Ladakh marathon from Sept 5

Jammu, August 9

The Ladakh Marathon is set to return for its 11th edition from September 5 to 8 in which 6,218 runners from around the globe are set to compete in different categories.

Official T-shirt of the marathon was launched at a ceremony where Chairman of Leh LAHDC Tashi Gyalson who was the chief guest and ADGP SD Singh Jamal was the guest of honour.

Karthik Balagopalan, Managing Director, PUMA-India, will distribute the shirts among the participants. The Ladakh Marathon is known for its challenging courses, particularly the Silk Route Ultra, a 122-km race that ascends from Nubra Valley at 10,700 feet to Khardungla Pass at 17,618 feet, higher than Everest Base Camp. This year, 68 elite ultra-runners will tackle this formidable challenge, with less than 50 per cent historically completing it.

The Khardungla Challenge will see a record 311 participants, including 40 women, highlighting the marathon’s expanding global appeal. In addition to the ultra-distance events, the marathon offers a range of distances to accommodate various runners.

Chewang Motup, founder and Race Director of the Ladakh Marathon, commented, “The evolution of the Ladakh Marathon into a major event is inspiring. We are proud to see Ladakhi runners rise to prominence, representing India internationally and excelling in various marathons.”

Gyalson said Ladakh is emerging as a major adventure tourism hub across the globe. He also highlighted his personal commitment to the marathon, noting his participation in the 11.5 km event last year and expressing his intention to run again. — OC