Karachi Runners Aim for Guinness Record at Boston Marathon in Traditional Attire

As the 129th Boston Marathon approaches on April 21st, featuring a massive gathering of runners, a team of 18 Pakistani athletes, both residing in Pakistan and abroad, are preparing to achieve remarkable feats.

Among them, Danish Elahi and Faisal Shafi, two runners from Karachi, will be making an attempt at a Guinness World Record. They aim to complete the marathon in under four hours while wearing the traditional Pakistani Shalwar Qameez, on what is known as one of the most demanding marathon routes globally.

While Danish and Faisal focus on the world record, five other runners, along with Danish, will be achieving their Six Star Finisher status at the Boston Marathon. This places them among an exclusive group of athletes who have successfully completed all six Abbott World Marathon Majors: Boston, New York, Chicago, Berlin, London, and Tokyo.

Adnan Gandhi, Hira Diwan, Yusra Bokhari, Nizar Nayani, and Jamal Khan are the runners set to complete their sixth major world marathon.

The Boston Marathon, recognized as the world’s oldest annual marathon, anticipates over 50,000 participants this year. An estimated one million spectators are expected to line the 26.2-mile course from Hopkinton to Boylston Street. The course is notorious for its challenging hills, including the infamous Heartbreak Hill. For the Pakistani participants, this marathon signifies not only personal accomplishment but also the chance to highlight national pride and strength.

World Record Attempt in National Dress

The endeavor by Danish Elahi and Faisal Shafi to establish a world record for the fastest marathon time in Shalwar Qameez has garnered substantial attention. Elahi explained that the concept originated from a desire to authentically represent Pakistan on an international platform.

“Faisal encouraged me to undertake this final, six-star marathon to symbolize not only the six-star achievement but also a record-breaking accomplishment for Pakistan,” Elahi stated. “We will be representing Pakistan in Boston, among approximately 50,000 runners and an audience of over a million, running in our national attire and colors. I aspire for this to be a lasting memory of Pakistan for people worldwide.”

Shafi highlighted the cultural importance of the endeavor. “The core idea was to represent Pakistan and showcase our culture on a global stage,” he explained. “It’s not solely about securing a world record; it’s about presenting a positive image of Pakistan and our culture, while also ensuring Pakistan’s presence in the world record books.”

The current unofficial benchmark was achieved by Prakash Banisetty, based in Canada, in 2018; however, he did not meet the sub-four-hour target. Elahi and Shafi express confidence in their training, despite admitting the unique challenges of training in traditional attire.

“We haven’t conducted extensive long runs in Shalwar Qameez during our training,” Shafi acknowledged, mentioning logistical challenges in finalizing Guinness documentation. However, Elahi remains optimistic: “We hope it won’t pose a significant challenge, and we will successfully cross the finish line.”

Six Stars and a Dream: Pakistani Runners Complete Their Marathon Majors Journey

For Danish Elahi, Adnan Gandhi, Hira Diwan, Yusra Bokhari, Nizar Nayani, and Jamal Khan, the Boston Marathon signifies the culmination of years of commitment. Completing all six World Marathon Majors is an uncommon achievement, with only approximately 17,000 runners worldwide holding the Six Star Finisher title.

Adnan Gandhi has played a pivotal role in nurturing Pakistan’s marathon culture. His path to Boston proved particularly demanding, coinciding with Ramadan.

“I was initially concerned about participating in Boston this year because it meant my most challenging six weeks would require training during Ramadan,” he admitted. However, he received immense support from the running community. “My running companions trained with me almost every night. I covered nearly 400 kilometers in March, largely with SVRC members,” he added.

Gandhi cited the London Marathon 2022 as a standout experience. “The entire marathon experience, from the expo to the organization and race support, was exceptional.” Following Boston, he aims to further develop Pakistan’s marathon scene. “In a country as large as Pakistan, we should host three to five marathons annually,” Adnan suggested.

For Hira Diwan, one of just four Pakistani women running in Boston this year, the race represents the peak of a 14-year journey.

“This finish will be very emotional for me,” she shared. “The discipline required to train for each race, balancing work, life, and being a single mother, has been significant,” Hira expressed.

Hira aims to fully experience the atmosphere during the Boston Marathon, rather than focusing solely on her time.

“I’m excited to participate in a race where I’m not fixated on time but can fully embrace the atmosphere. Boston has a finish line that reads ‘Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston.’ I am particularly looking forward to making those turns before reaching the Boston finish line,” she explained.

Training for the Boston Marathon, particularly during Ramadan, was challenging, she noted. “Many hills! And many early morning runs done alone,” she recalled. However, her primary goal is to encourage more Pakistani women to take up running.

“I aspire to inspire more women to go out there and start running,” she said. “It can be difficult within our culture to articulate why you run these long distances, and this difficulty is amplified for female runners,” she elaborated.

Despite these challenges, she observes progress. “With run clubs like SVRC, there is now a more supportive and safer environment for women,” Hira added.

Danish Elahi, who is also striving for a world record with Faisal Shafi, will also complete his 6th major marathon, earning the Six Star Finisher badge.

“It is immensely meaningful to me, not only as a personal achievement but also as a tribute to my family, especially my parents, wife, and children, for their support throughout this journey. It symbolizes Pakistan’s representation on a global stage and inspires our local running community to motivate the younger generation to pursue similar goals in the future,” Danish shared before departing for Boston.

Among the 18 Pakistani runners participating in Boston, nine are based in the U.S., while others come from the U.K., UAE, and Pakistan. Their participation highlights the widespread global presence of Pakistan’s running community.

Dr. Salman Khan, a five-time Boston finisher, and Aamer Butt, a four-time participant, are among the most experienced. Sadiq Shah, Ayaz Abdulla, Abdul Rehman, and Amin Mukaty are traveling directly from Pakistan, emphasizing the growing popularity of the sport back home.

For these athletes, the Boston Marathon is more than just a race; it is an opportunity to reshape perceptions of Pakistan.

“It gives me goosebumps,” Elahi said. “It’s every athlete’s dream to represent their country on the global stage, wear the flag proudly, and raise it high upon finishing. It’s about showcasing Pakistan’s positive image to the world and shifting focus away from negativity.”

As the runners tackle Heartbreak Hill and the final stretch onto Boylston Street, their strides embody not only personal ambition but also a shared hope for more Pakistanis to embrace marathon running and for the world to view their nation in a new, positive light.

List of Pakistani Runners (Based in Pakistan and Abroad):

  1. Dr. Salman Khan
  2. Aamer Butt
  3. Jamal Khan
  4. Nizar Nayani
  5. Hira Diwan (F)
  6. Salman Ilyas
  7. Yusra Bokhari (F)
  8. Sara Lodhi (F)
  9. Sadiq Shah
  10. Adnan Gandhi
  11. Ayaz Abdulla
  12. Danish Elahi
  13. Amin Mukaty
  14. Abdul Rehman
  15. Faisal Shafi
  16. Omer Malik
  17. Qamar Zia
  18. Dr. Ravia Bokhari (F)