Ladakh Marathon

Ladakh Marathon
Logo of Ladakh Marathon
Date 09 September 2018
Location Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Distance Ultra Marathon, Marathon, Half Marathon, 7km Ladakh run for fun,
Primary sponsor Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)
Established 2012 (2012)
Course records Men:
India Fayaz Ali 3:02:31
Women:
India Jigmet Dolma 3:18:56
Official site ladakhmarathon.com
Participants ~6000

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 sixth edition of the Ladakh Marathon was held in 2017. 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 event is supported by the Indian Army,Jammu & Kashmir Police, tourism ministry of the Jammu and Kashmir government. "Timing Technologies" is the timing partner "Enerzal" energy drink partner and Bisleri the hydrant partner 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 NDS stadium on the Leh Manali highway 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]

YearWinnerNationalityTimeRunner upThird place
2012Padam Limbu India08:52:20Konchok Namgail–
2013Rigzin Norbu India06:55:02Tsering GyatsoStanzin Wangyal
2014Shabbir Hussain India06:35:00Rigzin NorbuTsering Gyatso
2015Tsewang Todan India06:33:41Rigzin NorbuTsering Stobgais
2016Tsewang Tokdan India06:53:35Shabbir HussainMohamad Eliyas
2017Shabir Hussain India06:23:50Rigzin NarbooTsering Stobgyas

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

Women Khardung La Challenge 72 km winner

YearWinnerNationalityTimeRunner-upThird place
2015Skalzang Dolma India10:58:56Khushboo VaishTsetan Lamo
2016Sonam Chuskit India09:41:19Divya VasishtaPervin Batliwala
2017Shikha Pahwa India11:05:37Kavita ChatterjeeDeepa Bhat

Women’s Full Marathon 42 km

YearWinnerNationalityTimeRunner-upThird place
2012Jigmet Skitzom India04:51:30Padma LhamoTsetan Dolkar
2013Tsetan Dolkar India04:54:05Sonam ChuskitClaudia Meier
Judith Klemenz
2014Sonam Chuskit India04:10:12Namgail LhamoDechen Chuskit
2015Tsetan Dolkar India03:40:37Jigmet DolmaKatharina Leuthner
2016Tsetan Dolkar India03:34:24Shikha PahwaNamgyal Lhamo
2017Jigmet Dolma India03:18:56Tsetan DolkarSonam Chuskit
2018Jigmet Dolma India03:21:27Tsetan DolkarSweta Kadian

Men’s Full Marathon 42 km

YearWinnerNationalityTimeRunner upThird place
2012Tsering Gyatso India03:36:18Tsewang ThinlasRigzin Angchuk
2013Shabir Hussain India03:25:33Jigmet NorbooTashi Zangpo
2014Shokat Ali India03:16:58Jigmet NamgailMustafa Ali
2015Fayaz Ali India03:02:31Padama NamgailTsering Tondup
2016Jigmet Namgial India03:12:06Stanzin NurbuJigmet Norboo
2017Shabir Hussain India03:06:07Manzoor HussainJigmet Norboo
2018Manzoor Hussain India03:13:06Ajaz HussainJigmath Kunzang

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Siddarth Rishi Battula (11 September 2015). "Your guide to the 2015 Ladakh Marathon". Yahoo News India. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
  2. 1 2 3 "Ladakh Marathon 2015: Runners, gear up for world's highest marathon!". Travel India.
  3. ↑ "LAHDC organises 3rd Ladakh Marathon at Leh | Business Standard News". Business-standard.com. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
  4. 1 2 3 "4,000 runners ready for Ladakh Marathon tomorrow". Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council organised 3rd Ladakh Marathon at Leh". M.jagranjosh.com. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
  6. ↑ Tribune News Service. "With courage higher than mountains, amputee to run Ladakh marathon". tribuneindia.com.
  7. 1 2 "4th Ladakh Marathon witnesses huge participation". Jammu Kashmir Latest News – Tourism – Breaking News J&K.
  8. ↑ Max Lovell-Hoare; Sophie Lovell-Hoare (1 July 2014). Kashmir: Jammu. Kashmir Valley. Ladakh. Zanskar. Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 95–. ISBN 978-1-84162-396-2.
  9. ↑ Highest marathon, Guinness World Book of Records, Retrieved 9 October 2015
  10. ↑ "Leh – Official Site". leh.nic.in.
  11. ↑ "Ladakh Marathon – Acclimatization Issues". Ladakh Marathon. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  12. ↑ "Ladakh Marathon – Results 2012". ladakhmarathon.com.
  13. ↑ "Ladakh Marathon – Results 2013". ladakhmarathon.com.
  14. ↑ "Ladakh Marathon – Results 2014". ladakhmarathon.com.
  15. ↑ "Ladakh Marathon – Results 2015". ladakhmarathon.com.
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