Anum Uzair Wins Pakistan’s First 100km Galiyat Trail Ultra
Pakistani mountaineer and trail runner Anum Uzair has secured a landmark victory by becoming the first women’s champion of the country’s inaugural 100-kilometre Galiyat Mountain Trail Ultra Marathon. Her achievement at the fifth Galiyat Mountain Trail Race has placed her among the leading figures in Pakistan’s growing endurance-sports community.
The two-day competition was staged on July 18 and 19 in the mountainous surroundings of Nathia Gali. More than 400 athletes from Pakistan and overseas participated across 100km, 60km, 40km and 20km categories, making the event one of the most diverse trail-running gatherings held in the country.
Runners faced steep ascents, forest tracks, unpredictable weather and long stretches through the Himalayan foothills. Routes beginning from Nathia Gali Club and Thandiyani Top passed through areas near the Mushkpuri and Miranjani peaks before ending at Khaira Gali and Jandala, demanding sustained physical strength, navigation and mental discipline.
Uzair dedicated her achievement to Pakistani women, particularly female runners seeking opportunities in competitive and adventure sports. She said the victory had strengthened her determination to represent Pakistan internationally and pursue more unusual and physically demanding competitions on the global stage.
The athlete described lightning and wildlife as major concerns during mountain trail running. She recalled encountering a leopard sitting roughly 200 feet ahead of her during a training run for an earlier 40km event, an experience that initially caused fear but ultimately helped her become more confident while training in remote terrain.
Uzair said trail running and high-altitude mountaineering involve different dangers, even though both require extensive preparation and resilience. She maintains her fitness throughout the year, including workouts in which she climbs the equivalent of as many as 100 floors, allowing her to remain prepared for endurance challenges at short notice.
Her latest success builds on an established mountaineering career. The Lahore-based athlete, who holds an advanced degree in forensic sciences, previously became part of the first Pakistani couple to summit Nepal’s 8,163-metre Manaslu with her husband, Ahmed Uzair. Her transition between climbing, marathon running and trail racing reflects the expanding scope of adventure sports in Pakistan.
The Galiyat event also produced notable results in other categories. Athar Akhtar and Muzammal Shahzad crossed the finish line together to share the men’s 100km title, while athletes competed for honours in the shorter-distance races. Organisers said the routes were certified by the International Trail Running Association and qualified participants for internationally recognised UTMB rankings.
Beyond competition, the event highlighted Pakistan’s potential for mountain tourism and outdoor recreation. A children’s Run for Education was also organised with UNICEF Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and provincial authorities, linking physical activity with awareness about education and healthy lifestyles.
Uzair’s victory is expected to encourage more women to enter endurance running, mountaineering and other outdoor disciplines that have traditionally received limited attention and resources. Organisers will now seek to expand international participation, strengthen safety and medical arrangements and establish the Galiyat race as a regular fixture on the global trail-running calendar.