Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race
The Race Briefing
Rob Howard / 23.10.2010
The race briefing began with a long speech by CS Pandey in which he talked of the history of the race (which began 19 years ago with just 14 racers) and its culture and ethos. He spoke passionately about his desire to encourage open access to the Himalaya to allow visitors to explore it’s culture and geography and of how he hoped to allow them to experience the spirituality and beauty of the mountains. [He was also very clear there was no such word as Himalayas. It’s Himalaya!] He added, “You are our guests and in our tradition a guest is our god.� He soon moved on to practical matters and introduced the staff and race doctor, and also thanked media and past racers who had spread information on the race, which continues to attract competitors from all over the world. He introduced his Niece Manshi, who is now the assistant Race Director, and told how he had insisted she run the course, and many other races, then attend the army mountaineering institute training course before taking on the job! It was quickly becoming clear Mr Pandey was a hard task master and a passionate and strict Race Director.
While going through the rules he stressed the runners had all the information they needed in their race packs, so it was up to them to read it and not do anything stupid! (He told of one Australian runner in the past who ran off the wrong side of the ridge and ended up in Nepal! Kanchenjunga should have been a handy reference point to indicate she was going the wrong way you’d think .... ) He also emphasised taking any short cuts, littering or smoking were disqualification offences. (Yes, smoking is against the race rules!)
Many times he stressed this race was for enjoyment, not competition and for him the award given for the best environmental performance was more important than the winners. (Racers are encouraged to pick up litter along the way to win this award.) The race medic continued the same theme of not pushing too hard, and pointed out helicopter airlift was not an option. He added, “And please look where you are going and not at the view while running. We have had several broken noses due to runners falling flat on their faces!�
Most of the questions concerned the complex logistics and kit movements surrounding the race. In many places the racers are spread across several lodges and they’ll have to pack and distribute their kit bags along the course carefully. The race also passes through sensitive border areas so everyone’s passports have to be given to the race organisation and taken along for inspection by security forces.
The race markings and route should be clear and easy to follow, but the race staff will have to mark some of the trail on the day as they found the pink ribbons they were using was disappearing. At first they thought yaks were chewing them, but then spotted them in the hair of local schoolgirls! The heavy rains this year have also washed off the arrows they painted on roads and tracks so these will have to be replaced.
Briefing over the racers set off for their various hotels (most had only just arrived and had not yet checked in), knowing they would have to organise their bags tonight and be ready for a 5.30am start for the trip to Darjeeling tomorrow. (It looks like that is the start time every day!) The logistics and travel around this race will be as much a part of the endurance challenge as the running it seems.
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