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The second edition of the world's highest ultra marathon due this August will feature runs over shorter distances as well. Besides the ultra marathon, there will be a full marathon, a half marathon and a 10-km run.
"The High" is the name of an ultra marathon, which made its debut last year in Ladakh. It covers a distance of 222 km at altitudes ranging from the general elevation of Ladakh (bulk of the region is at 9,800 ft and above; Leh is at 11,500 ft) to India's highest motor-able passes at 17,500 ft.
With rising altitude, oxygen content in the atmosphere decreases making breathing difficult.
Last year, Mark Cockbain from the UK had won the race in a field of just three overseas runners. Despite advance preparation including training at special facilities mimicking high altitude, one of the participants ? a runner from the US ? passed out near Tanglang La while on his first trial run. He recovered to run the actual race but couldn't finish it. The ultra marathon route from Khardung village to the Mori Plains peaks at Khardung La, which is higher than Tanglang La.
It is a tough race. Each ultra runner gets a support team.
In 2010, The High had a cut off time of 72 hours. The winner completed the course in 48 hours 50 minutes. For 2011, the overall cut off time has been pegged at a tighter 60 hours. The event is anchored by Dr Rajat Chauhan, a Delhi-based doctor specialised in sports medicine who is a keen long distance runner.
By early February, around 15 overseas participants had enrolled for The High's 2011 edition. For the shorter runs, which will be at altitudes lower than The High, around 20 people had signed up for each of the distances.
Eligibility
Running a full marathon in Ladakh won't automatically qualify you to attempt The High. For the ultra marathon you have to ideally do some of the comparable runs cited as benchmark for eligibility. You also have to explain to the race organisers why you want to run The High. The Ladakh event is not only five times longer than the regular marathon; it also includes within that distance punishing altitude and exhausting gradients.
There is a screening process to ensure that the participant has proper appreciation of what it takes to run long distances at altitude.
You have to mandatorily arrive days ahead of your run to acclimatise.
Dr Chauhan is expecting a better organised event this August as it would be The High's second edition.
He is aware of the risk posed by more runners at altitude and the limited medical infrastructure at Leh.
(The author is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai)
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