Mairi Manzil

Triathlon 2019 by TriPakistan in Pakistan

This year, one of the best Triathlons in 2019 was organized by Tri-Pakistan in the Gilgit- Baltistan, Pakistan. Located near Hunza valley, surrounded by glaciers Passu (Pasu) Glacier and Rakaposhi, Borith Lake was the location marked for an adventurous challenge in the Karakoram this year on 21st July, 2019.
At an average altitude of 2600m, Borith Lake Traithlon 2019 was a success with 17 triathletes taking part in triathlon for the first time. From different parts of Pakistan and other parts of the world especially Oman and UK.

TriPakistan at Hunza Valley

Many triathletes assembled in Islamabad, which is the capital city of Pakistan to start their journey to Gilgit for final destination to Hunza Valley.
I would like to express my gratitude to Tri-Pakistan, all the organizers and volunteers who put on such an amazing event on 21st July 2019. Although I’ve participated in many triathlons across globe including IM70.3 and several half marathons and marathons, this was my first triathlon in Pakistan, and I can tell you that I was super excited to attend this because of several reasons.
Firstly, the weather and the altitude and second the journey to paradise from Islamabad to Hunza by road. I am an overseas Pakistani and living abroad for the last two decades, but I always enjoy travelling to Pakistan. I especially travelled for this event.
Borith Lake Triathlon was a really challenging one. And at this altitude doing triathlon is a challenge in itself and I believe every triathlete should experience that.
I wish that this event happens every year and I will make special plans to travel to Pakistan to attend it. I am planning to participate at the triathlon again on 26th July 2020.

Once again, I thank you Usman and his team for such a well-organized event. I stayed in a resort arranged by Tri-Pakistan and didn’t have to worry about anything (race pack, race venue, bike mounting, setting up gears, refreshments, rest, transport and etc), everything was arranged by them.
Lastly, I would like to congratulate volunteers, HUGE, HUGE thank you, they were extremely motivational! It was like each one knew me personally, the way they were cheering me on, and that of course, made me smile after my swim, ride faster and run faster.

Thanks again and I look forward to participating in your event next year.”
I recorded race using Garmin Forerunner 935, by turning on triathlon mode. It has perfectly worked in mountains area.

Triathlon 2020 by TriPakistan

Registration for next year is already open. To visit tripakistan website click here

Half Marathon 2019 - Kashmir

Some of the popular Half Marathon 2019 are London, Berlin, Barcelona, but running a marathon in Paradise on earth in Kashmir is a totally different experience.

Half Marathon in Kashmir

Kashmir Half Marathon was organized in Bagh Azad Kashmir on 14th July, 2019, with the total elevation gain of 1100 m. Total 14 participants registered for the race. The race started from Shamsi Stadium Bagh at an altitude of 1100m and finished at Sudhan Gali Gate (Bagh - Muzaffarabad Link Road) at an Altitude of 2200m. The road was totally hilly.

The run was a great one because on every 3km we had water stations of Natural Spring Water. Aid stations had fresh fruits from tree branches ready for us to pick and clean and eat.

Natural Spring water was sweat and fresh, it gave refreshing feeling and non of the runner wanted to leave the water station without drinking enough water.

Natural beauty in Bagh Azad Kashmir is also at its peak, where sunlight was hardly visible because of trees in jungle. Though this was the road run but road was surrounded by trees (various kinds including fruits).

I recorded race using Garmin Forerunner 935, it perfectly gave me elevation, distance, temperature and other important information. The data was synchronized to Strava App, and below is Strava activity detail ;

Open Water Swimming in Kashmir

Those who love open water swimming, their travel destination has also swimming plan included. When they reach the destination they look for "open water swimming near me" or "open water swimming events". Most of the times swimmers traveling abroad will keep their swimming gears with them wetsuit, swimming goggles, and garmin watch.

Same is with me, I have previously done open water swimming in London, United States, South Africa and UAE, during my visit to Pakistan I decided to swim in open water.

Zalzal Lake (The Earthquake Lake)

Zalzal Lake in Kashmir is Natural lake formed as a result of earthquake in 2005. This is now most popular tourist destination today, though road infrastructure is not yet suitable for this location and it is not directly connected to the road, that is the reason this untouched lake is still very clean.

Zalzal Lake is located in Pakistani Administered Kashmir Chikar (the town of Muzaffarabad District).

To reach there the best way is to Visit Bagh Azad Kashmir, which is 4 hours drive from Islamabad, the Capital City of Pakistan.

From there you can Sudhan Gali where there are many resorts, hotel and guest houses to stay. Then you can take local tranport or hire a car to reach the Zalzal Lake View Point.

Road Access

I travelled from Bagh to Sudhan gali which is 21 KM and then From Sudhan Gali silk road is good and it hardly takes 40 minutes to reach there. We had Half Marathon Race that started from Bagh to Sudhan Gali, after completing the race we took rest and then moved from Sudhan Gali to Zalzal Lake view point which is 16km , the road is partly damaged with two big land slide areas, but still access to the view point is easy, we drove 4X4, but saloon car is also better choice.

From View point to Zalzal Lake it will take another 20 minutes walk/hike downhill. You can park your car and walk to the Zalzal Lake, there is one Boat and one TUCSHOP, but weather and view is great.

Those who are interested in swimming must make sure that they have enough gears and safety measures before swimming and more than this is your swim, you must know how to swim in Open Water.

Even if you want to use boat make sure you put on life jacket.

Swimming

Zalzal Lake in all over Pakistan is best place for open water swimming, for people who love Water Sports, they must not miss this place.. Long distance swim of (2.5 KM covering complete lake) was organized by Bagh Youth Forum and Pir Panjal Travel and Tours. The lake is beautiful in its kind. I love open water swimming, I swum many places in the world, but experience in Zalzal lake was totally different, water from Natural Springs comes all the times in this lake which keeps the lake water fresh and sweet.

July is usually monsoon, when I did swimming in this lake it was drizzling which made the swim more interesting, water temperature was fine. I must say this is one of the best lakes in the world.

I will share my detailed experience soon in this blog,but below is the strava activity link, where I only recorded warmup swim.

I have recorded this swim using garmin forerunner 935, though there are many other options to chose from garmin like ; garmin vivoactive 3, garmin fenix 5 or garmin fenix 3 but this watch is perfect for the triathlon.

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