The moonscape of Leh, which has been scarred by violent protests for statehood and particular standing, police firing and days of curfew that introduced town to a standstill, had introduced an entire distinction then. The streets had been calm, the market was bustling and lots of of breathless athletes took half in a number of the most difficult high-altitude lengthy runs on the earth on the Ladakh Marathon—the Silk Route Extremely (122 km), the Khardung La Problem (72 km), the marathon and the half marathon.
These occasions are powerful even for normal marathoners. And runners dare not breach the set of strict dos and don'ts. They, for example, attain at the very least six days earlier than the race (for the extremely runners, it's 10 days) for a compulsory interval of acclimatisation resulting from Ladakh's excessive altitude and low-oxygen ranges.
RUNNING ON TOP OF THE WORLD
In case you thought the 42.2 km marathon is the holy grail for runners, meet the Silk Route Extremely. It's a 122 km run that have to be accomplished in 22 hours. The race begins at 7 pm and ends at 5 pm the next day. It follows part of the traditional Silk Route and, subsequently, the title. It permits solely 60 first-time members. There are strict eligibility standards for others. Residents of Afghanistan, Pakistan and China in addition to these holding diplomatic passports are barred from participation.
Beginning at Kyagar village in Nubra Valley, the run crosses three different hamlets earlier than it hits the Leh-Nubra freeway and crosses the Shyok river. Then the ascent to Khardung village begins and continues until Khardung La, the best level of the run at 17,618 ft. The remainder of the route is downhill.
Aside from the final 4 km, which is surprisingly, punishingly, once more uphill. The race ends in Leh metropolis. On the finish of the run, some are nonetheless in excessive spirits, many are trudging and some want medical consideration.The Khardung La Problem could also be much less daunting however it's arduous nonetheless. It stretches over 72 km—of which 60 km is above 14,000 ft—and must be accomplished in 14 hours. It permits 300 new members.The marathon, half marathon (21.097 km), and a 11.5 km run—that are held at 11,155 ft—are a number of the highest altitude runs of their respective classes globally.
Rajesh Kataria, 44, who has a pc {hardware} agency in Gurgaon, ran the Khardung La Problem in 2024 and graduated to Silk Route Extremely this 12 months. He says, “Within the Silk Route Extremely you're combating the excessive altitude, the lengthy distance (122 km), dehydration and sleep. Furthermore, preparation for such a run can't be executed within the plains because the climate, terrain, air density are all completely different.”
At night time, the temperature dips to nearly zero at some factors. Throughout the day, direct daylight at excessive altitude is a problem and runners have to regulate their gear accordingly.
This 12 months, 88 runners had enrolled for the Silk Route Extremely, of which 83 turned up however solely 49 might end the run. There have been runners from nearly all states and Union territories.
Aditya Rathi, a 46-year-old from Mumbai, who couldn't full the Khardung La Problem final 12 months, returned this time and completed inside the time restrict. He says he educated for about eight months—he would do a 21 km run each weekend, aside from energy coaching, yoga and physiotherapy.
Nandini Shah Khera, who runs an IT startup in Gurgaon, ran her second marathon in Ladakh this 12 months. The 54-year-old long-distance runner, who has executed the 51 km border run in Rajasthan and marathons in Mumbai and Delhi, calls the Ladakh run an “wonderful expertise”. “Even my associates from the armed forces had been stunned once I advised them I used to be operating in Ladakh. It's comprehensible that civilians contemplate it powerful, however I discover it fascinating that even the military guys felt so. The Ladakhi ladies dancing alongside the route had been enjoyable and I joined them at one level,” says Khera. “I had requested a fellow runner, who was youthful than me, to tempo me in the direction of the top to enhance my timing, however he had given up after far,” she recollects. She accomplished her run in a little bit over six hours.
Locals cheer the runners from the roadside, with shouts of “julley”, the Ladakhi method of greeting, and excessive fives. Khera, who goals to “do one thing new yearly”, has participated in several runs and trekked and biked at excessive altitudes. Subsequent on her radar is the Khardung La Problem.
Regardless that this was the twelfth version of the Ladakh Marathon and the variety of members has swelled with every passing 12 months (besides within the aftermath of Covid), the energy is miniscule in contrast with related runs within the plains and metros. Solely 900 runners took half within the full marathon and 1,637 within the half marathon in Ladakh this 12 months. Nonetheless, most runners hold returning to Ladakh, with many upgrading to harder runs.
Nandini Shah Khera, Aditya Rathi and Rajesh Kataria who took half within the arduous runs
TOURING BEFORE RUNNING
These races additionally assist the Leh economic system simply earlier than the low season. Tourism in Ladakh peaks between June and August. The September marathon, adopted by the annual Ladakh competition, which has been cancelled this 12 months as a result of protests, offers a fillip to tourism simply earlier than it tapers within the colder months.
Leh has an abundance of accommodations and their tariffs are decrease than at many hill stations. Because the runners should compulsorily keep for just a few days in Leh, the accommodations earn handsomely from the marathon bookings. As taxis cost exorbitant charges even for brief distances, many runners go for bikes for a tour of the place. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and KTM bikes can be found for rent for Rs 1,400-2,000 for a day.
Runners make the very best of their keep by lapping up as a lot of Leh as attainable. The well-known Shanti Stupa, a white monument perched on a hill, is a favorite cease for runners. So are the Ladakh palace and museum, each situated near the Leh market. The runners take off in a single route every day.
On one route are the Sindhu Ghat, Shey Palace and the Thiksey, Stakna and Hemis Buddhist monasteries. Then they go to the Corridor of Fame Museum, inbuilt reminiscence of troopers who misplaced their lives in India-Pakistan wars; the Gurudwara Pathar Sahib; Magnetic Hill; and Sangam, the confluence of the Indus and the Zanskar rivers.
Days earlier than activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested, many runners had gone to see a college he runs. It's a vacationer spot now. The person and his college shot to fame with 3 idiots —Aamir Khan's character was reportedly impressed by Wangchuk and elements of the movie had been shot there.
Some runners select to remain longer and go to Kargil, Drass, Pangong Lake, the Hunder village, the Diskit monastery and even go all the best way to Turtuk close to the Line of Management.
However the spotlight is the run itself and so they go away carrying monogrammed T-shirts and jackets, and the reminiscence of operating on the highest of the world.
(The author took half within the 2025 Ladakh Half Marathon)
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