Mangaluru (The Hindu): Some got injured while others ran out of breath. But the enthusiasm to finish the race was abundant among participants during the fifth edition of the Nitte Mangaluru Marathon here on Sunday.

Students, doctors, engineers and professional runners took part in the marathon held for different segments.

While the school students took part in the 2-km and the 3-km run, college-goers and others took part in the 5-km, the 10-km and the 21-km run. There was good number of people for the 5-km fun run/walk event.

A festive atmosphere prevailed at the Mangala Stadium on Sunday morning which was the starting point and ending point of the Marathon. The police had cordoned off movement of vehicles on the road leading to the Stadium.

The 21-km half marathon was the first to be flagged off at 6.15 a.m. This was followed by the 10-km run in which Pro-Chancellor (Administration) Nitte University, Vishal Hegde, took part. Then it was the 5-km, the 3-km and the 2-km runs.

The fun run/walk was the last to be flagged off at 8 a.m. Volunteers were placed at regular intervals to provide water and attend to injuries suffered by runners.

In between the flag-off for each of the runs, a zumba dance group entertained participants.

With more people turning up for the marathon, organisers had a hard time maintaining order for the start of each of the runs.