How two friends built a rural running movement in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: More than 800 runners including men, women and children, participated in the ZoonRun marathon in Baramulla, around 60 km north of Srinagar, on early Sunday morning, an initiative aimed at promoting long distance running in rural areas.Founded by childhood friends Chandeep Singh, 38, and Tufail Anayat, 39, both from Baramulla, the event has expanded since it was launched last year attracting running lovers from across the Kashmir Valley and other parts of the country.The marathon started from St Joseph's School Baramulla to Trakpora. It featured races in three categories, 21 km, 10 km and 5 km.The half marathon began at 4. 45am and was jointly flagged off by general officer commanding of Baramulla based 19 Infantry Division Maj Gen Manoj Joshi, additional district development commissioner (ADDC) Baramulla, Pranjal J Hazarika, additional SP Harshal Mahajan and principal St joseph.

Fr. Suresh Britto.The district administration provided permissions to hold the event. Local entrepreneurs set up refreshment stalls for the runners.Chandeep, the race director, said not only Kashmiris, we saw runners from different parts of the country. He said Hans Raj Rajput of the Jammu and Kashmir Police also took part in the event. Rajput, 31, last year became the first person from Jammu & Kashmir to win the full marathon (42 km) at the 12th Ladakh Marathon.

“The 5 km race recorded the highest participation with about 350 runners, while more than 120 women competed across different categories. It is our great achievement,” Chandeep said.Participants were more than happy. "I came from Punjab and joined the 5 km race," one participant said. "There was a perception that Baramulla was not safe, but I found it completely secure. This is my first marathon in Kashmir and the weather is so good."Bilal, a participant from Mumbai, said he learned about the event through social media. "I contacted the organisers after seeing the registration online," he said. “I will come again next year,” he added.Ashok Sharma Bhanse, a para-athlete from Wardha, Maharashtra, who has lost one leg in an accident, said it was his first marathon in Kashmir and “I am loving it.”Rajput said the event gives young people an opportunity to participate in a marathon of this scale.

"It took me about a month to prepare. I was surprised to see such a large event being organised here and I enjoyed participating," he said.Chandeep, a chartered accountant, said he took up running five years ago to improve his fitness. Tufail, a senior bank official, later joined him."I started running just to see whether I was capable of it. As I became more involved in the sport, Tufail also developed an interest after seeing me in different events," Chandeep said.The two friends, who have been together since school days, began by running around Baramulla and gradually formed a small group of runners. They have deep love for Baramulla.“Baramulla is heaven for runners. You have meadows here, you have mountains here, you have gushing Jhelum and you don’t have traffic chaos,” he added."One day we planned a night run along the banks of the Jhelum on a full moon night and named it 'ZoonRun'.

But it rained that day and the event could not be held," Chandeep said. "Zoon" means "moon" in Kashmiri. But despite the rainfall ruining it, the name stuck.The duo later organised the first ZoonRun, titled "Spirit of Baramulla", in 2025 with around 150 participants."This way the annual event started," he said.This year's edition featured four age groups in each of the three race categories. Cash prizes were awarded to winners in the men's and women's sections."We have tried to make the event affordable by keeping the registration fee much lower than similar running events elsewhere in the country," Chandeep said, adding that sponsors helped meet the costs of organising the marathon.“It was a festival on Sunday morning in Baramulla. Next year we promise you a bigger event, a great rural marathon,” said Tufail chuckling.