Whats new in 2025?

Race day is now two weeks later than usual, i.e. in the 3rd week of January rather than in the first week. 2025's first week would have been too close to the new year (logistical nightmare of the marking team) and the second week being a second saturday is all together a difficult mess to handle for the 'touristic' Vagamon.

Old 33K is now 36K
60K is now 75K, which means at some point of time you will have to run in the dark
8K Trail Walk is now 10K Trail Walk

New trails after MMJ for both 36K & 75K
In addition, 10Km of new trails for the 75K near the finish. 2Kms more near the KLDB hill. Ladder section is back and runners now pass by the scenic Palozhukumpara Waterfalls check dam.
2Kms of lesser road near the start for both 36K & 75K

36K & 75K start moved to Kolahalamedu Post office because of too much tar/concrete roads and conversion of trails in the first 2K section.
10K Trail Walk moved from the Jungtolly (now renamed as Vasuprada) loop near Kolahalamedu to the finish area at St. Thomas LP School Pullikanam. 10K Trail Walk is without much elevation, a loop through the Vasuprada Estates in Pullikanam.

The briefing location is at the same place as the Accommodation and therefore it will be more convenient for the people opting the accommodation.
Buses will start from Edapally as early as 10AM instead of all buses starting at 12:30PM as in the previous editions. This is beneficial for people who reach Kochi earlier to take the first buses to Vagamon.

After having tried the Vagamon Adventure Park for 3 years, its now time to move on to better. The new briefing location is Orion County Resorts, where there is more space and probably better service for the runners (even though this costs us a bomb)

The most controversial topic from last year. We can't do the screw pine leaf medals this year, because we couldn't find a reliable artist to do it again. Last year's artist has a peculiar way of working - he doesn't do a project more than once.
This year's medal is made of coir. Even though the new medal is not bio degradable due to the processing it has undergone, believe us - we have taken a leaf or two out of the 5Rs of sustainability in the best possible way!