Army Doctor and Mother of Two Shivani Sangwan Completes 122-Km Ladakh Ultra

The mountains of Ladakh are unforgiving even for seasoned athletes. Yet, Colonel Shivani Sangwan took on one of India’s toughest high-altitude endurance races and emerged with a 9th-place finish.A superspecialist officer of the Army Medical Corps and a mother of two, Col Sangwan completed the 122-km Silk Route Ultra 2026 within its demanding 22-hour cut-off.The race began at Kyagar village in Nubra Valley and ended at Leh Market, taking runners through an extraordinary landscape—and an even more demanding physical challenge.Running Against the AltitudeThe course featured an altitude gain of around 2,700 metres, steep gradients, thin air and unpredictable mountain weather. Runners also had to negotiate five intermediate cut-offs, leaving little room for slowing down. The event admits only around 100–110 experienced ultra-runners, with strict qualification requirements ensuring that participants are prepared for the extreme conditions.For Col Sangwan, the finish was another chapter in a growing record of endurance achievements. She has previously completed the 100-km Border Ultra and the 84-km Rohtang Epic, besides securing a Top-10 finish among women in the 72-km Khardung La Challenge.When Discipline Goes Beyond the UniformUltra-running at high altitude requires months of preparation, careful nutrition, disciplined pacing and immense mental resilience. For Col Sangwan, training has to fit around the demanding responsibilities of being an Armed Forces doctor and a mother of two. Unlike a full-time athlete, her pursuit of endurance comes alongside military service, medical responsibilities and family life.That makes her 122-km finish particularly inspiring. Her journey is a reminder that personal ambitions do not always have to be set aside for a demanding career or family responsibilities. With consistency, planning and determination, seemingly different worlds can coexist.