Ladakh Half Marathon: A must do for runners!

It was dark, street lights were on and the roads had very less weight to carry but we were fairly contributing towards it! Few SRC souls departed from their respective locations of NCR to catch up at airport in this dark but artificially lit-up atmosphere. Yes! We were going for Ladakh marathon, trying to be courteous enough to those beast mountains! Respecting them by making it a fun run: No racing, no heroism… total submission.

Boarded the early morning flight and reached leh in an hour or so. Everybody felt low oxygen level and that’s where I personally realized why people come a week before. We all collected the bib and left to take rest as suggested by the leh travellers.

All SRCians assembled at the start line laced up. We all decided to run first half conservatively so that we could survive the second half and finish the race! Temperature was low, mountains were looking at us with cruel eyes, roads were waiting to show us the harsh curves but we were determined somewhere… somewhere we were determined.

Race started and so the journey! Low oxygen but pollution free air! In the start it was downhill but we were just at 5:45 pace (It was only mind who was deciding. We came at the start line leaving heart behind). After 2 kms, some mild inclines started appearing but we were determined… moved gently on those harsh curves! Then I saw a large downhill. Aman was running with me. Asked him to use that, it will help in overall timing. We started increasing the speed. At 5:15 I was not loosing any breath but we forced ourselves not to increase the pace further and finally downhill ended covering almost 800-900 m. At 10K I checked the watch it was already more than an hour passed. At 14K Aman asked me to go as he will start walk run walk run. Till 16K I kept running but the tamer mountain road appeared suddenly here. I also had given up to run further now. Then started almost 5K incline with very minor declines. Walking was just the best option so started mixing it with run. Finally saw the finish line board and got to know its going to be finished.

Got it in 2:08:21. Not a very appreciable time but a token of respect to the mountains and people of Leh!

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