Raj Vadgama completes La Ultra marathon in Leh

City-based 49-year-old ultramarathon runner Raj Vadgama recently successfully completed 222 km in a span of 47 hours and 20 minutes at La Ultra, which kicked off on August 17 in Leh. Raj, a marathon coach, Limca Book Record Holder and founder of Xtreme Sports India is at the forefront of India’s running and fitness revolution. Raj’s run at La Ultra was powered by Edelweiss Group and supported by the Goregoan Sports Club.

La Ultra has the average altitude for running at about 17,500 feet. It crosses two passes i.e. Khardungla (18,380 ft) and La Wari (17,500 ft). At LA Ultra, Raj ran in temperatures fluctuating from 40 Degree Celcius to minus 6/10 Celcius in a matter of six hours. Depending on the altitude, the atmospheric pressure was also reduced to 50 per cent of what it is at sea level, which affected his oxygen intake.

“Running 222 km was extremely tough and challenging for me. One needs to be well-prepared and know the facts like the route, terrain, etc and have the right amount of training,” Raj said.

“This run was more like life, unpredictable, challenging and fun. It taught me to have positive attitude towards everything and be prepared for any circumstances,” he added.