The fourth Turkistan Marathon, organized by the “Courage to be the First” foundation, took place on October 26, bringing together 3,000 participants. The highlight of this year’s event was a record number of international runners: 365 athletes from 20 countries came to the spiritual capital of the Turkic world — almost twice as many as last year. Participants could choose among several distances: 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km (running and Nordic walking), and a 3 km race for children aged 10–14. The marathon’s results are officially recognized internationally thanks to certifications from World Athletics and the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).
Earlier this year, the Turkistan Marathon became part of the first Turkic long-distance running series — the Turkic Alliance of Long Runs (TAN). Thirty-five marathoners from the alliance took part in the race, continuing their athletic journey across the Turkic world.
“The TAN series symbolizes the unity of Turkic nations, and it is especially meaningful for us that the Turkistan Marathon — held in the spiritual capital of the Turkic world — has become part of this movement. This marathon unites people, inspires them to discover new cities, learn about different cultures, and strengthens the region’s position as a hub for sports and a magnet for runners,” — Galimzhan Yessenov.
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