Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race & The Mount Everest Challenge Marathon

Looping the Cobbles

Adam Rose / 21.10.2014

Kanchenjunga at dawn. Cloudless sky, first rays just hitting the snow and ice, and a frenzy of photos trying to capture the spectacle. I was there, as frenzied as anyone, for it is truly an amazing sight. Thankfully the weather was obliging, despite the cyclone currently happening in Nepal.

7am the group set off, while we followed jeeply. The route was 10 miles out to Molle, a spot on a hill, and a return by the same way.

What can I say? It was staggering beautiful. Seriously. The trees, rocks, mountains, flowers; the track winding around grassy hills, traversing steep cliffs, through narrow cuttings of stone and bush. Most of the runners found themselves losing time due to their picture taking, for to run with one’s head down would have been a travesty.

Just like on the first day, we found ourselves in the mid/rear field, but due to the loop, were able to get a few seconds with the front runners as they flashed past us homewards. Most everyone was in good spirits due to the scenery and gentler climbs. The going underfoot was still very cobbled, with patches of sand offering slight relief.

Everyone finished the course, the last finisher after 6 hrs 45. That’s not very fast for 20 miles, but then this race is a bit of a conundrum. The least emphasis is on the racing itself - it’s almost frowned upon to concentrate on speed.

We could see Everest from most of the course. 200km distant, it stood in the background watching, flanked by Makalu and Lohtse. Closer by, Kanchenjunga was still 80km away, and freakishly, about 5km higher than our camp at Sandakphu.

Gabriel (3:17) held the lead again, with Stefan shortly after (3:31), followed by Georgia. David was in fourth, then Pat tied with Ignacio Junco Jurado (Spain) and Juan Pablo Galvez (El Salvador).

Tomorrow the Everest Challenge Marathon kicks off at 6am. Usually it’s a bit later, but with the uncertain weather, Mr Pandey wants us to cover as much ground as possible before the mist settles in. The first 10 miles retraces today’s path, which is rather strange (to cover the same ground thrice), but that is hardly a burden with those views. In fact, you pays your money, you gets your rewards!

Then the route covers 8 miles of higher ground to Phalut and back to Molle, before dropping down through jungle to Rimbik, a small town that has grown rapidly due to the influence of this event.

I intend to run the marathon. Some of the walkers are going to do likewise, tackling the lesser challenge than the 100 miler, but tough all the same for a marathon. My motivation is that it’s just too good to miss.

Lots of races wax lyrical about the scenery. This race’s media doesn’t do it justice. Not that you have to take a camera, but if you don’t you’ll probably kick yourself. Already, I heard one of the Americans doing just that.

[You can find out more about the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race and Mount Everest Marathon at www.himalayan.com]