Jaipur : Ironman Colonel Jangvir Lamba, 52 yr old serving Indian Army Officer participated and successfully completed 38th Legendary Marathon Des Sables held in sand of Moroccan Sahara from 14 to 20 Apr 2024.
Approximate 900 athletes from 60 countries participated in this grueling multi-stage event set amidst one of the world’s most inhospitable competitive environments, which register temperatures up to 50 degrees Celsius.
The event demands athletes to carry their own survival items and traverse a distance of 253.5 kilometers across endless sand dunes, rocky jebels, and blistering salt plains and face the ultimate test of physical and mental fortitude. Col Lamba completed the Marathon indisputably considered the toughest foot race on earth in 67 hours and 07 minutes.
Transitioning from the structured courses of Ironman events to the vast expanse of the Sahara, Col Lamba faced a challenge unlike any other. Yet, armed with his experience as a bodybuilder and a triathlete, he approached the Marathon Des Sables with a unique blend of physical prowess and mental resilience.
In Col Lamba’s words, “The Marathon Des Sables was not just a race; it was a test of endurance—a culmination of years of training and dedication”. As he traversed the treacherous terrain, carrying his essential survival load and drawing upon his experience as a triathlete, Col Lamba embodied the spirit of perseverance that defines the Ironman ethos. With each stride, he defied the odds, proving that true strength lies not just in physical prowess, but in the resilience of the human spirit.
Colonel Jangvir Lamba, resident of Jaipur Rajasthan, a fourth generation Indian Army Officer had earlier participated and successfully completed the Ironman Triathlon comprising of 3.8 km swim, 180 km cycling and 42.2 km marathon in 16 hours and 41 minutes in Malaysia (Langkawi) on 07 Oct 2023, Asia Pacific Championship of Ironman Triathlon held at Cairns, Queensland Australia on 18th June, 2023 and Ironman 70.3 held in Goa in Nov 2022. Col Lamba has also been a professional body builder and a National Level body building judge with the Indian Body Builders Federation in the past.
His journey from Ironman to Sahara serves as an inspiration to athletes and adventurers alike, reminding us that no challenge is insurmountable with dedication and determination. Col Jangvir Lamba stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration, a testament to the power of the human will to conquer even the most formidable obstacles.
