Faisal Shafi, a famous Pakistani marathoner, is going above and beyond to win the coveted Abbott World Marathon Majors (WMM) six-star award. In 2018, the Karachi-born sprinter lost weight and started running to train for obstacle races.
Marathoner Faisal Shafi of Pakistan eyes Abbott Six Star
Now, though, he is at the top of the running scene in Pakistan and serves as an example for marathon runners there. Shafi wants to get his fourth Abbott star as he prepares for the world titles in Chicago this year.
He already has stars for Berlin, London, and New York City. The 41-year-old will be the only person from Pakistan to compete in Chicago. They will be in the Masters 40-44 group. Since running marathons after turning 40 is complex, the Masters’ group is treated with much respect.
“Also, I was on a weight losing spree in 2017 which is why I joined the gym. So, after strength training, I was fascinated by obstacle course racing and enduring pain over a long distance,” Shafi told.
“Thus, looking at my interest in long-distance running, people advised me about participating in marathons. At first, I thought it would be difficult to run 42km but through proper training, I was able to achieve that,” he added.
