As the sun dipped into the waters off Karachi’s Seaview on a chilly Thursday evening, an air of celebration settled over AK Khan Park along the promenade.
Men and women of all ages, accompanied by children, gradually filled the park. Waiting patiently in front of counters marked in bright black and turquoise colors, they collected what would soon become souvenirs: bibs for the 2026 Karachi Marathon.
On Sunday, with these bibs – equipped with time-tracking chips – pinned to their running gear, participants will line up on the promenade near Nishan-i-Pakistan Park.
Runners in the marathon and half-marathon categories will depart before sunrise at 6:30 a.m., while those participating in the five-kilometer race (commonly known as 5K) will depart at 9:00 a.m.
More than 2,000 runners registered for the marathon events. Registration for the 5k remains open, with more than 3,000 participants already registered.
This will be the third edition of the Karachi Marathon, recognized by World Athletics and whose distance is professionally certified by the International Association of Marathons and Distance Running (AIMS).
Shaheer, an 18-year-old student at NED University, experienced competitive running for the first time when he participated in the 5K at last year’s event. This year, he is starting the half marathon.
“I love playing sports – I play basketball pretty regularly – but running gives a different feeling, one that’s hard to describe in words,” he said. Dawnsmiling widely. “It’s about surpassing yourself, testing how far you can go. It’s a unique experience.”
Cross-country running is a passion shared by many people in this sprawling metropolis. Some train alone in neighborhood parks and streets, while others prefer the motivation of running in a group.
The arrival of the Karachi Marathon three years ago gave these enthusiasts both a platform and a goal.
Suriyami Wong, an Indonesian national who has lived in Karachi for 22 years, discovered her passion for running in 2024 and has been training for the half marathon – her first – since last year.
“I run for mental clarity and for exercise. It’s not just the running itself, but the training that goes into it – the discipline and consistency,” the 45-year-old said. Dawn. Wong believes such events have a direct impact on the city’s culture.
“This is a World Athletics certified event, so its standards are comparable to marathons held anywhere abroad,” she said. “Especially in Karachi, where people find it difficult to step out of their comfort zone, even to walk or run, such events make a huge difference in giving people the motivation to get out. »
The marathon route, however, is limited to some of the city’s wealthiest localities — areas largely isolated from the chaos of the Old City and neighborhoods home to middle- and lower-class populations.
While marathons ideally reflect the culture and character of a city, the current route passes without a single iconic heritage monument, completely bypassing the historic center of Karachi.
The organizers are aware of this limit.
“This is not what I can call my city,” said Shoaib Nizami, the driving force behind the Karachi marathon, speaking to Dawn. “This is my city,” he added, playing a promotional video on his phone showing athletes running through Saddar and past Empress Market, Merewether Tower and Frere Hall.
“Our new routes have already been approved; it’s only a matter of time before we enter the city.”
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab – whom Shoaib described as the “guardian of the Karachi marathon”, in line with international practice – echoed these sentiments at a press conference on Thursday.
“I want to see next year’s marathon being held inside the city, starting from Mazar-i-Quaid,” he said. “We will take the lead – the KMC will come forward, as will the government. »
But before the Karachi Marathon makes that journey inland, thousands of runners will embark on their own journey – not just from Nishan-i-Pakistan Park to DHA Golf Club, but from passion to purpose, and from anonymity to identity.
“No one knew about Barcelona before the (1992) Olympics, but it appeared on the world map after that,” Shoaib said. “Events like the Karachi Marathon will put our city on the world map.”
