MAM
Running the show HRX half marathon returns bigger, fitter and faster
MUMBAI: Lace up, breathe deep and pick your pace HRX is back on track, quite literally. India’s homegrown fitness brand HRX has announced the fourth edition of the HRX Half Marathon, set to take over Mumbai’s Bandra Fort on 15 March 2026, with more than 3,000 runners expected to hit the road. Designed for everyone from seasoned runners to first-time joggers, the event continues HRX’s push to make running accessible, inclusive and refreshingly pressure-free.
Launched in 2021, the HRX Half Marathon has steadily evolved into a community-led fitness fixture, championing consistency over competition and movement over medals. The 2026 edition stays true to that philosophy, offering runners three clearly defined race categories 21K Half Marathon, Fast 10 (10K) and Rave5 (5K) encouraging participation across age groups and fitness levels.
This year’s run is powered by Clear Premium Water, with Country Delight joining as the high-protein nutrition partner under the Mission Protein India initiative, and Cult Fit stepping in as the recovery partner. Eatfit will provide healthy beverages, while the event also marks the debut of HRX Luggage by Escape Plan and HRX Fragrances as partners, expanding the brand’s lifestyle footprint beyond fitness apparel.
Every registered participant will receive an official HRX running T-shirt, a high-protein meal, protein shake, sustainable tote bag with merchandise, finisher’s medal, and HRX fragrance samples, blending performance with experience rather than pure race-day pressure.
Registrations are now live on India Running, one of the country’s leading race registration platforms.
HRX Founder Hrithik Roshan said the event’s real success lies in its diversity of runners rather than podium finishes. “With each edition, the HRX Half Marathon has grown stronger as a community. No age barriers, no intimidation, just people coming together to move. That inclusivity is what makes this event special,” he said.
HRX business and marketing head Ajay Singh added that the 2026 edition sharpens focus on two core themes, mindful hydration and protein awareness. “Running at Bandra Fort remains a favourite with participants, and this year we’re doubling down on nutrition and recovery to enhance the overall runner experience,” he said.
With its fourth outing, the HRX Half Marathon continues to shift the conversation from elite endurance to everyday movement proving that when it comes to fitness, the most important step is simply starting.
MAM
Lego brings Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé, Vinicius together
Campaign clocks 314 million views ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 buzz.
MUMBAI: Four legends, one frame and not a single tackle in sight. Lego has pulled off a crossover few thought possible, uniting Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior in a single campaign ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 only this time, they’re building dreams brick by brick.
Titled “Everyone wants a piece”, the campaign features the quartet assembling a Lego version of the World Cup trophy, before placing miniature versions of themselves atop it, a playful nod to football’s ultimate prize. Shared widely across social media, the ad carries a pointed disclaimer: it is not AI-generated, a subtle but telling signal in an era where even reality is often questioned.
The numbers tell their own story. The campaign has already crossed 314 million views on Instagram across the players’ accounts, with fans hailing it as a rare, almost nostalgic moment particularly for the reunion of Messi and Ronaldo, whose last shared campaign ahead of the 2022 World Cup became one of the platform’s most-liked posts.
Beyond the film, Lego is extending the play with exclusive, player-themed sets tied to each of the four stars, part of a broader football-led programme designed to ride the global momentum building towards 2026. The idea, as echoed by the players themselves, leans into the parallels between football and play experimentation, creativity, failure, and triumph.
Messi described the sets as a way to bring on-pitch moments into an imaginative, hands-on world, while Ronaldo called the transformation into a Lego figure a rare honour, blending sport with storytelling. Vinícius, meanwhile, struck a more personal note, recalling childhood moments of building with Lego and framing creativity as a universal language that transcends borders.
The timing is no accident. With the 2026 World Cup set to run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and featuring an expanded 48-team format, global anticipation is already building. Argentina, led by Messi, will enter as defending champions, adding another layer of intrigue.
For Lego, the campaign does more than celebrate football, it taps into its mythology. Because when icons become figurines and rivalries turn into play, the beautiful game finds a new kind of pitch. one built, quite literally, by hand.
