Peshawar Teen Sets World Record with Mountain Marathon to Skardu

Masood Khan, an 18-year-old endurance runner from Peshawar, has completed an 808-kilometer road race through the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges, finishing in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan.

Masood began his journey on May 15 from the Peshawar Sports Complex and reached the finish line in a village in Skardu on May 23 at around 6:40 p.m.

In an exclusive interview, Masood said he chose a more difficult route than the previous record holder because he wanted to complete the challenge in the mountains.

“The German runner had made his record on flat road, so I decided to do something different and challenging. I wanted to finish at the foot of the mighty Karakoram Range in Skardu. To reach there, you have to pass through the Himalayan and Karakoram mountains,” he said.

He said he had originally planned to complete the run in eight days but finished it in nine days because of injuries.

The Pakistan Army fully sponsored and planned the expedition, providing logistical support throughout the run. He rested for only 15 minutes at a time, during which rooms were arranged for full-body massages. A six-member support team followed him in several vehicles.

Local administrations, including deputy commissioners and district police officers, received him as he entered their jurisdictions, while police escorts were provided in every district.

“For the nights, rooms had been arranged for me and my team, and I was given rice for supper,” Masood said, adding that specialists had been employed by the army to select his food.

The final three days were the most difficult part of the journey. After crossing the 500-kilometer mark, Masood developed painful knee injuries in both legs because of the continuously rising altitude. Despite the injuries, he continued and completed the run.

In the first five days, he covered around 100 kilometers per day on average. For preparation, he had completed two training runs, from Peshawar to Nowshera in three-and-a-half hours and from Peshawar to Swabi in seven-and-a-half hours.

Masood said his passion for running began two-and-a-half years ago while he was still in school.

“There were school games, so I participated in a marathon for the first time and then decided to pursue my passion,” he said.

Masood lost his father at a young age, and his maternal uncle supported the family. He first focused on conventional marathons, winning several gold medals, before turning to extreme cross-country challenges in the Himalayan region.

He now plans to double the distance in a future run and set an even more ambitious record.