Ladakh Marathon

Ladakh Marathon
Logo of Ladakh Marathon
Date	10 September 2017
Location	Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Distance	Ultra Marathon, Marathon, Half Marathon, 7km
Primary sponsor	Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)
Established	2012 (2012)
Official site	www.ladakhmarathon.com
Participants	~5000

The Ladakh Marathon is a marathon held in Leh, a town in the Ladakh region in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It claims to be the highest marathon in the world, held at a height of 11,500 to 17,618 feet (3,505 to 5,370 m).^[1][2] The fourth running of the Ladakh Marathon was held in 2015. It is full member of Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.^[1][3][4] The marathon was organised "to foster national spirit and to encourage sport in Ladakh".^[5][6] It is the fifth marathon from India to get international recognition.^[7]

History

The Ladakh Marathon was started in 2012 following the 2010 Ladakh floods which claimed 200 lives as well as making several hundred people homeless. According to The Tribune of India, "The initiative was started to convey to the world that Ladakh is back and running. It is aimed at encouraging the youth of Ladakh to live a healthy lifestyle by taking up running in hostile weather conditions and by becoming more aware of the need to protect the environmentally fragile region."^[4][8]

The Ladakh marathon is claimed to be the highest marathon but this claim is not supported by the Guinness Book of Records which recognises the Everest Marathon which starts at over 5,200 metres (17,100 ft),^[9] though 72 km Ultra Ladakh Marathon goes up to height of 17,618 feet.^[1]

Organisation

The Ladakh Marathon is organised by India's Rimo Expeditions with the support of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC). The LAHDC is an autonomous government body which administers the Leh district. Apart from recognition by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races the competition is supported by the tourism ministry of the Jammu and Kashmir government. "Timing Technologies" and "Enerzal" energy drink are sponsors of the event.^[5][10]

Events

Shanti Stupa (Peace Monument) is the place where the marathon starts

The Ladakh Marathon is divided into the four following categories:^[1][2]

1. 7 km Race: This is shortest form of this marathon. Schools students as well as tourists usually participate in this race. Although it is shortest form of the race, it still requires good physical health to run it at height of 11,500 ft.
2. Half Marathon: 21 km race. It starts at Shanti Stupa (Peace Monument) and passes through Choglamsar village.
3. Full Marathon: 42 km race. It starts and ends in Leh town, and passes through the Leh valley. The marathon course crosses the Indus river several times en route.
4. The Khardungla Challenge/Ultra Marathon: 72 km race. It starts in the village of Khardung and then continues uphill on the way to the village of Khardung La at a height of 17,618 ft. With a distance of 72 km and a height of up to 17,618 ft, it is known as toughest and most challenging event of the Ladakh Marathon. "Travel India" called this event the "Mother of all Marathon races".^[2]

Participants

The inaugural running of the Ladakh Marathon in 2012 included 1,500 participants. Since then number of participants has been increased. The 2013 edition had 2,200 participants while in 2014 about 3,000 people participated. The recent 2015 marathon included more than 4,000 participants from 20 countries.^[4][5]

Acclimatization

Board of Indian Army regarding caution at high altitude

The Ladakh Marathon is held at a height of 11,500 to 17,600 ft. Acclimatization is the foremost issue at this height. Altitude sickness can occur at this height due to lack of oxygen. The Ladakh Marathon has a long pre-marathon work-out schedule to train the participants, helping them acclimatizing to the high altitude and hilly conditions. As per the official website of the Ladakh Marathon, athletes participating in 72 km "Khardungla Challenge" should arrive at Leh at least two weeks before marathon day.^[11]

Winners

The Khardung La Challenge (72 km)

Winners of 72 km "The Khardung La Challenge" also known as "Ultra-Marathon" are as follows.^{[5][7][12][13][14][15]}

Year	Winner	Nationality	Time	Runner up	Third place
2012	Padam Limbu	India	08:52:20	Konchok Namgail	–
2013	Rigzin Norbu	India	06:55:02	Tsering Gyatso	Stanzin Wangyal
2014	Shabbir Hussain	India	06:35:00	Rigzin Norbu	Tsering Gyatso
2015	Tsewang Todan	India	06:33:41	Rigzin Norbu	Tsering Stobgais
2016	Tsewang Tokdan	India	06:53:35	Shabbir Hussain	Mohamad Eliyas

Since 2015, special 72 km Khardung La Challenge for women was started.

Women Khardung La Challenge 72 km winner

Year	Winner	Nationality	Time	Runner-up	Third place
2015	Skalzang Dolma	India	10:58:56	Khushboo Vaish	Tsetan Lamo
2016	Sonam Chuskit	India	09:41:19	Divya Vasishta	Pervin Batliwala

Women’s Full Marathon 42 km

Year	Winner	Nationality	Time	Runner-up	Third place
2012	Jigmet Skitzom	India	04:51:30	Padma Lhamo	Tsetan Dolkar
2013	Tsetan Dolker	India	04:54:05	Sonam Chuskit	Claudia Meier Judith Klemenz
2014	Sonam Chuskit	India	04:10:12	Namgail Lhamo	Dechen Chuskit
2015	Tsetan Dolkar	India	03:40:37	Jigmet Dolma	Katharina Leuthner
2016	Tsetan Dolkar	India	03:34:24	Shikha Pahwa	Namgyal Lhamo

Men’s Full Marathon 42 km

Year	Winner	Nationality	Time	Runner up	Third place
2012	Tsering Gyatso	India	03:36:18	Tsewang Thinlas	Rigzin Angchuk
2013	Shabir Hussain	India	03:25:33	Jigmet Norboo	Tashi Zangpo
2014	Shokat Ali	India	03:16:58	Jigmet Namgail	Mustafa Ali
2015	Fayaz Ali	India	03:02:31	Padama Namgail	Tsering Tondup
2016	Jigmet Namgial	India	03:12:06	Stanzin Nurbu	Jigmet Norboo

References