Ladakh will soon be hosting India’s first frozen lake marathon. It will be hosted on the Pangong Tso lake in the union territory at a height of 13,862 feet on February 20. The lake is known as one of the highest-altitude saltwater lakes in the world. To implement a proper action plan for the event, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the army have been roped in.
India’s First Frozen Lake Marathon In Ladakh
India’s First Frozen Lake Marathon in Ladakh will be approximately 21 kilometres long. It will start in Lukung and end at Maan village. About 75 selected athletes will be participating in this marathon in India and abroad. This marathon also gives them the opportunity to try to bag a Guinness World Record for the world’s highest frozen-lake marathon. In order to highlight the concerning issue of climate change, the marathon is named ‘Last Run’.
Ladakh’s Pangong Tso lake is situated 4,350 metres above sea level. Even experienced runners will take at least a week to acclimatise as the air pressure here is extremely low. The Adventure Sports Foundation of Ladakh (ASFL) is organising this event in collaboration with the Tourism Department, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council—Leh, and the Leh district administration.
Necessary Arrangements For The Challenging Event Have Been Taken Care Of Already
The 75 selected athletes who will be participating in the run include four international runners and 50 from outside Ladakh. The local athletes include those who have represented the region on a national level. District Development Commissioner, Leh, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse, said that they will be strictly following a devised standard operating procedure (SOP).
He stated that preparations for this event, which will promote carbon neutrality in Ladakh and sustainable development, have already begun. The participants who are not from Ladakh have to undergo mandatory acclimatisation, which includes a stay of 3–4 days in Leh. This will help them overcome high-altitude sicknesses. All the participants will undergo a medical checkup 24 hours before the marathon. The whole stretch will have medical teams set up, and if the need arises, they can also undertake air evacuation.
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Cover Image Courtesy: Max Pixel