On June 1st and 2nd, the ZAAMIN ULTRA 2024 ultramarathon will take place in Zaamin National Nature Park.
In 2024, the Samarkand Marathon series of international charity runs celebrates its 5th anniversary. The first event of this year will be the International Ultramarathon ZAAMIN ULTRA 2024. ZAAMIN ULTRA 2024 will be held in Zaamin National Nature Park, offering an unforgettable experience for all participants. The course is located at an altitude of 2200-2500 meters above sea level, which is equivalent to six Tashkent TV towers.
"This year, we are celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Samarkand Marathon series of international charity runs. Since its inception, we have positioned our events as a festival dedicated to sports, culture, and art, bringing together participants from around the world in Uzbekistan. We are developing the entire series and continuously working to make the events bigger and more interesting, attracting new audiences, including young people from across the republic," said Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation.
Participants and guests of the festival can expect:
- A unique mountain track and incredible landscapes of Zaamin National Park;
- Family entertainment: rock climbing, hot air balloon rides with views of the Suffa plateau;
- An electronic music concert on the evening before the race;
- This year, a new environmental initiative, plogging, will be introduced, which will become a tradition for the entire series of charity runs. Participants will finish the two-day festival with a joint run and trash collection, helping to preserve the natural park in its pristine state.
Race distances:
- 50K — this route offers views of the entire plateau, with the Turkestan and Malguzar ridges in sight. The highest point of the track reaches 2500 meters above sea level. Elevation gain — 1535 meters.
- 21K — half-marathon runners can test their endurance on a 21 km distance with a total elevation gain of 635 meters. Participants will run past all three streams: Kattashir, Kyzylmazar, and Obikul.
- 10K — participants will reach a viewpoint overlooking the Kyzylmazar mountain stream and the entrance to the Chortang canyon. For a thrilling finish, organizers have saved some climbs for the last kilometers. Elevation gain — 370 meters.
- 2K — this short distance is perfect for runners just starting to explore mountain running. The route offers a panoramic view of the starting village and the Kattashir mountain stream.
On June 1st, the eve of the race, an electronic music concert will be held for guests and participants of the ZAAMIN ULTRA 2024 ultramarathon. Local DJs will perform on an open stage in front of a large audience.
QARAQOOM was a revelation last year. This project combines the ethnic sounds of Central Asian peoples with modern electronic music, ranging from organic house to progressive house and techno. The group was founded in 2020 during the peak of the pandemic and named after the Karakum desert, thus anchoring associations with the climate, centuries-old history, culture of Central Asia, and the traditions of its peoples. The group is an artist of the labels Cafe de Anatolia, Serum records, Enormous chills.
Organizer: Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation.
General partners of the race: Ministry of Sports, Jizzakh Region Governor's Office.