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PESHAWAR, Jul 22 (APP):The 4th edition of the Galiyat mountain trail race was held by Margalla trail runners, attracting local and international participants.
The race brought vibrant energy to Pakistan’s most iconic high-altitude trail setup in the breathtaking Galiyat region on Sunday last.
This year’s Galiyat mountain trail race featured two challenging categories ie the 60KM ultra and the 20KM trail each crafted to test both physical stamina and mental resilience.
The 60 kilometers race began at 5 a.m with a 12-hour cutoff from Thandiyani, featuring a total elevation of 2,000 meters. The 20 kilometers race kicked off at 11:00 a.m with a 4-hour cutoff from Nathia Gali Club, covering 500 meters of total elevation change through steep, technical terrain.
As Pakistan’s only ITRA (International Trail Running Association) and UTMB (Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc) certified trail races, Galiyat Mountain Trail continues to put the country on the global trail-running map delivering world-class standards, athlete recognition, and a growing trail community in the heart of the scenic highlands.
Nearly 230 participants took part in the race, including national athletes, diplomats and global trail running enthusiasts participated in the adventurous race on a beautiful and misty day in the Galiyat mountain range.
At this year’s Galiyat Mountain Trail 60KM Ultra, Wiqar Ahmed claimed victory with a time of 6 hours, 39 minutes, and 58 seconds and secured first place but also broke last year’s course record, edging out last year’s champion Muzammil Shahzad Awan by just 45 seconds. Sadiq and Sajjad tied for third, both clocking in at 7 hours, 51 minutes, and 6 seconds.
In the women’s category, Christina Wieser defended her title with a strong finish at 8 hours, 28 minutes, and 14 seconds, followed by Anja Myrtveit at 9 hours, 8 minutes, and 40 seconds. Anum Uzair showed exceptional determination, completing the race in 12 hours, 57 minutes, and 30 seconds.
Israr Muhammad led the 20KM race with an impressive time of 1 hour 43 minutes 17 seconds. Just 35 seconds behind, Muhd Saad Sikandar followed closely at 1 hour 43 minutes 52 seconds. Muhammad Ramzan held strong and secured third place, finishing in 1 hour 49 minutes 41 seconds. A close and exciting finish from the top three.
In the women’s category, Jessie Beham ran a solid race, crossing the line in 2 hours 43 minutes. Saltanat Simbina came in shortly after with 2 hours 45 minutes, and Neelab Kayani wrapped up the top three in 3 hours 1 minute. All three showed great determination on this tough trail.
The event’s success was powered by the incredible support of its partners. CUST University served as the title sponsor, while Nestlé Professional supported essential hydration. Additional Nizam Watch House gifted watches to the top 3 finishers in each category while Flow Events supported the race. Optimize Digital, captured the essence of the entire event and led the digital campaign.
Support partners, volunteers, and numerous contributors played a key role in ensuring smooth execution and amplifying the event’s overall impact.
Javed Ali, who is the founder of MTR and the race director thanked all the participants and expressed his delight to see a huge turnout including foreigners and runners from across Pakistan.
Danish Raza expressed his gratitude toward the team saying “Huge congratulations to MTR for organising such a beautiful event; complete in all aspects. Great arrangements at all aid stations, amazing support team, especially those volunteers who performed duties in faraway mountains”
Despite the unpredictable weather, an inherent element of the region, the race proceeded with remarkable coordination, enthusiasm, and the unyielding spirit of the runners.
Israr Khattak said that this was my third time participating in the Galiyat Mountain Trail, and I have been fortunate to win the 20km category twice. Every year, the event keeps getting better, the management continues to improve, and the overall experience this year was simply amazing.”
The race was more than just a competition, it was a celebration of human endurance and the majestic mountain landscapes of Pakistan.
As a growing symbol of global adventure tourism, the Galiyat Mountain Trail Race continues to put Pakistan on the international map, proving that both its terrain and its people are ready to take on the world’s toughest challenges. Official results for the 60KM category will be available on the ITRA website.