Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race & Mount Everest Challenge Marathon

Back Again For The 26th Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race

Jackie Windh / 21.10.2016

Amazing - this is the 26th year that this ultramarathon has taken place! Few ultrarunning events anywhere in the world have such a history. Yet here we are… at the 26th edition of the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race, here in India!

I ran this race three years ago - a quick trip, arriving two days before in Delhi and getting transported directly to the race start north of Bagdogra (east India, near Darjeeling). No getting over the jet lag, no getting acclimatized to the altitude (we start at the town of Maneybhanjang, at 2010m/6600’, and spend much of the first three days around 3600 m/12,000’).

My trip this time is completely different. I arrived in India two weeks ago with my husband, Dave, and we’ve spent most of that time trekking near Gangotri, straight north of Delhi near the border with China, at altitudes between 3100 m and 4900 m. It’s such a trade-off… this time getting the acclimatization in, but taking the risk of becoming sick (be it with lung stuff or stomach stuff) by arriving here so early.

Well, believe it or not, so far we are both doing great health-wise. Our acclimatization went really well, and we are feeling fantastic (and strong) from all of the steep hikes we’ve been on.  We feel great about the altitude, we are not sick at all (and we've loved the Indian food!), and we are confident and strong about all of the climbing ahead of us. Our only issue is that we each are each nursing knee injuries… I think Dave’s is a bit more stable than mine but, either way, these injuries may mean that we may finish this race hiking rather than running.

Either way, I’ll be here taking photos and reporting for you! I’m just happy to be able to be on this amazing route, even if I won’t be moving very fast.

So, for tonight, we are based in the Hotel Ashok in Delhi. I don’t yet have any information on how many racers there are in total, but I’ll meet the field tomorrow, as we fly east to Bagdogra, near India’s borders with both Nepal and Bangladesh.

The following day is our (somewhat) acclimatization day in the village of Mirik (1675 m/5500’ - the race route goes much higher), with an optional tour to Darjeeling, and then the next day, October 24th, the race starts. Stages are as follows:

Day 1, October 24: 39k/24 miles, steep uphill from Maneybhanjang (2010 m) to Sandakphu (3600 m),with a big downhill in the middle for a cumulative gain of 2000+m. Sandakphu is the one place where you can see four of the five highest (>8000 m) peaks of the Himalaya: Everest, Lhotse, Kachenjunga and Makalu.

Day 2: 32k/20mile out-and-back route along the ridgeline that forms the border between India and Nepal, return to Sandakphu,

Day 3: Coincides with the Everest Challenge Marathon (some racers are here just for this one-day event).The “marathon” distance was measured decades ago (yes, before GPS!) and even the organizers agree that the route may be quite a bit longer than 42 km! The first half is high on the ridgeline bordering Nepal (don’t stumble to your left or you’re in a different country and can’t be rescued!), then we go for an extremely steep 2000 m descent down to the jungle villages, ending in the town of Rimbik at 1930m/6350’.

Day 4: Now sucking in the oxygen at lower levels  - our half-marathon distance covers a descent of 420m/1375’ followed by a climb of 490 m/1600’ - now all on pavement.

Day 5: Final day, back on pavement again, climbing 610m/2000’ then dropping around the same again over 27 km/17 miles, to finish back in Maneybhanjang, where we started.

I don’t expect to have any internet connection in the small villages we will pass through en route, but I will upload my daily reports and photos as soon as I am back online, at the end of the race! The organizers here, Mr. C. S. Pandey and crew, are more experienced at running endurance events than most organizers in first-world countries, and I expect another stellar event. So please tune in in a week or so, and I’ll tell you how it all went!