'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
This weekend has two very disparate but important events to be marked in a runner’s calendar. One represents initiation and encouragement to the wonderful world of running for the fairer sex, and the other represents pushing one’s limits and expanding one’s horizon from the physical to the spiritual.
The Nike Outrun College race is one of the premier efforts by Nike India to encourage the young woman runner. To be held at Mumbai, this is a 3K run which has been introduced to increase exposure of the sport to the younger runners in the country. As a woman’s-only initiative, this is a positive step towards focussed promotion of running as a sport. This will be held at the Sophia College Campus, with the flagoff at 7am.
A turnout of about 800 young college going girls is expected for this event. For all the young women runners of Mumbai, here is a race to look forward to. Moreover, this will be a regular feature moving forward, so it is a great initiative to get new runners to sign up for their first competitive amateur race.
The second edition of the Ladakh Marathon is the other very exciting event planned for this weekend. Organised by Rimo Expeditions and supported by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, J& K Tourism, Enerzal and Timing Technologies, this is an event for serious runners and attracts participants from not only all over India, but overseas as well. The aim of this run is to encourage the young people of Ladakh to live a healthy lifestyle by taking up running, and also to raise awareness about the need to protect a stunningly beautiful but environmentally fragile region.
This event includes 4 races of varying distances – the 10k, the Half Marathon (21.1K) , the Full Marathon (42.2K) and the supremely challenging Khardung La Challenge (72K). 2012 saw over 1,500 participants across these categories and 2013 seems to be a brighter prospect with a lot more people turning up to challenge themselves. An understanding of the altitude that this event is held at gives one an insight into why all of these events are considered to be such tough routes.
The 10k race starts in Leh (11,562 feet) at the Shanti Stupa and offers some of the most stunning views of the capital of Ladakh. The course veers north towards the Tisura Stupa, a structure that dates back to the 16th century and which is now in ruins. Runners then go past a sanctuary for local donkeys and then towards the Gompa Village before they turn east towards the road to the Khardung La pass and Nubra valley. There’s a bit of a flat section along a stretch of road overlooking Lamdon School but after that it’s all downhill from the Tsemo bend towards Skampar, the polo ground and taxi/bus stands before the finish point at the Petrol Pump.
The course for the Half Marathon begins at the 10 km start and then continues along the Petrol Pump towards Housing Colony. After TCP, the course veers left and follows a newly built road to the Dalai Lama’s summer residence in Ladakh. Runners will turn right on the main Leh-Manali highway and go past the Tibetan refugee settlement, the Indo Tibetan Border Police camp and HIMANK headquarters, and then return to the Petrol Pump for the finish.
The Full Marathon course starts at the Petrol Pump on the Leh- Manali highway and goes past the HIMANK headquarters, the Tibetan Refugee Settlement and the Dalai Lama’s summer residence in Ladak. After Sindhu Ghat, the course heads towards and through Shey Village and the famous Shey palace. Runners will go past the Druk White Lotus School and cross the Shey bridge over the Indus River to Chushot Shama. There is a flat section to Chushot Yokma and Spituk Bridge from where it is all uphill to the Petrol Pump past the Spituk monastery, Leh Airport, military base and Zorawar Fort.
And the supremely tough 72K Ultra – Khardung La challenge (which by the way is on my list of runs for 2014) begins at Khardung village (4267 metres / 14,000 feet), with the route involving a gentle but steady climb to the Khardung La, one of the world’s highest passes (5602 metres / 18,380 feet) before the route descends to Leh, the capital of Ladakh, at 3524 metres (11,562 feet). The Khardung La Pass is the high point along the route, which is the world’s highest motorable road. Runners pass mountain villages and summer pasture lands of the yaks of the Nubra Valley and North Pullu. From Khardung La, it’s all downhill to Leh.
Last year saw local runners from Ladakh taking all top spots with phenomenal timings.
The 10K Men’s was won by Padma Thinles in 36.24 min and the women’s top spot went to Tsering Angmo in 46.42 min. Stanzin Norboo took away the Men’s top spot in 1hr 28 min while Jigmet Dolma walked away with the honours in the Women’s HM, clocking 2hr 14 min. Tsering Gyatso finished first in the Men’s FM at 3hr 36 min and Jigmet Skitzom came in the Women’s top spot at 4hr 51min. The top spot in the KhardungLa Ultra went to Padam Limbu at 8hr 52min, with Konchok Namgail coming in a close second at 8hr 53min.
Bangalore boy, Proton representative and a good friend, Dharmendra Kumar, has taken off to Ladakh to test his endurance levels. A big shout out and positive vibes to him. I can’t wait to hear and share his story once he is back.
