Kartik Joshi Crosses 2,000 Km Mark in Kargil-to-Kanyakumari Run as Journey Enters Maharashtra

Ultra-endurance athlete reaches halfway milestone of the 4,200-km K2K challenge, with Mumbai and Thane runners joining the Maharashtra leg.

Skechers announced that athlete Kartik Joshi has completed more than 2,000 kilometres of his ongoing 4,200-kilometre run from Kargil to Kanyakumari, as the endurance challenge entered Maharashtra.

The milestone comes as Joshi progresses through one of India's long-distance running routes, covering an average of 70–80 kilometres per day since starting the journey from the Kargil War Memorial on May 2. The route has included high-altitude mountain roads, changing weather conditions, challenging terrain, highways and urban roads.

Throughout the challenge, Joshi has been running in Skechers Running footwear, including the Skechers AERO Burst®, Skechers AERO Spark®, and other models from the brand's performance running range.

To mark the Maharashtra leg of the run, members of the local running community and the Skechers Run Club joined Kartik during a community run in Mumbai. The event was also attended by Rahul Vira, CEO, Skechers South Asia Pvt. Ltd.

Rahul Vira, CEO, Skechers South Asia Pvt. Ltd., said:

"Running and performance innovation have always been central to Skechers’ global ethos. Kartik’s Kargil to Kanyakumari journey is a powerful reflection of resilience, consistency, and the drive to push human boundaries—values that sit at the core of Skechers’ performance running category. This extraordinary endurance challenge illustrates that our running footwear including the innovative Skechers AERO Burst is designed to go the distance with comfort that performs through every kilometre. Skechers supports Kartik in this landmark feat of endurance to help his mission to redefine what is possible in long-distance running."

Speaking about the experience so far, Kartik Joshi said:

"This journey has already tested me in ways I could never have imagined. Crossing Zoji La amidst tough terrains was physically and mentally intense, but the warmth and support from people across the route kept me going. Having Skechers on my team keeping me comfortable along the way has been an asset that tames me closer to completing this adventure."

Born and raised in Indore, Kartik Joshi is an endurance athlete known for participating in long-distance running events. The Kargil-to-Kanyakumari (K2K) challenge spans 4,200 kilometres, with the objective of completing the route in a record-setting 55 days.

As part of the initiative, the K2K project team plans to distribute free running kits to more than 100 grassroots runners to encourage participation in running. The campaign will continue through cities including Mumbai and Bengaluru before concluding in Kanyakumari, where a record-attempt is planned.

According to Skechers, the initiative focuses on endurance, discipline and India's growing running culture while featuring the company's performance running footwear during the journey.