Hundreds of runners participating in second Karachi marathon

The second Karachi marathon, certified by the World Athletics, has started earlier this morning with hundreds of professional and amateur runners participating in the event amidst the city’s chilly weather.

The sporting event include full marathon, half marathon and a fun race.

Participants of the race have come from across the country including Karachi, Islamabad and Quetta, the advisers of the race said. They said that runners from ten countries, including the United States, Poland, Japan, and Germany, have also travelled to Pakistan to take part in the marathon.

The first track stretches from Sea View to the gate of the Golf Club, covering 10.1 kilometres.

After reaching the Golf Club, participants will return to the starting point at Seaview to complete the first loop of the half marathon, which is 21.1 kilometres.

However, the runners participating in the full marathon will continue their race to clock up 42.2 kilometres.

The event also features a five-kilometre fun race, which will begin later this morning around 10 am. Besides the professional runners, politicians, celebrities, and people from various walks of life are expected to join the fun run, making it a truly inclusive and vibrant event this weekend.

‘A great opportunity’

Shoaib Nizami, the Race Director of the Karachi Marathon, emphasised how significant this year’s event is. “This year, Karachi Marathon is a label race, which means runners here will be eligible to qualify for other runs,” Nizami said.

“It’s the first time in Pakistan that local runners will have the chance to qualify for international races like the Abbott’s Age Group Championships. We’ve seen participation almost double compared to last year, and there’s a larger number of women participants as well. This is a great opportunity for our runners, especially those hoping to compete in races like the Boston Marathon.”

‘Symbol of positivity’, ‘Great platform’

Among the first-timers is Mustansar Bandooqwala, in his late 50s, who took up running after a history of hiking. “I’ve been training for the half marathon, and although it’s a challenge, the community support has been amazing. The good weather here has made it easier to prepare, and the energy from fellow runners makes it all the more motivating,” he said, adding that the crowd at the marathon will be a huge morale booster on race day.

Mazhar Valjee, 66, another first-time marathoner, sees the event as a symbol of positivity for Karachi. “Karachi Marathon is recognised as an international marathon, and that’s a big honour for us,” Valjee said.

“In a city often surrounded by negativity, this event sends a positive message about Pakistan and Karachi. Seeing so many young people running and preparing has motivated me to join in. I’m also running to support The Citizen Foundation, which adds even more purpose to my journey.”

Then there’s Feroz Rizvi, 72, the oldest runner in the bunch, who is aiming to complete his first half marathon. “At my age, it’s not easy to take on this challenge, but I’m hopeful. The most important thing is to finish, whether I meet the time limit or not. I’m running for a charity, and that’s what keeps me going,” said Rizvi, who believes that staying active is key to ageing gracefully. “It’s easy to give up once you retire, but you have to keep moving. As they say, ‘Move it or lose it.’”