Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race & Mount Everest Challenge Marathon
Sight Seeing Around Darjeeling The day Before Race Start
Jackie Windh / 31.10.2016
I’m writing this report from the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race headquarters in Mirik, northeast India (very close to the borders with both Nepal and Bangladesh). It’s the night before the start of Stage 1 of this five-day race (Oct. 23) - however, I don’t expect to be anywhere near an internet connection until the race finishes, so it will be a week or so before you will be reading this.
Our elevation is around 1675 m here in Mirik (somewhat lower than tomorrow’s race start at 2010 m). The field this year is small - a total of 36 (25 runners and 11 walkers) - in large part due to the fact that one of the mountain huts at our high point at Sandakphu (3636 m) burnt down a few years ago, limiting the capacity that the event can accommodate. Although the field is small, the number of countries represented is astonishing: France, Spain, England, Ireland, Germany, Austria, South Africa, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, USA - as well as my husband, Dave, and me from Canada.
Last night we all gathered as a group for the first time (some of us having just arrived from Delhi, and others having taken the “early arrival” option and already being based here in Rimbik). The Race Director, Mr.Pandey, provided us with an overview of what to expect over the coming week, including anecdotes about various racers-gone-wrong from previous years (strangely…most of them journalists… so I must be careful!), as the smell of our awaiting dinner wafted through the room. (Speaking of which - one of my favourite parts of being an ultrarunner is the ultra-eating - and the food on this race, a pleasant mixture of Western and Indian, is amazing!).
Mr. Pandey instructed us sharply in his briefing about the pronunciation of Him-AH-lay-ah…. none of this Him-a-LAY-Ah word that the English introduced! I shall do my best to remember. (I also found out that his name is properly pronounced PAN-day, not PAN-dee as many of us have been saying). Mr. Pandey also presented his key staff to us - most of whom have been with him for at least ten years, and many for over twenty years (of the race’s 26-year history). That’s a pretty impressive record (and a sure sign of a well organized event)! Mansi Pandey (no relation to him!) is the Assistant Race Director - she is an accomplished mountaineer, has completed the race herself. Mansi is now working on its organization for her 11th year.
Today, we had the option of a full-day tour to Darjeeling, or a more mellow day here in Mirik. Most of the crew took the Darjeeling option, but eight of us opted for the slower day (and later wake-up call),exploring around here. Our hot breakfast was followed by a three-hour walking tour of Mirik, with stops at a stunning Buddhist monastery up on the hill above town, as well as a climb up to Mirik’s famed heli-pad, constructed especially for a visit by the prime minister.
I ran this race three years ago, arriving directly from my home on the west coast of Canada. I can remember this same day before the race: exploring town, unacclimatized and completely out of breath as I walked up even the smallest hills. This time is different: I can tell that Dave’s and my ten days up in the Himalaya around Gangotri have paid off, because the hills are nowhere near as difficult now.
There is definitely a sense of trepidation in the group - the fear that comes from wisdom, and the knowledge that altitude can kill. Tomorrow’s route is not the longest day, at 39k. But the first day of a multi-day race is so often the toughest, as racers acclimatize to the environment (and as those not experienced in pacing for multi-day events flare, then risk fading out). Tomorrow’s, major challenge is the elevation gain: we start at 2000 m and end at 3636 m, with one huge drop and several smaller ones along the way, for a cumulative gain of something like 2800 m. Between the climbing and the altitude gain, pacing will be a key for nearly everyone.
Unlike my last time here, it does not seem to be a super-competitive field. Nearly all of this crew are talking of “taking it easy”, and the attitude of most seems to be about “finishing” (or even simply “surviving”) rather than going for personal bests or rankings. (Stu Cox, from Australia, may be the exception - although he says he will not be pushing hard, my sense is that he will!)
Well, we will soon find out how it goes. Our forecast is much better than my previous visit, with highs down here at Mirik of 19C (obviously cooler up at Sandakphu) and no precipitation predicted.
And now - it’s nearly time to fuel up one final time. Dinner is about to be served! So I must head off for my final packing (Mr. Pandey has provided a detailed flow chart of race bag movement - I sent one bag off at 5:30am today, I have my storage bag to deliver after dinner tonight and a drop bag to deliver tomorrow morning, and I must also prep my race pack).
So this report will probably be a week delayed by the time you read it - but my “live” daily race reports will be following immediately after. I’m very excited to be back here in India and to be participating in this world-class event, and I so looking forward to this coming week. Namaste!
