ladakhmarathon

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Ladakh Marathon 13th Edition 10th - 13th September

Ladakh Marathon 13th Edition 10th – 13th September

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

AGE ELIGIBILITY as on 13th September 2026 for various races 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 races for the 13th edition of the Ladakh Marathon should have been completed between 5th September 2024 and 23rd March 2026, and at least one race must be after 1st January 2025 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 race at high altitude of Ladakh at 11,500ft. The shortest race 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 race 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)
Saturday 29th August and Sunday 30th August 2026
Khardungla Challenge (72km)
Saturday 29th August and Sunday 30th August 2026
Marathon (42km)
Saturday 5th September and Sunday 6th September 2026
Half Marathon (21km)
Saturday 5th September and Sunday 6th September 2026
11.2km Run
Saturday 5th September and Sunday 6th September 2026
05km Run for Fun
Saturday 5th September and Sunday 6th September 2026

Eligibility/qualification Notes

The following eligibility criteria are mandatory for all participants of all races, except the 5km Run for Fun which is not a timed race. All entries will be screened and if you do not fulfil the requirement, the 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 participant. 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 the Ladakh Marathon.
  • Eligible/qualifying races for the 13th edition of the Ladakh Marathon should have been completed between 8th September 2024 and 23rd March 2026, and at least one race must be after 1st January 2025 as per criteria.
  • Stadium races do not count as qualifying races.
  • 24-Hour races do not count as qualifying races.
  • Virtual Races do not count as qualifying races.
  • Personal timings recorded using Garmin/Strava etc do not count.

ELIGIBILITY PERIOD: ELIGIBLE/QUALIFYING RACES FOR LADAKH MARATHON SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BETWEEN 5TH SEPTEMBER 2024 AND 23RD MARCH 2026, AND AT LEAST ONE RACE MUST BE AFTER 1ST JANUARY 2025 AS PER CRITERIA.

11.2KM Run

Participant must have completed EITHER two 10km races under 1 hour 45 minutes within the eligibility period (at least one race after 1st January 2025) OR one Half Marathon under 3hrs 30 minutes after 1st January 2025.

Half Marathon

  1. Participant must have completed EITHER one Half Marathon under 3 hours within the eligibility period OR two 10km races under 1 hour 30 minutes within the eligibility period (at least one race after 1st January 2025).

  2. Finisher of 2025 Ladakh 11.2km Run is eligible to register for Half Marathon.

  3. Finisher of previous years Ladakh Marathon (2022 onwards) – 42km Marathon, 21km Half Marathon.

Marathon

  1. Participant must have completed EITHER one Marathon under 6hrs after 1st January 2025 OR two Half Marathons under 3hrs within the eligibility period (at least one race after 1st January 2025).

  2. Finisher of 2025 Ladakh Marathon – 21km or 42km – is eligible to register for Marathon.

  3. Finisher of previous years Ladakh Marathon (2022 onwards) – Marathon/Half Marathon AND having one Marathon under 6 hours/one Half Marathon under 3 hours after 1st January 2025.

NOTE ON ULTRA RACES: The Silk Route Ultra & Khardung la Challenge are amongst the toughest and highest Ultra Marathons in the world with Oxygen dropping to 50% at Khardung la top (17,618ft). Acclimatisation is of utmost importance for these races. 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.

The Ultra races, 122km Silk Route Ultra and 72km Khardung la Challenge, will be conducted as per rules and guidelines laid by the event organiser. All decisions pertaining to these two races will be made by the Race Director which will be final and binding.

It is mandatory that you arrive in Leh minimum of 10 days ahead for these races and collect your running bib in person at the Ladakh Marathon EXPO on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August 2026. (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 races 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. Before submitting the application ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria, provide true, accurate, current, and complete information as requested in the application form. Application will not be accepted if an applicant knowingly submits false information.

  1. Finisher of 2025 Ladakh Marathon (42km) under 6hrs OR Khardung la Challenge (72km).
  2. Finisher of previous years (2022 onwards) Ladakh Marathon (42km) under 6hrs AND one Full Marathon under 5hrs after 1st January 2025.
  3. Finisher of EITHER two 75km Ultra Marathons under 10hrs within the eligibility period (at least one after 1st January 2025) OR two Ultra Marathons above 75km with a pace of minimum 7km/hr (at least one after 1st January 2025).
  4. Ultra Trail races with 8 ITRA points from two races (at least one after 1st January 2025).
  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 2025).
  6. Finisher of Khardung la Challenge of previous years (2022 onwards).
  7. DNF of previous years  Khardung la Challenge (2022 onwards)who have attained stage II within cut-off AND a Full Marathon under 5hrs after 1st January 2025.
  8. DNF of previous years Silk Route Ultra.

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 which is payable within 15 days of receipt of payment link. Event organiser reserves the right to disallow / disqualify any participant who is known or suspected to be physically unfit to participate in this race. Please note that the number of participants to this race 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. Before submitting the application ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria, provide true, accurate, current, and complete information as requested in the application form. Application will not be accepted if an applicant knowingly submits false information.

  1. Finisher of 2025 Khardung la Challenge under 13 hours.
  2. Finisher of 2025 Silk Route Ultra.
  3. Previous years finishers of Silk Route Ultra AND 100 miles under 24hrs OR 100km under 14hrs after 1st January 2025.
  4. Finisher of Khardung la Challenge of previous years (2022 onwards) under 13 hours AND having an Ultra Marathon of 100km under 14hrs after 1st January 2025.
  5. Finisher of Khardung la Challenge of previous years (2022 onwards) under 13 hours AND having 10 ITRA points from two races within the eligibility period (at least one after 1st January 2025).
  6. DNF participants of SRU 2024 and 2025, 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 which is payable within 15 days of receipt of payment link. Event organiser reserves the right to disallow / disqualify any participant who is known or suspected to be physically unfit to participate in this race. Please note that the number of participants to this race is restricted to a maximum of 75. Besides the above, the following nationalities cannot participate in the Silk Route Ultra and the Khardung la 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