Running a Marathon is itself a challenge but running the LADAKH MARATHON (42.195km) is even a greater challenge. The Ladakh Marathon that takes place in Leh, Ladakh, India. It’s known as the world’s highest marathon, at an elevation of 11,500 feet (3,500 mts ). It takes place in the Second Sunday of every September, when the tourist season is almost over.

This is year it took place on Sept 8th,2024. The marathon starts at 6AM ( with a cut off time of 6:45 hours).

Pre-race

I woke up at 4:40 AM, feeling the excitement of the race day. After getting myself ready, I had a banana at 4:50 AM and took a few sips of Limca and filled my two small water bottles. I had already packed some dates with a pinch of salt the day before, so I was set with my nutrition.

I taped my fingers to avoid blisters and applied Vaseline in all the right spots to prevent chafing. Once I put on my running gear, I was ready to head out by 5:20 AM. At that moment, a wave of happiness washed over me—I was genuinely excited to be running this race. I had already made up my mind: no matter what, I was going to finish.

During-race

I arrived at the venue by 5:30 AM ( it was 700 mts from my stay and I decided to walk to the venue) and was immediately surrounded by runners, their energy filling the air. For the first time ever, I took out my phone and asked to take a couple of photos with some familiar faces. I ran into Dam and Gunjan, which put me at ease, and it felt so reassuring to see the Trail Femmes group—it was like finding my tribe.

As I made my way toward the starting line, I spotted Shamala Ji and Manmohan. Every time I see Shamala Ji, I just feel like hugging her. I don’t know what it is, but I like her so much.

I met Mahejabin and Cocky too.

As I stood at the start line, excitement bubbled inside me. I knew, without a doubt, that I was going to finish this race. There was a twinkle in my eye and the biggest smile on my face. My heart swelled with pride, and I felt completely ready—charged up to go, to start this journey, and to give it everything I had.

0 – 7 kms

As the race began, I ran the first 2.5 kms with Dam. She had a goal to finish in 6 hours, which was around the same time I had in mind. The first 7 kms were all downhill, so we cruised along comfortably. However, after the 2.5-kilometer mark, Dam picked up the pace. I could feel myself getting breathless, so I made the decision to control my pace and hold back a bit. Even though I was running relatively well, I knew I needed to listen to my body.

By the time I hit the 7-kilometer mark, I was out of breath. I checked my heart rate, and it was over 180—I was deep in Zone 5. I quickly realized that running the next 35 kms at that intensity wasn’t sustainable, so I made a smart call. I slowed down and took my first walk break, covering about 200 meters to catch my breath and regain control.

7-13 kms

Taking a walk break so early wasn’t part of my original plan, but I realized if I didn’t slow down now, I might not be able to finish the run at all. So, I started experimenting—200 meters of walking followed by 800 meters of running, and then repeat.

While doing this, I spotted Dinesh Heda Sir and Satish Gujaran Sir. They were running too, but their strategy caught my attention. They were following a 100-meter walk and 100-meter run pattern, moving at a fast walking pace and a steady, manageable run. They seemed completely at ease—laughing and joking with other runners as if the race was just a fun outing for them.

Meanwhile, I was struggling to catch my breath, even while running at 8.5 km/hr, trying to stick to my 200-meter walk and 800-meter run routine. I attempted to keep pace with both Dinesh Heda Sir and Satish Sir, but they pulled ahead, their rhythm solid and unshaken.

13- 18 kms

By the time I reached 13 kms, I was really struggling to breathe. At one point, I glanced at my watch and saw my heart rate spike so high, it felt like I’d hit a nonexistent “Zone 6.” That sight scared me. I was now down to 200 meters of walking followed by 300 meters of running, which I had originally planned to save for the uphill stretches. Yet, even during the walk, I was barely managing to catch my breath.

Just then, I heard someone call my name from behind—it was DrKarnail Singh Sir.

“Sir, I’m so out of breath. How am I supposed to run like this?” I asked, feeling desperate.

“Minal, everyone’s out of breath. Just keep moving slowly,” he responded calmly.

