Second edition of snow marathon in Himachal
The 2nd edition of the Snow Marathon is scheduled to take place on March 12th, 2023 in Lahual Spiti. Interacting with media here today Gaurav Shimmer the Chief organizer of the event informed. He said that the run would range at an altitude between 10k ft to 11k ft Unlike the recent marathon at Pangong lake in Ladakh, which was Ice marathon, this event would be a snow run, he clarified on a query. 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 would undoubtedly serve as excellent training for other challenging runs worldwide. “The Snow Marathon has undoubtedly stirred up excitement within the running community,” hoped the organizers. 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. Along with 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 up to 2-3 feet.
Acclimatization is very important added the organizers. For the same, a small package has been designed for the participants, which could help doing so, Gaurav said. 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.
