Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race
Day 2 - Kanchenjunga Day
Rob Howard / 27.10.2010
Day 2 was a day when Kanchenjunga was in the runners view from start to finish, and as always it was an early start, this time to catch the sunrise on the mountain. In the freezing pre-dawn conditions those who had the energy to get up at 04.00am again were well wrapped up and clutching their cameras as they assembled on the famous viewpoint for dawn. It was well after sunrise when daylight finally hit the slopes of the sacred peak, but well worth the wait and soon after the daylight spread westwards to hit Makalu, Lhotse and Mount Everest, completing the panorama of 4 of the 5 highest peaks in the world.Not everyone was keen to leave their bed so early. After a rapid ascent to 12,000 feet on day one almost everyone was feeling the affect of altitude to some degree. For most it was a mild headache and a disturbed and breathless night, but one or two were suffering with more persistent headaches and nausea. They were naturally nervous of the day ahead, which was at a consistently high altitude as the course lead along the Singhalila ridge and did not drop below 10,000 feet.
This of course meant the stupendous mountain vistas were in view much of the day, constantly appearing and disappearing as the track wound along the ridge and dropped into small valleys. The trail was cobbled in places but much less so than yesterday and the route passed though meadowlands where some saw wild horses and yak crossbreeds. (No one had the luck to see the elusive red panda or tiger.)
Though it was a ridge trek this didn’t mean it was flat, far from it. The word flat in the Himalaya means not quite so steeply up and down, and that is what the runners got on a 20 mile out and back course. There was one major descent about two thirds of the way to the turning point at Molle and this became a tough climb on the return. Similarly the ‘gentle’ descent they began with became a never ending and steep uphill by the time they returned and approached the finish line.
Although it is constantly stressed this race is all about taking part, there are of course a few who are here to race and win and on day 2 we found out who could sustain a fast pace, at altitude and with the fatigue of day one in their legs. The Spaniards who lead day one showed they mean to continue their domination, with both Monica Aguilera (3.15) and Fernando Rodriguez (2.59) winning once again. And again it was the two UK runners , Joanne Plumbley and John Green who chased them home. The two ladies finished 5th and 6th overall, so are competing with top men as well.See All Event Posts
