Jammu, November 2, 2025 – With the finish line in sight, the Kashmir Marathon 2025 is buzzing like a beehive in Srinagar, drawing 1,500 runners from 27 Indian states and 11 countries for tomorrow’s November 2 showdown – a testament to the Valley’s push to blend fitness with its postcard-perfect trails. The expo at Polo View’s Indoor Stadium Grounds wrapped today with a frenzy of bib pickups and last-minute registrations, as CM Omar Abdullah and Bollywood star Suniel Shetty flagged off the official merchandise launch yesterday at Royal Springs Golf Course. “This isn’t just a run; it’s Kashmir’s heartbeat – from Zabarwan’s peaks to Dal Lake’s shimmer,” racking 2,000 views by noon.
The second edition, organized by the J&K Tourism Department and Sports Council, kicks off at 6 AM from Polo View Ground, weaving 42 km through Srinagar’s Mughal Gardens, Nishat Bagh, and the Jhelum’s banks, with half (21 km), 10 km, and 5 km fun runs following. Kenyan stars John Kipsang and Aisha Chebet are tipped for the full marathon’s Rs 1.5 lakh top prize, but Indian hopefuls like Himachal’s Sher Singh eye the half’s Rs 75,000. International flavor shines: Runners from Germany, Denmark, USA, Ethiopia, Japan, and Sri Lanka join, up from 2024’s 800 total participants. “From shutdowns to sprints – Kashmir’s running toward peace,” linking to a piece on tourism revival post-Pahalgam attack.