A place on earth known for its high snow-capped mountains, frozen rivers, monasteries, Buddhist teachings, prayers, blue sky, snow leopards, and six months of isolation from the rest of the world, is famous. I have been to Ladakh several times by bicycle, bus, and car, and every time Ladakh has shown me something new and spectacular.
In September 2022, I was offered to do videography in an ultra-marathon, which I immediately agreed to. The biggest category in this event was a 172-km run, which involved crossing a 5350-meter-high mountain pass named Khardung La.
I arrived in Leh by flight and spent the first two days acclimatizing. I visited nearby places such as Spituk Monastery, Shey Palace, Leh Palace, nearby villages, and Leh city.
Leh city offers a view of the Stock Mountain Range, where the 6000-meter-high Stock Kangri Peak is visible. I once summited this peak in the past.
Leh is a dry, snowy desert, so farming is difficult here. Despite this, locals have worked hard for years and have planted several trees, making it a breathable place for the rest of the world's citizens.
We covered the race in various ways, such as the first-day bib distribution, where around 2000 runners came. This distribution took place in Leh's stadium, which is currently under construction. Many companies participated in this expo.
The 172 km race starts at 9 pm from Nubra village and reaches Khalsar village, ultimately reaching Khardung La Top. The climb to Khardung La Top is steep, with cold winds and snowfall. The runners have to face all these challenges to reach the finish line. In this competition, some were successful, while others lagged far behind. These runners will prepare again for this race next year and complete it.
The next day, the road marathon started, with 1,200 runners participating. The Leh road was closed to traffic to avoid any problems for the runners. The race started amidst light rain at 6:30 am. There was also a light snowfall on the mountains. Our biggest problem was to protect the cameras from the rain. As the race progressed, the rain became heavier, and we had to hide in the car. After almost an hour, when the rain stopped, we started making videos again.
The biggest problem for me was taking follow-up shots of the running runner, running at Leh, where it is said that you stay in 80% oxygen, running there was a difficult task for me. However, after covering the race, we reached the finish line, where all the finishers were being given prizes.
After completing the race, I went to the room, took a bath, ate a full meal, and rested for a while. After working for two days post-race, I returned home.
After working for two days in the post-race job, I returned home. So this was my experience of this race. Please comment and let me know how you feel after seeing the photo.
