Turkistan Marathon 2025

Turkistan Marathon Hosts 3,000 Runners as Part of the Turkic Alliance of Long Runs

TURKISTAN — On October 26, the spiritual capital of the Turkic world hosted the fourth annual Turkistan Marathon, bringing together 3,000 participants on its historic streets.

This year’s event saw a significant rise in international interest, with 365 foreign athletes joining the race—accounting for over 12% of the total field.

While the majority of runners arrived from cities across Kazakhstan (2,094), the event was truly inclusive. Notably, the field included the event's oldest participant, 91-year-old Salikha Zigangerova from Shchuchinsk, proving that passion for sport knows no age limits.

In terms of international representation, neighboring nations led the way: Kyrgyzstan (147), Uzbekistan (109), and Russia (72). The marathon also welcomed athletes from the Asia-Pacific region (12), Europe (16), North and Latin America (4), Africa (3), and the Middle East (2), underscoring the event's growing global appeal.

Distances and Certification Athletes competed across multiple distances: the full marathon (42.2 km), half marathon (21.1 km), 10 km, 10 km Nordic walking, and a 3 km fun run for children aged 10–14.

The Turkistan Marathon maintains high professional standards; its results are recognized internationally thanks to official certification by World Athletics and the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).

New Course Records This year was momentous for elite performance, with three major course records shattered by athletes from Uzbekistan:

• Andrey Petrov set a new benchmark in the men’s marathon, crossing the finish line in 2:16:58.
• Ekaterina Tunguskova established a new women’s course record for the 42.2 km distance with a time of 2:40:45.
• Alisher Akhmataliev set a blistering pace in the 10 km race, finishing in 30:31.

A Key Stage of the TAN Series Earlier this year, the Turkistan Marathon officially joined the Turkic Alliance of Long Runs (TAN), the first series of long-distance races dedicated to the Turkic world.

Thirty-five TAN marathoners participated in the race, continuing their running journey across the region. Athletes who successfully complete five TAN races will be awarded a unique medal, securing not just a collector’s item, but memories to last a lifetime.

"The TAN series symbolizes the unity of Turkic peoples, and it is particularly significant 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 and cultures, and strengthens the region's position as a hub for sports and a destination for runners," noted Galimzhan Yessenov, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the "Courage to be First" Corporate Fund