Hans Raj, Stanzin Chondol win in half marathon

Nawang Tsering and Jigmet Dolma successfully defended their titles at the tenth edition of the Ladakh Marathon, which concluded in Leh on Sunday, September 10, 2023.

Taking top honors in the men’s open category with timing of two hours, 42 minutes and two seconds, Nawang was close to his own course record (2:41:42 / source: Olympics.com) set in 2022. Jigmet Namgail (2:52:58) took silver while Manzoor Hussain (3:20:35) earned the bronze medal.

It may be noted that the sub-three-hour performances were happening at an elevation of roughly 11,500 feet (altitude of Leh). Running becomes difficult when altitude increases owing to the reduced oxygen level in the atmosphere. An official note from the administration of Ladakh, dated March 29, 2022, about the performance of Ladakhi runners at that year’s New Delhi Marathon, highlights Nawang’s 2:39:39 (of 2022) as the best timing yet by a Ladakhi marathon runner. Both Nawang Tsering and Manzoor Hussain have been part of the Ladakh marathon team that Rimo Expeditions sent annually to races in India’s plains.

Jigmet Dolma finished first among women at the 2023 Ladakh Marathon with timing of 3:27:53. In 2022, she had clocked 3:21:19. In 2017, she had set the course record at Ladakh Marathon, covering the distance in 3:18:56 (source: Olympics.com). For long a part of the Ladakh marathon team that Rimo Expeditions formed and supported, Jigmet is among Ladakh’s best female marathon runners. Known to have determinedly chased a sub-three-hour finish in the marathon, she finally got it when she finished third at the 2023 New Delhi Marathon; she clocked 2:56:41. Jigmet has been a part of the national team. On Sunday in Leh, She was followed to the finish line by Disket Dolma (3:39:35), who too has featured in Rimo’s team. Deepika Prakash (4:36:21) took the bronze medal.

When the Ladakh Marathon was held for the first time in 2012, the winner among men, Tsering Gyatso, had clocked 3:36:18. Jigmet Skitzom, who topped among women, clocked 4:51:30 (source: Olympics.com).

Speaking to this blog after Sunday’s Ladakh Marathon, Jigmet said that she wasn’t quite satisfied with her performance and would therefore attempt to improve her timing at the marathon in Kargil scheduled for September 17. Attempting further improvement in her timing would be her goal for the approaching season of marathons in the plains, she said. In a fresh chapter to the Ladakh marathon team-story, Jigmet’s former partner in running and a good marathon runner in her own right, Tsetan Dolkar, currently works as an athletics coach in Leh.

According to Stanzin Chondol, when she first ran the half marathon at the Ladakh Marathon many years ago, she took two hours, 19 minutes to cover the distance. On Sunday, Stanzin crossed the finish line in 1:29:43 to place first among women. Her wish is to improve her timing further to the region of an hour and 25 minutes, at which point she believes, a shot at the marathon may seem reasonable. Silver in the women’s half marathon went to Stanzin Dolkar (1:31:47) and the bronze to Tashi Ladol (1:35:54). All of them have been part of Rimo’s team. Interestingly in 2022, the same trio had graced the half marathon-podium albeit in a different order with Tashi placing first, Stanzin Chondol coming in second and Stanzin Dolkar, third.

Among men running the half marathon, the first place went to Hans Raj (1:21:28).  He was the winner in 2022 too. Anurag Konkar, a university student from Pune, took the second place with timing of 1:21:43. Tsewang Nangdan (1:22:13) placed third. Speaking to this blog, Anurag said that he has been into running since the past five years and is currently focused on the half marathon. In the last one year, his mileage in training has been high and he believes that may have contributed to improved cardio vascular efficiency, something important to perform well at altitude. His training for the half marathon at Ladakh Marathon, was done in Pune. Upon arrival in Leh, he rested for three days and then did light running for the next three days as preparation locally for Sunday’s half marathon.

With two ultramarathons, a marathon, a half marathon and a cachet of races over the shorter distances, the Ladakh Marathon now spans four days. It is India’s premier running event at altitude and receives participants from elsewhere in the country as well as abroad.

(The author, Shyam G Menon, is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai.)