THE CALL
This year 2026, is my 3rd consecutive participation in India’s most grueling marathon, The Ladakh Marathon.
What attracts me to this iconic run year after year? Well, it is Ladakh itself, its landscape and topography are like no other place in the country. The race tests not only your stamina or endurance, but also your resilience and capacity to recover in time. Additionally, it tests your judgement; running a half or a full marathon in Ladakh is a totally different ball game than doing it in Delhi or Mumbai, since you run at an altitude of 11,500 ft in rarefied atmosphere, thin and low in oxygen. You have to strategize your training, nutrition, recovery, and finally the run.
Ladakh Marathon has five competitive runs : 11.2 km, half marathon of 21 km, full marathon of 42 km, then Khardung La Challenge 72 km, and finally Silk Route Challenge for 122 km. All these races have strict eligibility criteria that each aspirant must fulfil before she/he qualifies to register. Alongside, there is a non-competitive section of 5 km, ‘RUN FOR FUN’ for friends and families.
I chanced about the Ladakh Marathon in 2023 on a sightseeing visit to Kargil, when a tourist staying in the same hotel talked about it. That rekindled a spark, and I wanted to give it a try the very next year. However, even to register for an 11.2 km run, there is a strict eligibility criterion, and I resolved to fulfil it.
I first attempted my first run of 11.2 km in 2024 and followed it up with a second run in 2025. Elsewhere, I have detailed this experience to share with my family and friends.
So this year, I was qualified to register for a longer run of 21 km. I still needed a clearance from the home front. My better half was none too happy; she did her best to dissuade me and her arguments were all sound. I had ventured into living in Antarctica for whole of five months (a scientific expedition organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology), and also gone for a month-long expedition to Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra in Tibet, organized by the Ministry of External Affairs. I have also done some high-altitude treks in the Himalayas, including the mysterious Roopkund Trek, summiting at 16,000 ft. She cautioned me “respect your age, you are no longer young, ‘soon going to be 75’; do not try to show off in front of young girls and boys. I happened to be the oldest guy in such groups and so receive much attention. In the end she relented reluctantly as she always has, to my far-fetched ambitions.
Because of my earlier runs within the specified time limit, I was now eligible to run the half marathon of 21 km. So, in March 2026, I registered for that.
In all the three editions of Ladakh Marathon, Vasuman, our younger son, has remained a steadfast support, accompanying me, training with me, and finally running with me.
THE PREPARATION
Though we were consistent with our gym workouts, plus running on our own in Nehru Park or Sirifort Sports Stadium, Kushagra, our older son, insisted that we must train under the guidance of a running coach. Community activities offer many advantages. So, I contacted Dr Sunita Godara, the Marathon Queen of India, whom I had known for quite some time. She welcomed us into her ‘Skechers Running Club’ and ‘Champions Running Club’. Besides her invaluable guidance on running practices, what I learnt most was the value of warming up before a run, and stretching and cooling down after a run.
GROUND ZERO : LEH
As was mandatory, we landed in Leh on 5th September, spending a fortune on air-tickets, which evidences the growing popularity of Ladakh as a tourist destination
In Leh, we stayed at our favourite home stay, Napishu Guest House, managed by a caring couple, Phulchuk and Tsechan. Every morning we walked and ran to the Shanti Stupa, a steep climb of 3.5 km; and roughly did 10 km of walk-run drill in the morning itself.
13TH SEPTEMBER – THE D-DAY
Previous night of the run, I was sleepless. I kept on ruminating about my strategy: how and when would I hydrate myself with water and electrolytes, when would I run or walk, how would I time my run, and when to munch on my energy bar. All these questions kept me on my tenterhooks.
The run began on time, I was raring to go enthusiastic and cheerful. There were cheer leaders throughout our run, and the route is very scenic. There were regular stations for water, electrolyte drinks, fruits, energy bar etc.
When my goal post was still 4 km away, I felt the climb to be never ending. My legs seemed to give way, though my breath was stable and I was not hampered by any pain or cramps in the legs. I DID NOT GIVE UP.When I could not run, I walked and walked, and finally crossed the finish line.
THE ACCOMPLISHMENT
We were welcomed by drums and cheers; we had earned our medals. WE were served a hot meal of rice-chhole, salad, and fruits. Back in the room, I had my plant protein drink. A large helping of proteins after a workout, helps in muscle repair. Later in the evening, I watched the full movie ‘3 IDIOTS ‘ on my laptop. It was the logical thing to do after visiting the Pangong lake.
NEXT DAY, WE RETURNED HOME : EXHAUSTED BUT EXHILARATED.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Prof. Sudhir K. Khandelwal, MD, MRCPsych
Senior Consultant Psychiatrist,
Holy Family Hospital, Okhla Road, New Delhi
Visiting Professor,
Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Jaipur
Formerly, Head, Department of Psychiatry, and Chief, National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre,
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
