Leh, September 15, 2025: The Ladakh Marathon, the world’s highest AIMS-certified marathon, has strengthened its partnership for a second consecutive year with sports brand PUMA India, the Exclusive Sportswear Partner, for its 12th edition, scheduled from September 11 to 14, 2025. This year will see a record participation of more than 6,600 runners from 30 countries, underlining the marathon’s steady growth into one of India’s most significant and distinctive sporting events.
The renewed association builds on the success of the 2024 edition of the run, with PUMA once again equipping participants with race-day tees, inner thermals, and specialised gear designed for Ladakh’s high-altitude conditions, ensuring they are prepared to take on one of the most challenging courses in the global running calendar. The complete lineup features the Silk Route Ultra (122 km), Khardung La Challenge (72 km), Full Marathon (42.195 km), Half Marathon (21 km), the 11.2 km Run, and the 05 Km Run for Fun, offering runners of all experience levels an opportunity to participate in one of the world’s most demanding marathons.
Chewang Motup, Race Director of the Ladakh Marathon, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with PUMA, with running at the epicentre of our shared purpose. This renewed collaboration strengthens athlete support, so competitors can focus on the course. The 12th edition, which will field our strongest and most diverse start list, reflects the momentum running has gained in India. With PUMA, we will continue raising standards, broaden global visibility, and cement the Ladakh Marathon among the world’s most distinctive events.”
The Ladakh Marathon has grown exponentially over the past decade, transforming from a locally rooted initiative into one of India’s most celebrated endurance races–a reflection of both the uniqueness of Ladakh’s rugged terrain and the broader rise of distance running as a sport in India. In this landscape, PUMA’s continued and strategic investment in running positions it as a natural partner, committed to enabling athletes at every level and continuing to shape the sport’s rise in the country.
Karthik Balagopalan, Managing Director of PUMA India, added, “The sport of Running is transforming India—shaping lifestyles, building communities, and redefining competition. Our partnership with the Ladakh Marathon reflects PUMA’s deeper commitment to fuel this momentum. The runners undergo dedicated training to chase their new high on Ladakh’s exceptional mountainous terrain. It is a fantastic opportunity for us as sports brand to equip participants with our world class gear boosted with NITRO technology, supporting them against extreme climatic conditions at higher elevations. We are confident that this special partnership will further the evolution of running in the country.”
Established in 2012 as a response to the devastation of the 2010 Ladakh flash floods, the Ladakh Marathon began as a community-driven initiative to showcase resilience and unity through sport. Over the past 12 years, it has evolved into one of India’s most distinctive mass-participation races, drawing runners nationwide and internationally to its high-altitude courses.
The 12th Ladakh Marathon began with the Silk Route Ultra on September 11, followed by the Khardung La Challenge on September 12. The 5Km Run for Fun took place on September 13, while the final day, September 14, will feature runners in the 11.2K Run, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon.
