1,400-km duathlon: A test of grit in memory of Kargil martyrs

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 6

To commemorate the 18th anniversary of the 1999 Kargil conflict and pay tributes to martyrs, a victory run is being organised where 18 soldiers are undertaking a duathlon (run-cycle-run) from New Delhi to Drass from July 30 to August 29.

The aim is to create a world record for the longest duathlon, covering 1,400 km. It was flagged off for its next leg by General VP Malik (retd), who was the Army Chief during the conflict, from Chandigarh War Memorial on Saturday.

A simple ceremony was held at the memorial, where a wreath was laid in memory of the Kargil martyrs and the expedition flag was handed over to the team leader, Wing Commander Paramvir Singh, an ultra-endurance athlete. The team includes a woman member, Lt Col Lipsa.

The first leg of 574 km from Delhi to Manali via Chandigarh will take 12 days. From Manali, the team will begin cycling and cover 557 km to Leh with a detour to Khardung La — the highest point on the route at 5,358m. Finally, after the only day of rest and acclimatisation at Leh, they will begin running again and cover 270 km to culminate at Drass, where Kargil War Memorial is located.

This will be the longest duathlon ever, involving steep uphill and downhill gradients, hot weather in the plains to cold temperature in Ladakh and the effects of the high altitude, requiring the highest levels of endurance.

18 soldiers undertake victory run 

• The victory run is being organised where 18 soldiers are undertaking a duathlon (run-cycle-run) from New Delhi to Dras in Jammu and Kashmir from July 30 to August 29
• The aim is to create a world record for the longest duathlon, covering 1,400 km