By Oliver Jones - Khardung La Challenge
I came to Ladakh with one goal: to finish the 72km Khardung La Challenge in under eight hours.
Getting there wasn’t going to be straightforward. A bone-stress injury had interrupted my training, so I had to rebuild gradually. I also had 12 days to acclimatise, instead of the recommended 15. And then there was the course: 5,370m at the highest point, followed by almost 40km of descent into Leh. I knew this would be a very different kind of challenge.
How I Got Here
A 2:55 marathon in Delhi and a 38:08 PB at the TCS 10K had given me a strong start to the racing season.
Then an MRI showed stress changes in my left pubic bone. I had to step back from running and rebuild gradually.
For Delhi, I had been running 85–100 km a week. After the injury, swimming, cycling and strength work became a much bigger part of my training.
My previous Ladakh Marathon, where I ran 3:46, gave me some confidence at altitude. But I had never attempted anything close to 72km with a 5,370m pass and almost 40km of descending.
Getting Ready
My longest standalone run before travelling was 22.3km. I gradually built back up, adding hills and longer sessions while trying not to aggravate the injury.
I arrived in Leh 12 days before race day.
Six days into the trip came the most important session of the build: a 30.4km course simulation from Khardung La down to North Pullu and back.
The simulation gave me a much better sense of the course. I knew where the climb changed, where the descent began and what the road would feel like.
I ran the descent at 4:57/km and the return climb at 9:27/km.
That session made a 4:20 summit and sub-8 finish feel realistic.
Race Plan
- Start controlled and don't chase early pace.
- Reach Khardung La around 4:20.
- Keep eating throughout the race.
- Save enough in the legs for the final 25km.
Race Reality
We started from Khardung Village at 3 a.m., a few degrees above freezing.
I kept the opening controlled and reached North Pullu at 16.2km in 2:05:31, around eight minutes behind my planned split.
It was tempting to chase the deficit.
Instead, I trusted the plan. The simulation had taught me that arriving fresh for the upper climb mattered more than making up a few minutes early.
The next 16km took 2:11:18. I reached Khardung La at 32.2km in 4:16:49, three minutes ahead of my target.
The climb had gone to plan.
The first 14km of the descent went well. At South Pullu, 46.5km into the race, I was 9:27 ahead of schedule.
Then the descent started taking its toll.
My legs were feeling the long downhill and my stomach started cramping, so I stopped taking gels. I also had to pause to refill and settle my breathing.
By Mendak Mor, I was 2:33 behind schedule.
I picked up the pace over the final section, but there wasn't enough time left to recover the gap.
I crossed the line in 8:14:17, 14th in the men's field.
What I Learned
The obvious conclusion would be that I needed to climb faster.
But I was already ahead of schedule at the summit.
The real gap was the descent.
I need stronger downhill legs, more practice running long descents, and a better nutrition fallback for when my stomach decides it has had enough.
Next time, I'd change a few things:
- More downhill training, including running long descents on tired legs.
- A more realistic closing schedule.
- More time acclimatising and less running in Leh.
- A nutrition plan with alternatives if gels stop working.
- More realistic allowances for refilling and breathing stops.
The swim, bike and strength work helped me get to the start line after the injury.
But they couldn't fully prepare my legs for what came after 32km.
What's Next?
The sub-8-hour finish will have to wait.
The climb proved that the goal is within reach.
Now I know what the other half of the race demands.
About the Author
Oliver Jones is the founder of Bombay Play and Moonfrog Labs, and lives in Bangalore. Outside of work, he is a triathlete, marathoner and ultra runner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a race report?
A race report is a first-person account of a race or endurance event. It typically covers the preparation, race strategy, conditions, key moments during the event, the final result, and lessons learned from the experience.
What is the Khardung La Challenge?
The Khardung La Challenge is a 72km ultra-marathon in Ladakh. The course climbs to approximately 5,370m before descending almost 40km towards Leh.
How long should you acclimatise before the Khardung La Challenge, and why?
The organisers recommend arriving in Leh at least 15 days before the Khardung La Challenge to allow enough time to acclimatise to the high altitude. Acclimatisation helps the body adapt to lower oxygen levels.
How do you prepare for the Khardung La Challenge?
Preparation should include a strong endurance base, long runs, hill training, downhill running and strength work. Training should also include race-specific sessions that prepare you for sustained climbing and running downhill on tired legs. Since the race reaches approximately 5,370m, arriving in Leh early, following the organisers’ recommended 15-day acclimatisation period, and including a few easy runs are also important parts of race preparation.
