Suraj Meena, a non‑Ladakhi athlete, finished second in the Silk Route Ultra Ladakh Marathon, a 122‑kilometre high‑altitude race, on Friday.
Meena described the event as a Herculean task for anyone without a Ladakhi background, stressing that months of training were required to manage the altitude and distance.
The Silk Route Ultra Ladakh Marathon is renowned for its rugged terrain and thin air, pushing endurance limits, and Meena’s podium finish highlights the particular challenges faced by outsiders in such conditions.