ultramarathon experience inspirational and challenging. It was the vision of Coffee Day to highlight the natural biodiversity of Malnad amongst the youth and hosting the eco-friendly ultramarathon in the heart of the coffee estates helped achieve that. Running amidst Coffee Day’s estates which the brand has contributed towards preserving from the beginning is a matter of great pride. It also builds the courage to endure, push boundaries and make wellness a priority. We look forward to a bigger fourth edition of Coffee Day Malnad Ultra next year.’’
