Ladakh’s Nawang Tsering Conquers 122-Km Silk Route Ultra in Record Time

Running 122 kilometres is an extraordinary challenge anywhere. Doing it across the high-altitude terrain of Ladakh is a completely different battle.Nawang Tsering, an ultramarathon champion from Zanskar, Ladakh, has conquered that challenge by winning the Silk Route Ultra (SRU) in an impressive 12 hours, 12 minutes and 18 seconds.His performance earned him not just the title but also recognition for an extraordinary feat of endurance. He was felicitated by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena following the race.The scale of the challenge was captured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisory Council member Sanjeev Sanyal, who described it as an incredibly demanding event—running such a distance at such altitude.Experience From The World’s Toughest TrailsFor Tsering, however, the victory was built on experience. He believes his participation in UTMB in France, one of the world’s most challenging trail-running events, played a major role in his Silk Route Ultra triumph.“I had run in the steep mountains and rocks,” Tsering told PTI, explaining how the experience prepared him for the demanding terrain. Compared with the rocky trails he had encountered abroad, the long stretches of road during the Silk Route Ultra presented a different kind of challenge. But his training and experience helped him maintain his rhythm and push through the distance.When The Body Says StopThe race was far from easy. Tsering revealed that cramps and intense pain affected his body during the run. Yet, he refused to stop. His mindset was simple: once he started, he had to finish.Even while running at the highest points, where the difficult terrain left his body bent with exhaustion, he kept moving forward. That determination became one of his biggest strengths.Patience Wins The RaceTsering also used a smart strategy during the competition. Instead of immediately chasing runners who moved ahead, he allowed them to take the lead. His plan was to conserve energy and gradually close the gap as the race became more demanding. The strategy paid off. Although the competition remained intense, Tsering maintained his pace and finished strongly.Tsering's 12:12:18 finish has now added another remarkable chapter to the story of Ladakh’s endurance athletes.