The journey started, a few months back. Training for Comrades Marathon - 2016 gave me an addictive taste of a few months of focus. Since then, I have been trying to do an Ultra-Marathon a year. Ladakh Marathon, a challenging Marathon at 3500 meters (11500 ft), though not an Ultra, stood out in my radar. But, KPJ suggested to try Khardung La Challenge, a 72 KM run that goes from 4000 to 5370 meters (17600 ft), which is organised along with Ladakh Marathon. It's one of the world's Highest Ultra-Marathons. He had done its 2018 edition. After contemplating for a couple of weeks, I signed up.
I had 4 months to train, a good enough time, given where I was. As usual, I opened a spreadsheet and filled all the weekends for the next 4 months, with runs to be done. Also threw a few events (Half-Marathons and Marathons) here and there. I shared the plan in my running group, for committing it and to get feedback. KK suggested a couple of changes. I gladly accepted. As one of my ex-bosses says, I am good at coming up with a schedule, and executing it with surgical precision. That's not too much of an exaggeration! :-) It was not a completely smooth ride, though!
The weekend long runs build endurance. But, without the support of Strengthening & Conditioning, it's impossible to sustain long runs, for months and years. That's where NAMMAxFIT gym helped me. I made it a point to show up at gym at 6:30 am, 3-4 days a week, for an hour of trainer-led, intense Cross-Fit session. While building strength, it also made me go through a couple of injuries. A knot in the left outer calf, and a pull in groin (left adductor). Neither of them effected my runs. They only restricted certain movements in gym. So, I just continued, while nursing them. Thanks to my trainers, I always had an alternative workout to do, if the scheduled one effects the areas of injury. Besides this, my regular deep tissue massage sessions at Shrunga Therapy (by Guru) immensely helped. They made sure that all the tightness in muscles is released, and am always ready for the next run or Cross-Fit session. With this, I was ready and injury-free by the big day.
Evening with Local Kids |
Exotic Toilet |
We lined up at 3 am, after a light breakfast. 142 runners showed up, out of 170 registrations. Temperature was around 3°C. From Khardung to Khardung La, it's a steady climb with a moderate inclination. The run has 4 cut-off points at 32 KM, 46 KM, 58 KM and 72 KM. The first and crucial cut-off is at Khardung La/32 KM/8 hours. Though 8 hours sounds like a pretty comfortable time for 32 KM, quick altitude gain, close to Khardung La, killed my average pace. I, along with Utsav - my room-mate in Khardung, started my usual Run/Walk at a leisurely pace. We held the course at a consistent pace, till North Pullu, 18 KM from the start. Utsav moved ahead at North Pullu, while I was struggling to tie my shoe laces. I removed my shoes to wear a compression pants given by a fellow runner, as I started the run in shorts, despite 3 °C. I struggled to tie them back, as my hands/fingers were almost frozen. After that brief struggle, I tagged along a couple of other runners from there. One of them had run this before. He advised me to take it very easy for the next 14 KM, even if I felt that I could do better, due to low Oxygen. We walked from there all the way up to the top. AMS - Mountain Sickness kicked in for me, around 5 KM before Khardung La. I felt dizzy and took around 15 to 20 minutes each to cover those 5 KM, and reached the top in 6 hour 50 minutes. That's still a comfortable time, given the 8 hour cut-off.
At 3 AM |
120 runners (out of 142) finished before the 14 hour cut-off. My rider friends were waiting at the finish line, with a bottle of coconut water. I gave them an ETA between 12 hour 30 minutes and 13 hours. Thanks to AMS, I added an hour to that. They were overjoyed to see me finish! AMS effect vanished, the moment I entered Leh. I didn't even eat/drink anything other than that bottle of coconut water, for the next 3 hours. Friday seems to be a dry-day in Leh (Not just a NO alcohol day. It's a NO Non-Veg day, as well). So, we had to celebrate with some Veg Pizzas, heavily loaded with cheese.
The event, training, mountains and AMS experience will stay fresh in my mind for sometime. The big learning from the event is, "Don't underestimate the altitude". My quick recovery tells that my training had been good. If I do this event again, the only thing that I would change is, acclimatization.