dehradun jyotsana rawat a 17yearold student from dehradun has become the first indian woman and the youngest person in the world to complete la ultrathe high a highaltitude marathon that is counted among the toughest and most challenging endurance races the run starts from nubra valley and ends at leh after passing through khardung la pass covering a distance of 111 km rawat completed the marathon in 19 hours 46 minutes on august 18 after the qualifier run earlier this year from dehradun to dhanaulti the student of 12th grade at a private school in the city competed against 31 other participants including those from germany and the us twenty participants finished the run with jawans of ladakh scouts being the first to do so the ultramarathon involves three categories 111 222 and 333 km through three mountain passes talking to toi on friday jyotsana said that she was always confident of finishing the race but it was the freezing temperatures that really got to her when i heard that this was one of the toughest runs i knew i had to go for it i did not train very hard but running has always been my hobby the thought that i would not be able to complete the run did not cross my mind at all one reason for it was that my father had also participated in the marathon and that was very motivating she said her 54yearold father yashwant singh rawat who was the oldest participant also finished the race making them the first fatherdaughter duo to complete the marathon jyotsana said that it was the chilly winds that made the marathon so challenging we started the run on august 17 at 8pm and it got very cold very fast after the first 25 km i had to slow down because it was just so cold i was praying throughout for the morning to come and the sun to shine said jyotsana who wants to join the indian air force temperatures can plunge to as low as minus 10 degrees celsius in the region and lack of oxygen at high altitude makes it even more challenging while leh is at an altitude of 11000 ft nubra valley lies at 10500 ft and khardung la pass is considered the worlds highest motorable pass at 17700 ft a serving army officer who has participated in several national and international marathons a dhasmana said it is internationally acknowledged that it is one of the toughest marathons in the country the mountainous terrain and lack of sufficient oxygen are the major challenges to overcome dr rajat chauhan race director said la ultrathe high is one of the toughest runs in the world and tests a persons endurance it is not a competition but a personal challenge for all runners which is why we award trophies to all those who finish the race without ranking them jyotsana said that the run had made her resolve stronger and she would now