The third Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon will be run on January 15, 2006.

The event carries US $2,10,000 in prize-money.

Like the previous years, there will be the full marathon (42.195 kms), half marathon (21.097 kms) and the Dream Run (7kms).

Around 30,000 participants are expected for what is billed as 'Asia's biggest run'.

Over 130 professional teams -- up from 65 teams which took part last year -- will also be in the fray.

Last year, Kenya's Julius Sugut and Mulu Seboka of Ethiopia emerged triumphant in the men's and women's runs respectively.

Entries for the abovementioned events will be accepted between November 7 and December 15.

The marathon has the full support of the Government of Maharashtra, the state's PWD Minister,

Chagan Bhujbal, declared at the launch on Thursday evening.

Athletics Federation of India president Suresh Kalmadi said earnings from the event are expected to exceed last year's figure of 4.5 crore.

The Maharashtra Home Guards, who will celebrate their diamond jubilee next year, will enter a team for the first time. Home Guards and Civil Defence director P K B Chakravorty said, ''We will have our home guards running with a banner titled - Home Guards Diamond Jubilee.''

Mumbai's first international marathon winner Savio D'Souza, who won the Pune international Marathon twice (1985 and '86) and has now taken up coaching long distance running, said the people of Mumbai are so enthusiastic about the marathon that some over 35 year-olds have sought his services to train them for the grueling run.

"The marathon has been great for the people of Mumbai. Now they are more aware about how running can help them. There is awareness about fitness. More and more people, even children, are taking to running and enjoying it."

Photographs: JEWELLA MIRANDA