ladakhmarathon

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Ladakh Marathon 12th Edition 11th - 14th September

Ladakh Marathon 12th Edition 11th – 14th September
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

AGE ELIGIBILITY as on 14th September 2025 for various runs is:

05km Run for Fun

12 years

11.2km Run

14 years

Half Marathon (21.0975km)

16 years

Marathon (42.195km)

18 years

Khardung La Challenge (72km)

20 years

Silk Route Ultra (122km)

24 years

Veterans (all races)

52 years

New: Eligibility Period

Eligible/qualifying runs for 12th edition of the Ladakh Marathon should have been completed between 8th September 2023 and 21st April 2025, and at least one run must be after 1st January 2024 as per criteria.

A Note on High Altitude Running

Any person who travels to high altitude places (above 2500m) experiences altitude sickness as body needs to adjust to change in oxygen levels. If one allows the body enough time, most people could adjust to altitudes. And it depends entirely on one’s personal body condition to acclimatise. Participants should be in good physical condition to adapt and be able to run at high altitude of Ladakh at 11,500ft. The shortest run of 05km may sound to be the easiest but running same at such high altitude is an altogether different experience. So arriving early for your run is imperative, important and should not be taken in a light manner.

A Note on Bib Collection

It is mandatory to collect your BIBs in person as per dates given below.

NO BIBs WILL BE GIVEN AFTER THE DATES MENTIONED BELOW.

RACE
BIB COLLECTION DATES
Silk Route Ultra (122km)
Tuesday 2nd September and Wednesday 3rd September 2025
Khardungla Challenge (72km)
Tuesday 2nd September and Wednesday 3rd September 2025
Marathon (42km)
Sunday 7th September and Monday 8th September, 2025
Half Marathon (21km)
Sunday 7th September and Monday 8th September, 2025
11.2km Run
Monday 8th September, 2025
05km Run for Fun
Monday 8th September, 2025

Eligibility/qualification Notes

The following eligibility criteria are mandatory for all participants of all runs, except the 5km Run for Fun. Entries for these categories will be screened and if you do not fulfil the requirement, Event organiser has the right to reject your application.

  • It is mandatory for all participants to collect running bib in person. Please schedule your travel plan and itinerary as per BIB collection dates.
  • To ensure the safety of all participants, running bibs will not be issued to anyone other than the registered runner. Additionally, no authority letters will be accepted for this purpose. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity of the event and to help us provide a secure environment for everyone involved.
  • If any participant is found wearing another participants’ BIB, he/she will be disqualified and not allowed future participation in Ladakh Marathon.
  • Eligible / qualifying runs for 12th edition of the Ladakh Marathon should have been completed between 8th September 2023 and 21st April 2025, and at least one run must be after 1st January 2024 as per criteria.
  • Stadium runs do not count as qualifying runs.
  • 24-Hour runs do not count as qualifying runs.
  • Virtual Runs do not count as qualifying runs.
  • Personal timings recorded using Garmin/Strava etc do not count.
ELIGIBILITY PERIOD: ELIGIBLE/QUALIFYING RUNS FOR LADAKH MARATHON SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BETWEEN 8TH SEPTEMBER 2023 AND 21ST APRIL 2025, AND AT LEAST ONE RUN MUST BE AFTER 1ST JANUARY 2024 AS PER CRITERIA.

11.2KM Run

Participant must have completed EITHER two 10km run under 1 hour 45 minutes within the eligibility period (at least one run after 1st January 2024) OR one Half Marathon under 3hrs 30 minutes after 1st January 2024.

Half Marathon

  1. Participant must have completed EITHER one Half Marathon under 3 hours within the eligibility period OR two 10km runs under 1 hour 30 minutes within the eligibility period (at least one run after 1st January 2024).

  2. Finisher of 2024 Ladakh 11.2km Run is eligible to register for Half Marathon.

  3. Finisher of previous year Ladakh Marathon, Half Marathon (21km).

Marathon

  1. Participant must have completed EITHER one Marathon under 6hrs after 1st January 2024 OR two Half Marathons under 3hrs within the eligibility period (at least one run after 1st January 2024).
  2. Finisher of 2024 Ladakh Marathon is eligible to register for Marathon.
  3. Finisher of 2024 Ladakh Half Marathon is eligible to register for Marathon.
  4. Finisher of previous years Ladakh Marathon/Half Marathon AND having one Marathon under 6hrs/ one Half Marathon under 3 hours after 1st January 2024.

