Flagging off Kashmir’s first-ever International Marathon from Srinagar’s Polo Stadium, Abdullah was joined by Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty, who praised the event for highlighting Kashmir’s beauty. Shetty expressed that the marathon sent a positive message to the world, showcasing Kashmir as a destination for global visitors.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah marked a significant personal achievement as he completed the Kashmir Half Marathon, running 21 kilometers without formal training. The 54-year-old National Conference leader shared his excitement on X, stating that he was “damn pleased” to have achieved this milestone.

He highlighted that the furthest distance he had ever run before was 13 kilometers, and the encouragement from fellow runners helped him go further. Abdullah ran through the scenic Dal Lake area, even passing his home where family and others cheered him on. Without a specific plan, he fueled himself along the way with just a banana and some khajoor (dates), setting an average pace of 5 minutes 54 seconds per kilometer.

In a series of engaging social media posts, Abdullah described the joy and companionship of the event, noting that the experience went beyond just running. He clicked selfies, interacted with participants, and even received appointment requests and job-related queries from bystanders. Journalists also made the most of the opportunity, attempting to get interviews while running alongside him.

The Chief Minister expressed how much fun he had, emphasizing the importance of events like this in bringing people together. He further encouraged people to take up running as a way to beat stress, asserting that a good run could provide the same benefits as drugs without the harmful effects.

Flagging off Kashmir’s first-ever International Marathon from Srinagar’s Polo Stadium, Abdullah was joined by Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty, who praised the event for highlighting Kashmir’s beauty. Shetty expressed that the marathon sent a positive message to the world, showcasing Kashmir as a destination for global visitors. Abdullah also responded to concerns about air quality at other marathons, inviting runners to participate in future Kashmir marathons where the air is fresher and the scenery unparalleled.