Danish Hussain Yar will run the New York City Marathon this Sunday. The 22-year-old Cornell University junior escaped Taliban rule. She left Afghanistan to pursue her education and personal freedom.
A Desire To Run
Hussain Yar grew up in Mazar-i-Sharif. She rode her bicycle early in the morning to avoid harassment. Running outside was impossible for women in her home country. She instead watched clips of the New York City Marathon online. These videos gave her hope for a different future.
Escaping To America
The Taliban regained power in 2021. Hussain Yar and her sister escaped to Bangladesh in August 2022. She secured a scholarship at the Asian University for Women. She ran for the first time on a small gym treadmill. She later gained acceptance to Cornell University. She arrived in Ithaca in July 2024.
Marathon Preparation
She finally experienced her first outdoor run in upstate New York. A local elderly couple bought her proper running trainers. She began training with local running coach Alex Kleinerman. She completed the 13.1-mile Gorges Half Marathon in June 2025. She recently finished two 20-mile training runs.
Her parents currently remain in Afghanistan. Hussain Yar hopes her marathon debut will inspire women globally. She wants to represent girls living in conflict zones.