NOTE ON ULTRA RUNS: The Silk Route Ultra & Khardungla Challenge are amongst the toughest and highest Ultra Marathons in the world with Oxygen dropping to 50% at Khardungla top (17,618ft). Acclimatisation is of utmost importance for these runs. Acclimatisation is your body’s adaptation to the altitude and is NOT DETERMINED BY INDIVIDUAL FITNESS LEVELS. Running these two ultras without proper acclimatisation could be fatal. Event organiser will NOT ALLOW any participant(s) whose vitals are not found to be normal during the medical check-up at start point(s) – Kyagar Village for SRU and Khardung Village for KC.

It is mandatory that you arrive in Leh minimum of 10 days ahead for these runs and collect your running bib in person at the Ladakh Marathon EXPO on Tuesday 2nd September and Wednesday 3rd September 2025. (NO BIBs WILL BE GIVEN AFTER THE BIB COLLECTION DATES). Please respect our rules and regulations which have been made keeping your safety in mind. A mandatory equipment list will be sent to all the participants of these two ultra runs to bring.

Khardungla Challenge (72km)

Participant(s) who fulfil any one option listed below is eligible to APPLY for this race with a non-refundable application fee of Rs 3,000. Please ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria before submitting your application.

  1. Finisher of 2024 Ladakh Marathon (42km) under 6hrs OR Khardungla Challenge (72km).

  2. Finisher of previous years Ladakh Marathon (42km) under 6hrs AND one Full Marathon under 5hrs after 1st January 2024.

  3. Finisher of EITHER two 75km Ultra Marathons under 10hrs within the eligibility period (at least one after 1st January 2024) OR two Ultra Marathons above 75km with a pace of minimum 7km/hr (at least one after 1st January 2024).

  4. Ultra Trail runners with 8 ITRA points from two races (at least one after 1st January 2024).

  5. Finisher of a Full Marathon under 5hrs AND a 50km Ultra Marathon under 6hrs within the eligibility period (at least one after 1st January 2024).

  6. DNF of previous years Khardungla Challenge who have attained stage II within cut-off AND a Full Marathon under 5hrs after 1st January 2024.

Application will be confirmed once documents submitted towards eligibility criteria have been verified within 15 working days, after which payment link will be shared for balance registration fee. Event organiser reserves the right to disallow / disqualify any participant who is known or suspected to be physically unfit to participate in this run. Please note that the number of participants to this run is restricted to a maximum of 300.

Silk Route Ultra (122km)

Participant(s) who fulfil any one option listed below is eligible to APPLY for this race with a non-refundable application fee of Rs 3,000. Please ensure that you meet the eligibility before submitting your application.

  1. Finisher of 2024 Khardung La Challenge under 13 hours.

  2. Finisher of 2024 Silk Route Ultra.

  3. Previous years Participant of Silk Route Ultra AND 100 miles under 24hrs OR 100 km under 14hrs, within the eligibility period.

  4. Finisher of Khardung la Challenge of previous years under 13 hours AND having an Ultra Marathon of 100km under 14 hours after 1st Jan 2024.

  5. Finisher of Khardungla Challenge under 13 hours AND having 10 ITRA points from two races within the eligibility period (at least one after 1st January 2024).

  6. DNF participants of SRU 2024, but having crossed the Khardung Village 2nd stage within the cut-off time.

Application will be confirmed once documents submitted towards eligibility criteria have been verified within 15 working days, after which payment link will be shared for balance registration fee. Event organiser reserves the right to disallow / disqualify any participant who is known or suspected to be physically unfit to participate in this run. Please note that the number of participants to this run is restricted to a maximum of 60.

Besides the above, the following nationalities cannot participate in the Silk Route Ultra and the Khardungla Challenge as they are excluded from the restricted area permit which is required for the Khardung La pass.

a. Citizens of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and foreign nationals having their origin in these countries
b. Diplomatic passport holders