Himalayan Challenge Marathon
Day 3; Downhill ... and I Really Mean It.
Jose Manuel Jimenez / 03.11.2007
After enjoying the view and delicious food, the race was on at 0630, once again the runners were to take the same route as day 2 but the only difference was that instead of coming back on the same track, once reaching Molle (11655 ft) they would advance 4 more kilometers to Phalut (11380 ft). This part was a great downhill and then a big ascent, after which they turned around and reached Molle once again. From from here they would start their tremendous descent to Rimbik(6350 ft).At this point no support staff jeeps would be present due to the topography and paths that consist of extremely steep hills and slippery clay trails and some rocky areas that as Mr. C.S. Pandey said in the briefing the day before “Be very careful with your knees and ankles, do not break them, it is a very difficult path,�. Obviously in a jesting manner, although serious too ...
For the rest of the journalists and walkers that decided not to take the same route as the runners, two options were given: A) Ride the jeeps back for 8 hours B) Walk down a shorter route of only 16K leading straight to Rimbik.
The latter option was the one taken by the group and myself, so we were able to reach the finish almost in time to see the leaders.
This stage had proven to be one of the toughest so far; mostly every runner had some issues with their feet, either sore or blistered. Extremely tense muscles and sore backs, all these things even though painful, are just something they live with and will be ready for, and back on track in the Morning.
The group stayed at the Sherpa Lodge in Rimbik, a late start is programmed for day 4, 7am breakfast and an 8:30 start.See All Event Posts
