World’s highest Snow Marathon at Lahaul of HP on March 12

The Second edition of the Snow Marathon Lahaul is scheduled to take place on March 12th, 2023. This was stated in a media interaction by Gaurav Shimmer the Chief organiser of the event. He informed that the run will range at an altitude between 10000 to 11000 feet. Unlike the recent marathon at Pangong lake in Ladakh, which was Ice marathon, this event will be a snow run, he clarified on a query.

He said that around ten snow marathons are been held around the world, some of  which take place on the Arctic Circle, North Pole, and in locations such as Siberia. The Snow Marathon in India is the first of its kind and designed for long distance runners.  “Beginning last year, this is the first such event in India,” he added. The event would witness four categories, full marathon(42km), half marathon 21 km, and two more categories for novice are 10km and 5km run, he informed.

There are few international participants also including one each from Euthopia and US. Alongwith are expecting participants from armed forces with a 25 member team from Indian Naval services.

Tenzin: Dolma, an ultra runner and ambassador for the event, expressed that the runners in the country would be experiencing a whole new world and that there could not be a better location for a Snow Marathon in India than Lahaul. She informed that such an event hold more challenge than a normal one, as the difficulty here is running in snow upto 2-3 feet.

Acclimatization is very important added the organisers. For the same, a small package has been designed for the participants, which can help doing so, added Gaurav.

The organizers said that event would inaugurated by Chief minister Sukvinder Singh Sukhu at Sisssu in Lahaul on March 12.

“The event offers not only a challenging and highly rewarding winter sports experience but also an opportunity to marvel at the wonders of mother earth and cherish and conserve nature after encountering its beauty,” they added.  Participating in the Snow Marathon is a noteworthy accomplishment for any dedicated runner and will undoubtedly serve as excellent training for other challenging runs worldwide.  “The Snow Marathon has undoubtedly stirred up excitement within the running community,” hoped the organisers.

One crucial aspect of any outdoor sporting event is addressing potential medical emergencies.  “Fortis Mohali , the Medical Partner of the event , has taken care of this essential component by providing two advanced life support ambulances and a complete team of doctors,” concluded Shimmer.