Ladakh Marathon – the joy of running on the top of the world

Imagine a marathon described as described below:

1. Road route perched at the top of the world – 11000+ Feet above the mean sea level
2. Oxygen content of the air – just 60% of the regular levels.
3. Elevation profile featuring at 1750 Ft gain/loss with average slope of 2% and max slope of 20%

That is Ladakh Marathon for you. One of the most beautiful marathons in the world and my personal favorite (I’ve only done it once but still). Mesmerizing views, vistas, beautiful blue sky, friendliest crowd….I can keep on writing things about Ladakh Marathon which are fabulous! The challenges are also equally numerous, so much so that even seasoned runners think twice before running this beast.

We reached Leh 7 days before the run. We’d plan a bit of touring around before the run; its Ladakh after all! Also, spending a few days before the run is recommended so that your body gets acclimatized to tough conditions. Here is what I would recommend for ideal acclimatization:

• Complete rest for min 24 hours after reaching Leh
• Drink plenty of water (alcohol is a strict no-no)
• Start with easy run/walks Day 2 onwards and build miles (the road around Shanti Stupa is perfect for these training runs(I did 3 runs on this road)
• Travel towards low altitude areas like Nubra etc before the race isn’t a bad idea at all. 
• Do your sight seeing before the race. Come back to Leh atleast 2 days prior to the race day.

Race approach after consulting experienced runners was simple – 1) Push push in the first half, 2) Run steady and conserve energy till about 35km mark and 3) Endure the pain and crawl to the finish. I was determined to follow it. Also, this isn’t a marathon where you aim to hit PB. The aim here is to enjoy the whole experience of running on the top of the world.

It is quite cold at the start line so layering is must – a good thin base layer should do the job (wind jacket/sweater/fleece may be just too much). A cap (preferably UV protection one) and sun goggles (Cat 2 or above) are two more items needed – its get sunny in morning and rays are quite harsh. Head lamps & hydration packs are not required. I had a Nike Comp top as a base layer with dri-fit t-shirt and short. And, Decathlon’s UV cap and Category 3 cycling goggles. 

First 10k came in within 53-54 mins and I hit the half way mark at around 2:02. I made it a point to continuously hydrate at all aid stations. This aside, I also focused on religiously posing for all the photographers along the route! Most of the route is downhill and if you are well acclimatized, you would find the stretch easy so make it count. 

From the half way mark till about 34-35km, the difficulty level gradually increased with steeper uphills and the impact of lower air oxygen kicks in. I kept things steady and focused on enjoying the views around. I hit 35km at around 3:47 – still as per the plan. My advice would be to stay focused on this stretch and avoid the temptation of getting into a walk dominated rhythm. 

Last 7 km stretch is where the real test begins. I had never run on inclines as steep as these. The objective now was to just keep moving – run wherever possible and walk when the hills don’t allow you to run. This is time when crowd support is at its peak so soak in the adulation. Egg on a few kids to run along with you, ask for those power hand taps etc. Keeping finding things which helps you in moving forward. 

I hit 40km mark at around 4:28 and then thought I was home now. But, I was so wrong. The last 2kms of Ladakh Marathon is impossible to run on (see the elevation profile in the images). Even the local runners didn’t not attempt to run through. It took me about 18-19 mins to clear the final 2kms! The organizers were kind enough to have a modest flat stretch of just 100 mtrs before the finish line just so that runners can finish strong and I did run through this stretch to come home in 4:46.

Overall, it was one of my slowest FMs but it was one of the best FMs I have ever run. I enjoyed it so much that right at the finish line, I decided to run in Ladakh again in 2019 – may be Khardung La Challenge!