Guwahati, Sept. 15: The third edition of the annual all-Assam open prize-money marathon, organised by the Nisha Physical Fitness and Yoga Centre, will be held here on October 10.

The route has yet to be finalised, though the marathon will be flagged off from the NF Railway Stadium at Maligaon at 5.30 am, organising secretary Tayabun Nisha said.

The Rs 50,000 prize-money event will be a full marathon (42 km) for men and half (21 km) for women and junior (under-18) boys.

The juniors will have to produce proof of age for participation. No runner will be allowed to run barefoot. The participants will have to report at the stadium by 3 pm on October 9 to attend a medical fitness test.

Nisha said more than 250 participants were expected to participate in it.

Altogether 200 runners took part last year as Abdul Barek and Dipti Chutia claimed the men and women?s titles, while Kushal Kalita became the champion in the junior boys? category.

The men?s champion will be awarded the Debabrata Banerjee (Babua) Trophy, while the women?s champion will lift the Bordoichila Junumoni Saikia Duarah Trophy and the junior boys? champion will win the Aswini Rajbongshi Trophy, she said. The champions in the three categories will also win Rs 3,000 each apart from the trophies.

Besides, the first 10 finishers among the men and junior boys and the first 15 in the women?s event will be awarded cash prizes, Nisha added.

The organisers have promised to make the marathon financially lucrative for the participants, but they were running from pillar to post to gather the required amount. ?We will need at least Rs 85,000 to organise the event. We have to provide food and lodge to the participants for at least a night. We have approached the directorate of sports and some sponsors, but have not received any assurance from them,? Nisha said.