The Ladakh Marathon was started in 2012 following the 2010 Ladakh floods which claimed 200 lives as well as making several hundred people homeless . According to '' The Tribune '' of India , " The initiative was started to convey to the world that Ladakh is back and running . It is aimed at encouraging the youth of Ladakh to live a healthy lifestyle by taking up running in hostile weather conditions and by becoming more aware of the need to protect the environmentally fragile region . " The Ladakh marathon is claimed to be the highest marathon , but this claim is not supported by the Guinness Book of Records , which recognises the Everest Marathon which starts at over 5,200 metres ( 17,100 ft ) , though 72 km Ultra Ladakh Marathon goes up to height of 17,618 feet
2010 Ladakh floods
2010 Ladakh floods
Ladakh Marathon