Indian runner sets Guinness record for fastest Manali–Leh run across high Himalayan passes, finishes under 100 hours |
Ever imagined if it’s possible to run across the Himalayas? It’s challenging and won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. And doing it continuously, across five of the region’s highest mountain passes, with thin air, unpredictable weather, and relentless climbs, is something very few endurance athletes will attempt. Good news is in 2023, Indian ultra-distance runner Sufiya Sufi did exactly that, and now her achievement has finally received official recognition.Sufiya Sufi took to social media to share this, and said that she has set the Guinness World Record for the fastest run from Manali to Leh, completing the high-altitude endurance challenge in 98 hours and 27 minutes, comfortably beating the 100-hour target. The route spans nearly 480 km, cuts across all five high Himalayan passes, and involves a staggering elevation gain of over 8,500 m, making it one of the toughest long-distance running courses in the world.
Sufiya Sufi Runner/Facebook
Although the record was approved in 2023, the official certificate took its own time reaching her. Sharing the update recently, Sufi joked that it took the scenic route through delivery gateways and Indian Customs before finally arriving home. The moment, she said, was one of pride, gratitude, and relief, which was further made sweeter by the support of sponsors, crew members, and well-wishers who believed in the attempt from the start.Read more: Anand Mahindra wonders why the world isn’t flocking here, calling it “Living proof that Heaven can descend…”
One of the world’s toughest running routes
We all are aware that the Manali–Leh highway is beautiful, yet difficult, even for motorists and cyclists. The route takes ones from lush valleys into stark, high-altitude deserts, crossing some of the highest motorable passes in the world. In doing so, oxygen levels can drop sharply, weather conditions can change anytime within minutes, while there is not predictability with regard to night-time temperatures, which often plunge below freezing.For runners, one can only imagine that the challenge multiplies. Long stretches without habitation, constant elevation changes, and the physical toll of operating in low-oxygen environments make the course brutally demanding. Many who have driven or biked the route remarked online that covering it on foot, non-stop, felt almost unimaginable.Sufi’s successful run has, therefore, drawn widespread admiration not just for speed, but also for her sheer resilience.Read more: 5 unique wildlife species found in the Indian Himalayas
A growing legacy in ultra-distance running
This record adds to an already formidable list of endurance feats. Sufi previously set a Guinness World Record for becoming the fastest woman to run from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, traversing the length of India in a journey that symbolised unity, perseverance, and mental strength.
@sufirunner/Twitter/X
She has also completed the Golden Quadrilateral run, which involved traveling over 6,000 km across the major highway network in India. This challenge tested her ability to withstand the challenges of tedium, heat, fatigue, and loneliness. Over time, Sufi has emerged as one of the most recognisable names in India’s ultra-running community, known for choosing routes that are as mentally taxing as they are physically demanding.Sufi’s journey into ultra-distance running did not begin in elite training camps. A former cabin crew member, her attention to long running came later in life, which was initially to stay fit. What began as a personal pursuit, soon evolved into a deeper calling.Her dedication was then marked by a series of extraordinary achievements. She earned a Guiness World record for the most marathons run in a calendar year by a woman in 2018.Later, she ran the Kashmir to Kanyakumari route, which was another Guinness-certified performance. Then, she achieved another world record, by completing the Golden Quadrilateral, in 110 days, a 6,002-km run around India’s major highways.With the Manali–Leh record now officially recognised, Sufiya Sufi’s story shows what the human body and mind can achieve in extreme environments.
