Gandhinagar’s Shailesh Patel has literally ran into the Guinness World Records book by participating in the highest frozen lake half marathon in Leh.
Patel, a 42-year-old businessman was competing against 74 others for the record at the frozen Pangong Lake in Leh. Patel, a fitness enthusiast, has been participating in long-distance running for the past 12 years and has completed major marathons like Berlin and London Abbott World as well as half marathons in Darjeeling and at Mount Everest Base Camp.
The certified mountaineer from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) said while completing the Pangong Frozen Lake Half Marathon, he was presented with an entirely different set of challenges. “It was very difficult as the oxygen level was hardly 22% and the temperature was around -25 degrees Celsius,” said Patel.
Patel said he experienced breathlessness while running and the snowfall made the run even more difficult. “I suffered a snow bite too. Usually, it takes me 1 hour, 40 minutes to complete a half marathon but here, due to the weather it took me 3 hours and 11 minutes,” said Patel.
He said they had to run in ski boots which reduces the speed/movement but the army personnel who participated in it were faster than the civilians. “I am grateful and proud to have completed the half marathon with army personnel,” he said.
On how he manages his business, family as well as his passion for running, Patel said he lives a very disciplined life and finds great support from his wife and two daughters. His routine includes getting up at 3:30 AM, going for a run at 5 AM and always going to bed by 9.15 PM.
“Sundays are rest days. I plan my day in a way that my routine is not disturbed and when I travel, I carry my running gear with me.” Patel has qualified and is preparing for the Tokyo, Chicago, Boston and New York half marathons in the next two years. He also wants to attempt the half-ironman challenge in Australia by next year.
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