Himalayan Challenge Marathon

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Day1; Uphill All the Way

Jose Manuel Jimenez / 02.11.2007

Day 1; The day began with a bus ride to Manybajung (6600 ft) at 05:30am, the start point for this gruelling yet exhilarating race. From there 24 miles of uphill would lead the runners towards Sandakphu (11815 ft).

At 07:50 the race was on, 71 participants (runners, walkers and media) were running the streets of Manybajung making their way towards the first ascent of many that were to come that day.

The pace was set instantly by the US runner Duncan Larkin, and close behind by Miguel Angel Merino from Spain. The participants were mixed up in two categories, the runners and the walkers who would be doing the 100 Mile Stage race in the first category and in the second the marathon runners doing the Everest Marathon Challenge, who would be joining the rest in Sandakphu on day 2.

The ascent to Sandakphu was very tough for the competitors, going up very steep hills and then dropping a little altitude, only to ascend once again close to the 3,400 meter mark, then once again descending a little before finally going up to 3,500 meters (1185 ft).

The first to arrive did it just over 4 hours.

Men’s:
Duncan Larkin 4:21
Miguel Angel Merino 4:26
Alan David Colley 4:46

Woman’s
Elin Engdahl 4:59
Tsafnat Ne’eman 6:12
Britta Sendkhofer 6:21

It took the last participants 10:41 hours to reach the foggy and very cold mountain top, making it to Sandakphu after dark. Everybody was sound asleep by 20.00 trying to get a good rest for the 20 miles ahead of them on day 2.See All Event Posts