City runners test endurance at 12th edition of Ladakh marathon

Five Jalandhar-based fitness enthusiasts showcased their grit and stamina by participating in the 12th edition of the Ladakh Marathon earlier this month.

While fitness training couple Siddhartha Singh and Vera Puri, Bhaginder Singh and businessman Nishant Khanna completed the 42-km full marathon, 56-year-old PWD civil engineer Sarb Raj conquered the gruelling 72-km Khardung La Challenge, considered the highest ultra-marathon in the world. The event drew 6,000 participants, of whom only 300 were permitted in the ultra-category.

The participants said that although they had run in challenging conditions before, the Ladakh event tested them like no other. The extreme altitude, low oxygen levels and the threat of altitude sickness demanded exceptional preparation and rigorous screening. To allow participants to acclimatise, organisers required them to report for bib collection by September 2–3, ten days ahead of the September 12 race.

Recounting his experience, Sarb Raj said, “The race was made tougher with cut-off times for each of the four main stages. Anyone not completing a stage within the given timeframe faced disqualification. The race began at 3 am from Khardung village. The first 32.2 km to Khardung Top had to be done by 10 am. The next 14.3 km to Pulu had to be covered in two-and-a-half hours. The third 12.1 km segment had to be finished in 1.5 hours, while the final 13.4 km to Leh market had to be completed within two hours.”

A seasoned competitor, Sarb Raj previously won the Ironman title in Malaysia and qualified for the Boston Marathon in April this year. He added, “The 14-hour race was a complete grind due to the continuous climb and descent. The challenge began at 3,975 m and involved a climb to Khardungla (5,370 m), where we had to walk for at least 3 km before descending to Leh at 3,500 m. Along the way, we enjoyed spectacular views of the Karakoram range, the Stok massif and yak pastures in Nubra Valley and North Pulu.”

Sarb Raj clocked an impressive 10 hours, 14 minutes and 18 seconds, well within the stipulated time.

The runners praised the organisers’ arrangements. “There were water stations at regular intervals, with electrolytes, fruits, chocolates, sweet potatoes, and soup to recharge. Medical facilities were also available,” they said.

Reflecting on the effort, Sarb Raj noted, “The level of toughness can be imagined from the fact that even two days after returning, my breathing was not in proper rhythm. My lungs had worked at full capacity to absorb oxygen from the thin air and it took 48 hours to recover. But I do not mind the effort as I was also working on a bigger agenda – timing improvement.”