Braving light rain, thousands of runners turned out for Jammu’s first-ever international marathon on Sunday, which was flagged off by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also participated in the race.

The marathon started at sunrise from the MA Stadium and featured three categories: Half Marathon (21 km), the 10 km Fitness Run, and the 5 km Fun Run. A total prize pool of ₹1.33 crore will be distributed among the winners.

The event saw enthusiastic participation from entertainment and fitness celebrities. Fitness icon Milind Soman and his wife Ankita Konwar joined Chief Minister Abdullah in the 21-km run, while actress Gul Panag attended the flag-off ceremony.

A record 4,000 runners took part, including over 1,000 from outside Jammu and Kashmir and 90 international participants.

Omar Abdullah’s two sons, Zahir and Zamir, were also seen participating in the marathon.

During a brief media interaction, Joint Director Tourism Aijaz Qaiser described the day as historic. Despite the rain, he said, people had come out in huge numbers, reflecting the rising fitness culture in Jammu.

Speaking about the arrangements, Qaiser said extensive preparations had been made to facilitate the runners.

“The road is well-surfaced, so it won’t be slippery. Yes, there is some elevation — around 450–500 metres — but participants were informed in advance. It will be one of the toughest city marathons, and people are mentally prepared to push their limits,” he said.

He added that if visitors stay even for two days, it gives a significant boost to the local economy. “As this becomes an annual event, tourism will grow further,” Qaiser noted.

International marathon runners from Kenya also praised the spirit and organisation of the event.