India will hold its first frozen lake marathon at Ladakh’s Pangong Tso in February

The world famous Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh, India is all set to host the country’s first-ever frozen lake marathon on February 20.

While city marathons and long-distance running across hiking trails in hills are becoming quite popular in the country, India is set to host a unique and first of its kind marathon. The iconic Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh which is an extremely sought after tourist destination, is set to host the country’s first frozen lake marathon on February 20. The lake is situated at an altitude of roughly 13,862 feet and to say that the marathon will be arduous is an understatement.

Ladakh will play host to the Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon which will be conducted on a distance of 21 kilometres, which qualifies as a half-marathon according to modern standards. In fact, the altitude of 13,862 feet not only makes it India’s first to be held at such altitudes but the first across the whole world and the organisers are attempting to set a Guinness World Record as well.

“On 20th February Adventure Sports foundation of Ladakh (ASFL) in collaboration with Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh and Ladakh Tourism Department is going to organise India’s first 21 km long Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon. It would be an attempt to make a Guinness world record for the world’s highest frozen lake marathon,” Chief Executive Councilor LAHDC Leh Advocate Tashi Gyalson said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Leh Shrikant Balasaheb Suse mentioned that the purpose of organising the frozen lake marathon is to promote more sustainable tourist activity in the region and also prompt awareness about the local climate and environment of the region.

The marathon is said to be the brainchild of the Adventure Sports Foundation of Ladakh (ASFL), and they have nicknamed it “The Last Run” to highlight a cruel irony - climate change and global warming is leading to greater melting of snow in the Himalayan region which puts such frozen lakes in precarious situations. In fact, it is believed that such a run on a frozen lake will not be possible in the years to come.

“Participants will literally run on frozen sheets of ice on the majestic Pangong Lake during the one-day event. He said that the reason it is being referred to as the final run is that Pangong Lake won’t be able to ice in the near future owing to climate change. If we don’t pay close attention to this sight now, it will be uncommon for the following generation,” said AFL president Chamb Tsetan.

The 21 km run across Pangong Tso will start from Lukung and end at Mann village and participants who are coming from outside Ladakh will have to undergo altitude acclimatisation. This includes a three to four day stay in Leh in order to prevent high altitude sickness.

Emergency needs will also be looked after as the entire 21km stretch will have medical teams every 5 kms or so. There are also measures for emergency air evacuation to be done in case of extreme circumstances.

Planning and preparations for the marathon are already underway and the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have been handed the responsibility of executing the proper plan of action for the event.

The 700 square metre Pangong Lake, spread along the border of India and China, records a temperature of minus 30 degrees Celsius during the winters, freezing the salt water lake.