Preparations for the Dhara Nepalgunj Marathon, which has been held on the first Saturday of Mangsir for eleven consecutive years, are in full swing. Starting this year, the organizers are trying to promote the event by appointing goodwill ambassadors.

This year, preparations have been intensified by appointing Miss Nepal World 2010 Shrichha Pradhan and Commonwealth Games 2010 gold medalist John K of Kenya as goodwill ambassadors. The 11th edition will be held on Saturday, November 20. Registration for the Nepalgunj Marathon, Nepal's first running event, which has been a full-time member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMs), a common organization of world running, has already opened this year.

For the first time, a men's half marathon has also been added. This year, 42 km men's open, half marathon men and women open, 10 km men and women open, 5 km school boys and girls open, 5 km Banke district level school level boys and girls, 3 km corporate, 3 km kids run (age group 8 to 12 years), 3 km parent run, 3 km wheelchair race have been included. The organizers have announced that cash prizes will be awarded to the top ten finishers in the 42 km, 21 km and 10 km races, the top five finishers in the 5 km race and the top three finishers in the 3 km race. 

The organizers are preparing to announce the cash prize amount to be awarded to the top ten based on the number of participants. Race director Chandra Bahadur Gurung said that preparations have been made to ensure that the cash amount does not decrease from last year. Gurung also urged everyone to participate enthusiastically and register on time to make this a marathon event that will be of interest to the world. 

‘The Nepalgunj Marathon is probably the one that is being organized without stopping any year, despite all obstacles,’ Gurung said. ‘It has instilled confidence in Nepal’s top athletes, its credibility is also increasing among the international community, now it is necessary to create more awareness among the locals.’ 

Nepalgunj Marathon along with Nepalgunj 10 Night Run has received full-time membership of AIIMS, making Nepalgunj the only city in Nepal to receive two memberships of AIIMS, said Lumbini Province Sports Council founding member-secretary Bhim Oli. ‘This is expected to further help establish a distinct identity of the city.’ Oli, who was also the chairman of the Midwest Regional Sports Development Committee during the 8th National Games, said, ‘I am truly proud that the Nepalgunj Marathon we started has succeeded in creating a distinct identity in the international world. Now it is time for not only the organizers to pay tribute, but also for all the locals to stand up.’

World Marathon (AIIMS) Chairman Pako Borao had inspected the route of the Nepalgunj Marathon last Jestha at the initiative of Nepalgunj Marathon. Kenyan John Kelai, the recent gold medalist of the Commonwealth Games 2010 and winner of world-renowned marathons including Singapore, Toronto, Brussels, Mumbai, also visited Nepalgunj. 

The AIIMS board meeting and Nepal International Running Conference were organized in Kathmandu last Jestha under the leadership of the Nepalgunj Marathon. The organizers are preparing to organize the international conference every year.

When the country was preparing to end the ten-year armed conflict and declare a new constitution, the society was divided again in the name of the Madhes movement in 2072 BS with the aim of uniting the community. The marathon was conceived on Mangsir 5, 2072 BS with the aim of uniting the community. The marathon was conceived as the only road race event that could bring together people of every caste, religion, sect, and various professions, businesses, and age groups at one place and in one role.