As he moved five steps ahead of me, I overheard him telling his wife that he felt nauseous and like he was about to throw up. Surprisingly, that gave me a boost of confidence. If he was able to keep going despite feeling like that, then I knew I could keep moving too.

18 – 25 kms

Along the way, I met a lovely lady named Anjani from Hyderabad. We were running at almost the same pace and passed each other a couple of times. She radiated vitality, often stopping to take photos with local Ladakhi children and capturing videos. Her energy was infectious, and I struck up a conversation with her. We decided to run together, tackling every downhill with enthusiasm and walking through each little uphill.

At one point, a group of Ladakhi women were singing songs. Anjani asked me to pose for a picture with them, but instead, I danced along. I had come to accept that this wouldn’t be a fast run for me, so I simply enjoyed the music and soaked in the experience of running in Ladakh. Having someone to rely on and run alongside made a significant difference, especially in Ladakh where the pace is so slow.

We cheered as we crossed the half marathon mark and continued moving forward together.

After some time, Anjani had to stop because her friend Santosh was experiencing a severe cramp. She paused to help him and encouraged me to keep going. Her selflessness and determination gave me an extra boost of motivation to push through the remaining miles.

25-38 kms

I met a 26-year-old guy named Saurabh, who seemed to be running and walking effortlessly.

“Where are you from?” I asked.

“Rohtak, Haryana,” he replied.

We struck up a conversation, and during our chat, Saurabh reminded me to focus on deep breathing. His advice really helped. I began inhaling deeply through my nose and exhaling through my mouth in a two-count rhythm. This controlled breathing made a huge difference, allowing me to run more without feeling so breathless.

As we talked, I learned that he had recently finished the Khardung La Challenge, and this race was just a recovery run for him. So, I convinced him to stick with me and help me finish, since timing wasn’t a priority for him. He agreed, and having him alongside made me feel more confident.

At around the 34-kilometer mark, I saw a runner struggling with a severe cramp in his leg. He could barely walk, standing on his toes in pain. I immediately thought of the dates I had packed. I had just one left, but I offered it to him, insisting that he take it. The date was coated in black salt, and I hoped it would help alleviate his cramp as I moved forward.

I also encountered an older runner, whom I estimated to be in his late 50s, carrying a board that read “Detect early and save lives,” promoting cancer awareness. He shared that he was a cancer survivor, having had oral cancer, and was now cancer-free. Despite his age, he was running with impressive speed, outpacing me effortlessly. This race was not the place for ego; I focused on keeping my own pace and moving forward slowly.

At the 35-kilometer mark, I experienced a cramp in my left leg—a first for me. The pain was so intense that I shouted out, and a fellow runner quickly came to my aid, spraying Volini on my leg. With his help, I was able to walk again. Saurabh stayed by my side, offering encouragement and support. He advised me to drink three full glasses of water at the next aid station, which I followed diligently. Shortly after, I also had some lemon water with a lot of salt, which significantly relieved the cramp. I suspected it was due to salt loss from sweating.

Next, we came across a Red Bull stall. Saurabh asked me to grab a can for him, but I picked up two. He ended up running with three cans in his hands, so I offered to carry them in my bag. He gratefully accepted, but after about 2 kilometres, I suggested he carry the bag himself, as it was getting heavy. We made a pact: I would carry the bag whenever there was a photographer around, and he would carry it otherwise.

Saurabh continued to support me until around 38.5 kms.

Last 4.195 kms

I knew the last 4 kms would be uphill, and I could see about five women ahead of me, visibly tiring out. While I wasn’t physically exhausted, my breathing was laboured. So, I decided to walk faster. Gradually, I passed four of the women. In the final 1.2 kms, only one woman remained near me.

Just then, Rahul Bhaiya appeared to cheer me on. It was a delightful surprise, but I stayed focused on walking as fast as I could and finishing strong. As I approached the finish line, I overtook the last woman. With just 200 meters left, I sprinted and struck a pose for the cameras.

Rahul Bhaiya captured my finish in the most beautiful way!

If you are interested in how I prepared for this event, read here.

Thankyou so much for reading through. If you are reading it, I am expecting you are aspiring to run Ladakh marathon. Feel free to ask me any questions in comments !