Masood Khan completes 808km ultra-marathon from Peshawar to Skardu

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

According to details shared in an interview, Khan began the run from the Peshawar Sports Complex on the morning of May 15 and reached the finish point on May 23 at about 6:40pm. He said he had intentionally selected a tougher route than the earlier record holder.

Speaking about the challenge, Khan said “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 also said he had initially aimed to finish the distance in eight days but was delayed by injuries.

“Originally I wanted to complete it in eight days but due to injuries I finished it in nine days instead", he added.

The entire expedition was sponsored and planned by the Pakistan Army, which also provided logistical support throughout the run. During the journey, Khan was given Ensure Milk, dry fruits, chocolates and Red Bull in the daytime instead of solid food. He rested only for 15 minutes at a time, and rooms had been arranged in advance for full-body massages.

A six-member support team accompanied him in several vehicles. Local administrations, including deputy commissioners and district police officers, received him as he entered their areas, while police escorts were provided in each district. Khan said accommodation had been arranged for him and his team at night, and rice was served for supper. He added that army-employed specialists had selected his diet.

“For the nights, rooms had been arranged for me and my team, and I was given rice for supper", he added.

The final three days of the run were particularly demanding. After covering 500km, Khan developed painful injuries in both knees because of the steadily increasing altitude. Even so, he completed the route as planned. In the first five days, he averaged about 100km a day.

For preparation, Khan said 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. He said his interest in running began around 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 stated.

Khan also said that after losing his father at a young age, his maternal uncle supported the family. He first competed in conventional marathons and won several gold medals before turning his focus to extreme cross-country challenges in the Himalayan region. Looking ahead, he aims to attempt an even longer run and double the distance in pursuit of another record.