ROAD RUNNING
An official post-race ceremony was held on the Monday evening in the hotel where we were staying . It was a grand affair , with dignitaries , sponsors , the media , all the international runners , the local runners ’ winners in attendance , and security , due to the many VIPs in attendance . The guest speaker was the chief of the Pakistan Air Force . I was privileged to be welcomed on stage by Ziyad after a brief introduction to my running and climbing CV , and enjoyed a short conversation with the Air Force head . I shared with him that I had spent nearly five months of my life in Pakistan on various trekking and climbing expeditions , that I had been most impressed with the professionalism and courtesy of his staff , and wished him well for promoting Pakistan on the world must-visit list . A few others were also called out to the stage , including Beth , who was greeted with a standing ovation for being such an inspiration in spite of her disability .
I enjoyed the following day relaxing around the pool and a final meal with friends , before departing early on the Wednesday morning to return to Cape Town . The sponsors had been very generous in ensuring our safety and comfort , and our trip had been professionally managed , creating a wonderful impression not only of the country itself , but also of the people that we had interacted with throughout our stay . This was a flying visit to Pakistan , compared to my lengthy visits in the 1990s , but I had been so pleased to have an opportunity to run in Pakistan . I ’ d like to return to the north of the country at some point again , and in the meantime , I count my blessings every day for the opportunities I have enjoyed to travel , climb and run all over the world , in good health , and all in safety , too !
MORE FROM THE KHUNJERAB PASS
We went in search of some videos that showcase the Khunjerab Pass Marathon , or the famous Karakoram Highway , so take a few minutes to watch these vids .
KHUNJERAB PASS MARATHON 2019 The official video of the 2019 Khunjerab Pass Marathon made by event organisers , Z Adventures . Look carefully and you ’ ll spot Scott McIvor in his distinctive yellow Durbanville Athletics Club vest every now and again .
A few more picturesque shots of the impressive Khunjerab Pass .
THE WORLD ’ S HIGHEST MARATHON A vlog of the 2019 Khunjerab Pass Marathon made by Way to Wanderlust , an adventure tourism company showcasing the sights and sounds of Pakistan .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Scott McIvor ( 68 ) originally hails from Scotland and is now retired and living in South Africa . He is an accomplished mountain climber , having successfully completed the Seven Summits challenge in 2002 ( climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents ). In 1993 , he became the 506th person to summit Everest . He is also an accomplished runner , and has completed more than 270 marathons and ultras in 37 countries , with a marathon best of 2:47:41 . In 2015 , he participated in the inaugural Triple Seven Challenge , attempting to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days , but adverse weather conditions flying into Antarctica from the mainland prevented the achievement of the overall objective .
DRIVING THE KHUNJERAB PASS Something different … an entertaining travel vlog by Englishman Jordan Simons , featuring the last leg of a cross-country journey to the northern-most point of Pakistan in three-wheel tuk-tuk rickshaws .
Images : Naseer Kazmee / Wikimedia , Nazar Hussain / Wikimedia
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