Patna Marathon has been scheduled for 26 February and preparations are on full swing. Patna  Marathon seeks to announce this to the world and showcase the unlimited opportunities in this great historical place.  Presenting few updates on the first such event in Bihar.
Mascot
Endangered Gangetic Dolphin , Paltan has been chosen as the mascot of Patna Marathon to  raise awareness about the conservation of the most threatened cetacean and mammals. The name, Paltan is is derived from the biological name of the gangetic dolphin Platanista Gangetica.
Schedule and Trial Run
Patna Marathon will start on 26th February 2012 (Sunday) from 7am-1pm IST. Â However there would be trial run on January 29, February 5 and Februry 12.
Routes
The Marathon would start at Ashok Rajpath (at one end of Gandhi Maidan) and culminate at the other end circumnavigating  whole Patna with a distance of  42 kms. It would pass through Kurji, Boring Road, Bailey Road, Raja Bazar, Ashiana, Digha Route, Danapur, Jagdev Path, Ashiana(back), Airport, Secretariat, Railway Junction, Gandhi Maidan. A detailed trajectory can be found here.
Participation
Participants can register online at  http://patnamarathon.com/register. They need to pay a small one time Registration Fee.
Why You should Run ?
Dare to dream big
Eliminate “I can’t†from your dictionary
“Waaw†the crowd
The older, the better…
Meet fellow “marathonersâ€
Now you can run fast when you meet your boss in the street!
Rediscover yourself
Enjoy running in the middle of the streets
A comprehensive guide  is available here  with 101 reasons why running Marathon is good for you
More About Gangetic Dolphin
Being a mammal, the Ganges River dolphin cannot breathe in the water and must surface every 30-120 seconds. Because of the sound it produces when breathing, the animal is popularly referred to as the ‘Susu’. They are among the oldest creatures in the world along with crocodiles, sharks and some turtles. As top predators they are not eaten by anything else.
It is the most threatened cetacean and among the world’s most threatened mammals. They are threatened by accidental gill net fishing, bycatch, use of their oil as fish bait, by pesticides and river fragmentation from agricultural irrigation and dams. It is listed as an endangered species in the IUCN Red Book and as a Flagship Species by WWF. The Ganges river dolphin has been recognized by the government of India as its National Aquatic Animal.
(Based on Information provided by Patna Marathon Website)