"So Damn Pleased": Omar Abdullah Opens Kashmir Marathon, Then Runs 21 Km

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister recorded himself running with other participants in the marathon along the scenic Dal Lake in Srinagar

Days after taking oath as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today hit the streets for the Kashmir half-marathon and recorded a personal milestone by running 21 km. The National Conference leader took to X to share the update and visuals from his impressive run. "I'm so damn pleased with myself today. I completed the Kashmir Half Marathon - 21 KM at an average pace of 5 min 54 sec per KM," he said in the post. I'm so damn pleased with myself today. I completed the Kashmir Half Marathon - 21 KM at an average pace of 5 min 54 sec per KM. I've never run more than 13 KM in my life & that too only ever once. Today I just kept going, propelled by the enthusiasm of other amateur runners like… pic.twitter.com/yZVjFz5oJ4 The metrics from the Nike Run Club app on my watch 🏃🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/EL0XvslOJ6 It was such fun running with others. Lots of selfies & videos along the way. I even had a few requests for appointments and one or two job related problems highlighted along the way. Let's not forget the enterprising journalists who tried to run along side in the hope of grabbing… pic.twitter.com/BfFijIOem9 You don't need drugs to feel good or beat stress. A good run, whether a kilometer or a marathon, is enough to clear the cobwebs & achieve a natural feeling of euphoria & enthusiasm. Try it, you won't regret it. Let's start running for a drug free J&K. pic.twitter.com/AC450rbsLq Come and run in the Kashmir marathon next time, air quality will be better & the scenery is pretty good too. https://t.co/QPE8IdhI3y

"I've never run more than 13 KM in my life & that too only ever once. Today I just kept going, propelled by the enthusiasm of other amateur runners like myself. No proper training, no running plan, no nutrition. Picked up a banana & a couple of khajoor along the way. The best part was running past my home with family & others out to cheer me on," the 54-year-old added in his post.