Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk
The 15th edition of the SKF Goa River Marathon is set to make history on Sunday, December 14, as Czech marathon legend Petra Pastorová arrives in Goa to lead the international field of runners. The event, taking place at Chicalim, has already created a buzz by registering a record 6,000 runners, making it the largest edition since the marathon began. Even more remarkable is the rising participation of women, who now make up 28 percent of the total runners — a significant milestone for the event and for distance running in Goa.
Petra Pastorová, a six-time national marathon champion from the Czech Republic, is widely regarded as one of the most consistent long-distance athletes in Europe. At 48, she continues to deliver exceptional performances, with a career-best timing of 2:36:44 hours set in 2013. She also clocked an impressive 2:42:45 earlier this year, proving she remains in top competitive form. Known for her endurance, Petra has completed a 50-kilometer run at the 2023 Hyderabad Masters as well as an ultradistance 100-kilometer run at the 2024 Bengaluru Masters. Her participation has drawn widespread attention, with many runners excited to share the course with an athlete of her stature. “This is the first time I have come to Goa and I am really looking forward to running the SKF Goa River Marathon,” she shared, expressing her enthusiasm ahead of race day.
The marathon is also seeing strong international participation, transforming it into one of the most globally diverse sporting events in the state. Among the foreign runners are participants from Russia, Australia, the United States, Israel, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and the Czech Republic. This multination turnout further elevates the profile of the event as runners from different cultures and training backgrounds unite for a single purpose — endurance and celebration.
This year, the marathon’s theme “Pace for Peace” carries a deeper message, symbolizing unity and hope at a time when several regions across the world continue to face conflict and unrest. The organisers believe that sport, and running in particular, has the power to connect communities, promote solidarity, and inspire positive messages through collective action.
The marathon has also embraced new technology to improve the event experience. For the first time, organisers will use AI-based image selection systems and dual bib-and-face detection to help runners easily identify their race photos. These digital tools are expected to make post-race media access faster, more accurate, and more personalised.
With just days to go, on-spot registrations remain open, giving last-minute entrants a chance to be part of this energetic and meaningful sporting celebration. The race day will see traffic restrictions from 3:30 am to 11:30 am between Chicalim junction and Cortalim junction, and between Cortalim junction and Sontrant junction under the flyover, with diversions in place. Airport-bound traffic will move via Verna, BITS, and MES College junction, while parking facilities for participants and media have been arranged at Regina Mundi School grounds via Dabolim Airport.
As the countdown begins, excitement is building across Goa’s running community. With a celebrated international champion leading the pack and thousands of runners coming together under the banner of peace, the 15th SKF Goa River Marathon promises to be an unforgettable event for athletes and spectators alike.
