Running on Ice at 14,000 Feet: The Story Behind Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon
The Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon is a high-altitude race on the frozen Pangong Tso that combines extreme sport with a mission to raise awareness about climate change.
At nearly 14,000 feet above sea level, runners take on a unique challenge—the Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon held on the frozen Pangong Tso in Ladakh.
The idea was started by Chamba Tsetan, an ice hockey player and environmental advocate who noticed winters growing warmer and ice seasons shrinking. Inspired by an Antarctic ice marathon, he launched this event not just as a race, but as a mission to raise awareness about climate change.
The first race in 2023 was a 21.9 km half-marathon from Lukung to Maan village, earning a Guinness World Record as the highest frozen lake half-marathon. Around 75 runners participated safely despite extreme cold and high altitude.
The event combines sport with sustainability—plastic is banned, participants stay in local homestays, and strict safety measures (ice testing, acclimatisation, medical support) are followed.
Over time, it has expanded:
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2023: 75 runners
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2024: 120 runners, added shorter races
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2025: 300+ runners, distances up to 55 km
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2026: Multiple categories (42 km to 5 km), temperatures as low as –25°C
A special full-moon run honors Major Shaitan Singh and the soldiers of the Battle of Rezang La.
More than a marathon, it’s a movement—connecting sport, sustainability, and the urgent need to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
