Gender mixed marathon run peacefully in Pakistan

With a whole lot of security, 500 women were able to successfully participate in one of Pakistan’s historically male dominated marathon events.

Islamic protesters had demanded women be barred from taking part, arguing their presence ran counter to Islam.
But correspondents say such events are important to Pakistan’s government, keen to seem a moderate Islamic state.
A total of three races were held: an exclusively male, professional run, a mixed-sex marathon and a family event which involved women and children running for 5km. Some 10,000 people took part, including 60 foreign athletes.

Apparently last year women participated as well, but as of April Islamic hardliners had made a ban on mixed-sex marathons.
via BBCNews.