Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah completed a 21-kilometer run in the Kashmir Marathon on Sunday.
I am so damn satisfied with myself today. I ran 21 KM in the Kashmir Half Marathon at an average pace of 5 min 54 sec per KM. I have never run more than 13 KM in my life & that too only ever once, said Abdullah on X social media.
I’m so bloody happy with myself today. Kashmir Half Marathon completed. This was 21 KM at an average pace of 5 min 54 sec per KM. I never ran more than 13 KM in my life & that too only once. Just kept going today on the energy of excitement from other amateur guys like… pic.twitter.com/yZVjFz5oJ4— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 20, 2024
He attributed his victory to the thrill of amateur running companions, adding, ” I had no proper training, no running plan, no nutrition. I picked up a banana and a couple of khajoor along the way.”
This incident also reminded him of other memories. He added, “The best part was running past my home with family and others out to cheer me on.”
The J&K Chief Minister accompanied the sportspersons during this marathon. Security personnel accompanied him for that run.
Earlier that morning, Abdullah flagged off the Kashmir Marathon, the first international athletic event to take place in the valley.
Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty was present with Abdullah during the flagging ceremony. About 2,000 athletes from India and abroad attended, and this was one of them.
It hosted the participation of various spectrums, such as the highest-ranking long-distance runners in the world, Asian gold medalists, and elite runners from Europe and Africa. It had two race categories: a full marathon of 42km and a half-marathon of 21km.
Organized by the Department of Tourism, the marathon aims to showcase the improved situation in the valley.
“Kashmir is open to all. We welcome tourists from different parts of the world. If someone is running 42 km, it makes a statement that Kashmir is now peaceful,” Tourism Director Raja Yaqoob said on Saturday.
