destination marathons

Faustino Oro, a 12-year-old Argentine chess prodigy known as the “Messi of Chess,” has become the second-youngest Grandmaster in history. TimesofIndia.com follows his journey from learning chess during the COVID lockdown in Buenos Aires to moving to Barcelona and competing globally. Despite tougher FIDE rules, Oro’s talent, discipline, and love for the game helped him succeed.

Kylie Kelce shared a candid and controversial take on Disney parks, saying they are more enjoyable for adults than children. Speaking on her podcast with Brenda Song, she explained that while kids may find the experience overwhelming, adults appreciate the food, atmosphere, and overall magic more. Song agreed, admitting she and Macaulay Culkin love Disney more than their kids, highlighting a growing shift in how families view theme park trips.

Odisha has launched a new brand tagline, 'Think India, Think Odisha,' to elevate its global tourism profile. This rebranding coincides with the announcement of the first-ever OMC Puri Coastal Marathon on December 13, featuring a substantial prize pool and a unique route along Puri's coastline, including a stretch on golden sands, to boost sports and experiential tourism.

Exclusive: Javokhir Sindarov won the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament, earning a World Championship match against D Gukesh. Germany No. 1 Vincent Keymer praised his aggressive and fearless style of play. "It was easy for him to lose the first game," said Keymer as Uzbek prodigy sealed the title with a round to spare.

The inaugural Indian Sailing League successfully concluded at Umiam Lake, Meghalaya, featuring 14 franchise teams and international participants. This innovative, multi-format competition aimed to boost competitive sailing in India, strengthen grassroots participation, and enhance medal prospects at major events. Bhopal Tritons claimed the championship title in this landmark event.

Marathon tourism is on the rise among Indian runners. People combine travel with running events. Families plan vacations around marathons. There is a shift towards fitness-focused travel. Experts report a significant increase in Indian participants post-COVID. Runners are advised to prepare well and use tour operators. Milind Soman highlights the benefits of seeing new places on foot.

Travel companies and hotels are also offering special ‘running holidays’ which focus on the race, but extend into a vacation as well.

Officials with the excise department said that they were planning to extend campaigns and programmes, including marathons, to spread awareness against substance and drug abuse in tourism destinations like Fort Kochi.

The picturesque Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh added another feather in its cap by getting the exotic 'Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon' officially registered in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's highest frozen lake half-marathon.

The 22-km-long road, including a five-km stretch of ghat, between Koraput and Jeypore woke up to a series of festivities on Wednesday morning with thousands of people, including women and veterans, taking part in a mini-marathon as part of the state-level tribal festival Parab-2010.

Jaipur's streets buzzed with energy as nearly one lakh runners participated in the AU Jaipur Marathon 2026, celebrating health and endurance. The event, supported by AU Small Finance Bank and Rajasthan Tourism, saw Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma flag off the marathon, which also featured fitness icon Milind Soman. Two world records were set, highlighting the event's significant impact.

Non-governmental organisation Sarhad will organise a marathon on July 15 and 16 in Kargil to promote Kargil as a tourist destination. Epicentre of the 1999 Indo-Pak conflict, Kargil is often given a miss by tourists.

They are men in their late 30s, 40s and 50s. And they love to run marathons — so much so that they plan their travel itineraries to match the dates of the biggest marathons held across the world. Amin Ali catches up with this new breed.