Articles

Elite Runners Call for Climate Action

Centre for Social Markets (CSM) has joined hands with India's foremost Ultrarunner, Dr Rajat Chauhan, to bring attention to the impact of climate change on the Himalayas through a feat of human endurance. Elite runners assembled for a 139-mile (222km) run over Himalayan peaks to raise attention to climate change. Called The High, this is certainly the highest and possibly the toughest ultramarathon in the world.

The brainchild of Dr Rajat Chauhan, a sports medicine and rehabilitation physician from New Delhi, the run is about human endurance and a chance to highlight the threat to ecosystems and livelihoods by climate change in this mountainous region. The route will take elite runners from Khardung Village along the Leh-Manali Highway to Morey Plains in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. The run was non-stop and was completed within 72 hours from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th July. Runners climbed peaks such as Khardung La 5395 m (17,700 ft) and Tanglang La 5359 m (17,582 ft) with a cumulative vertical ascent of 3,107 m and a cumulative vertical descent of 2,704 m.

The Himalayas are often called the 'Third Pole' because they contain the largest store of fresh-water in the world after the North and South poles. The Hindu-Kush Himalaya region is home to ten major river basins and provides water for one fifth of the world's population. But the life-giving glaciers - the water towers of Asia - are melting. Scientists estimate that these peaks are melting at twice the rate of surface temperature and we are therefore witnessing the impact of climate change on high-altitude glaciers earlier than the plains. CSM is profiling the run on its India Climate Portal and building a network of organisations active on climate issues in the Himalayan region.

Soundbites

Race Organiser, Dr Rajat Chauhan

"With 70 percent of the route above 14,000 feet (4267 m), seven to ten days of acclimatization is compulsory... Not only for the participants but for the 17 volunteers who will assist them."

Bill Andrews, American ultrarunner of over 100 ultramarathons

"We are simply demonstrating that it's possible to expand the envelope of what people perceive are limits of human endurance and capability."

CSM Chief Executive, Malini Mehra, runner in London Marathan 2010

"The controversy over Glaciergate has detracted attention from the urgent need to address the threat to the Himalayas from global warming and black carbon. We need to be doing more and challenge political complacency. Sport is a great way to highlight the issues and we are committed to making 'The High' a regular fixture on the Ultra calendar."

Other Resources

Distance and Elevation Animation

Unless you're using Internet Explorer, you can watch this animation which compares the distance and elevation of The High with another popular ultramarathon, the Leadville 100m.

Links

Official Website for The High Ultramarathon
www.thehigh.in
You can also check out their photos on Facebook

Centre for Social Markets (CSM) is an Indian non-profit working to promote sustainability and climate leadership
www.csmworld.org

They also run the India Climate Portal
www.indiaclimateportal.org

Youtube Videos

The High Avalanche Crossing

See other videos:

• What runners say about The High
• Mark Cockbain Interview - after the race
• The High Story 1 of 4
• The High Route
• The High Avalanche
• Finish of La Ultra - The High

News

Sadly, it has been reported that Leh has been affected by heavy rain and flash floods, read the full story here.

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