The 11th Ladakh Marathon, renowned as one of the world’s toughest high-altitude races, is set for September 5th to 8th, 2024. The event will host 6,218 runners from around the globe, competing across six challenging categories.
PUMA India teams up with the Ladakh Marathon
The 11th Ladakh Marathon, one of the world’s most challenging high-altitude marathons, will take place from September 5th to 8th, 2024. Featuring 6,218 runners from across the globe, the marathon includes six competitive categories on a demanding course.
PUMA India’s Involvement
PUMA India will elevate the Ladakh Marathon experience by providing Race Day Tees (RDT) and performance gear for participants. All general runners will receive inner thermals, while 390 Ultra Category runners will be equipped with specialized gear such as beanies, caps, upper thermals, and jackets. The RDTs, available in Glowing Red and Yellow Alert, will be distributed to 6,000 runners across all six categories.
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Marathon Highlights
The Ladakh Marathon features the Silk Route Ultra, a grueling 122-kilometer race starting in Nubra Valley at 10,700 feet and climbing to Khardungla Pass at 17,618 feet, surpassing Everest Base Camp. This year, 68 elite ultra-runners will compete in this formidable race, noted for its extreme difficulty, with historically less than 50% finishing and only four women completing within the cut-off time.
Khardungla Challenge
The Khardungla Challenge has grown significantly since its inception. This year, 311 participants, including a record 40 women, will face this high-altitude event. Since its debut in 2012 with just 11 local runners, the marathon’s global recognition has expanded considerably.
Race Categories
In addition to the ultra-distance events, the Ladakh Marathon offers various distances for different runners: approximately 700 participants will compete in the full marathon (42.195 kilometers); 1,119 in the half marathon (21.0975 kilometers); 1,930 in the 11.2-kilometer race; and 1,690 in the 5-kilometer Run for Fun.
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What do experts have to say about this partnership?
Commenting on the occasion, Karthik Balagopalan, managing director, PUMA India, said, “Running is one of the fastest growing sports globally and India’s vibrant running community exemplifies this trend. As a brand, PUMA is heavily invested in running as a sport and as the running culture has its web spread around the world, we at PUMA are committed to help make India one of the epicenters in the long run. Ladakh Marathon is an exceptional terrain, and we are extremely excited to provide the participating runners with high-quality performance gear and race day tees, as the official sportswear partner. This marathon set amidst the majestic mountains is bound to be a memorable experience for the collective, and we are confident that PUMA’s association will elevate every mile to the top.”
Commenting on the event’s evolution, Shri Chewang Motup, founder and race director, Ladakh Marathon said, “It’s truly heartening to witness the evolution of the Ladakh Marathon into a vibrant festival over the years. Participants are returning annually, starting their LM journey with the 11.2km and 21km races, progressing to the full marathon, and ultimately conquering the Khardungla Challenge. Most importantly, the Ladakh Marathon’s fostering of local youth talent. We are proud that in this short span of 10 years, Ladakhi runners have risen to become some of India’s elite athletes. Notably, Jigmet Dolma has represented India internationally, and many promising upcoming talented young runners are securing podium finishes at various marathons across the country.”
Conclusion
The 11th Ladakh Marathon promises to be an extraordinary showcase of endurance and adventure, bringing together runners from around the world to tackle one of the most formidable high-altitude challenges. With PUMA India’s support, providing essential gear and Race Day Tees, participants will be better equipped to face the demanding course. From the epic Silk Route Ultra to the rapidly growing Khardungla Challenge and a range of other distances, this year’s marathon underscores the event’s global significance and continues to push the boundaries of extreme running.
