Ladakh Marathon & Ultra

“I did it, I crossed it.”

The 2025 half marathon participant ran while monitoring their heart rate after a heart attack and covered the final 6km uphill section by alternating between fast walking and running. They completed 21.097km in 2 hours 47 minutes.

“I had clocked 2 hours 47 minutes, finishing the 21.097-km race with a pace of 7:58 minutes per km and a speed of 7.5 kmph.”

After continuing to run following a heart attack, the runner finished the Ladakh Marathon half-marathon course, held at an altitude of 11,155 feet, in 2 hours 47 minutes. The runner describes the climbs during the final 6 km, the thin air and the runner's experience of acclimatization training at high altitude before the race.

“I simply enjoyed the music and soaked in the experience of running in Ladakh.”

The runner took part in the Ladakh Marathon full course on 8 September 2024. Because of the altitude, the runner was short of breath from the start, so alternated between running and walking. After managing cramps at 35 km, the runner completed the final 4.195 km uphill section and reached the finish.

“We would change our rhythm, we would not worry about our timings, but we would help each other to complete it!”

The runner ran the course at an altitude of 11,155 feet with a training partner at the 2024 Ladakh Marathon. During the week-long acclimatization period and on the course, which repeatedly went uphill and downhill, the runner managed the heart rate by mixing in walking sections. At the end, the runner and the training partner helped each other finish.

“I completed the half marathon, despite the low oxygen levels, in 2 hours and 39 minutes according to Garmin.”

The runner took part in the 2024 Ladakh half marathon and experienced lower oxygen saturation and difficulty breathing while acclimatizing to the altitude, but finished in 2 hours 39 minutes according to Garmin. The runner stated that the official result was still awaiting confirmation.

“I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the race and would not have changed anything of the way I ran.”

Vivek finished the full marathon at the Ladakh Marathon in 3 hours 53 minutes, two days after completing the 2023 Khardung La Challenge. Despite altitude acclimatization and elevation changes, he held his pace through 36K and reached the finish at Leh Market after a final 6K climb.

“I participated in the 21 KM race.”

The 2019 21km participant arrived in Lae about a week before the race to rest and acclimatize to the altitude, then completed 8km, 10km and 15km training runs. Unlike a race on flat terrain, even the short sections left the participant short of breath, but the race was completed in 2 hours 39 minutes.

“Dreams do come true.”

In 2016, the runner's first full marathon, the runner raced at an altitude of about 11,500 feet. After an early descent, the runner ran through a long straight section in the valley and walked during the final 10 km climb, finishing in 5 hours 40 minutes with 50 minutes remaining before the cutoff.