Srinagar, Aug. 31 -- By Deebu Malik

A marathon usually has a simple geography.

There is a starting line, a long road and a finish line.

Kashmir adds another destination to that map: the places a runner visits before the race, the hotel room booked for the weekend, the restaurant table occupied after training and the family holiday that grows around a sporting event.

That is where the Kashmir Marathon's real promise lies. Its third edition in 2026 should be judged by what happens beyond the 42.195 kilometres.

The first two editions have already established that Srinagar can host an international mass-participation race. About 2,000 runners from 13 countries took part in the October 2024 edition, including 59 international athletes. Th...