Shivani Sangwan, Army doctor and mother of two, conquers 122-km Ladakh marathon
For Colonel Shivani Sangwan, finishing a gruelling 122-km ultra-marathon in Ladakh was about much more than crossing the finishing line. An Army Medical Corps superspecialist, mother of two and seasoned ultra-runner, Sangwan secured 9th position in the Silk Route Ultra 2026 marathon after completing one of the country's most demanding high-altitude races within the prescribed cut-off.
The fifth edition of the Silk Route Ultra was held on September 10, with the race beginning at Kyagar village in Nubra Valley and ending at Leh Market. The 122-km course took runners through some of Ladakh's toughest terrain, including an ascent towards Khardung La.
Organised under the leadership of Race Director Motup Chewang Goba, the race featured an altitude gain of around 2,700 metres, a stringent 22-hour overall cut-off and five intermediate cut-offs. With only around 100-110 runners admitted and demanding qualification criteria, the event attracts experienced ultra-runners and is known for its high attrition rate.
For participants, the challenge went well beyond distance. High altitude, low oxygen availability, steep gradients, cold, fatigue, sleep deprivation and unpredictable weather tested runners throughout the course. Completing the race required disciplined pacing, nutrition and hydration, along with considerable mental resilience.
For Sangwan, the achievement adds another milestone to a steadily growing ultra-running record. Her previous accomplishments include a podium finish in the Hundred Days of Running in 2022 and completion of the 100-km Border Ultra in 2024.
In 2025, she secured a Top-10 finish among women in the 72-km Khardung La Challenge. Her other achievements include a podium finish in the 28-km Trail-A-Thon in Gurugram and completion of the 84-km Rohtang Epic from Manali to Sissu in 2026.
What makes Sangwan's journey particularly striking is the challenge of fitting endurance sport into an already demanding life. As an Armed Forces Medical Services officer and a mother of two, her training had to be built around military duties, organisational responsibilities and family commitments rather than a conventional athlete's schedule.
Her journey also offers a larger message about pursuing personal ambitions alongside professional and family responsibilities. For Sangwan, motherhood and military service have not meant putting her sporting ambitions on hold. Instead, endurance running has become another pursuit that she has integrated into an already demanding routine.
The Silk Route Ultra thus marks more than another entry on Sangwan's ultra-running record. Her 122-km finish in Ladakh reflects the discipline and consistency required to balance military medicine, motherhood and endurance sport, while continuing to push personal limits in one of the world's most challenging high-altitude environments.- EndsPublished By: Akash ChatterjeePublished On: Sep 13, 2026 19:14 IST
