Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race & Mount Everest Challenge Marathon

Want to Run in the Himalaya? What You Need to Know

Jackie Windh / 10.11.2016

It’s a wrap! The 26th edition of the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race, and associated Everest Challenge Marathon, went off flawlessly. And this is no mean feat in a country like India -  especially in the remote regions through which we travelled. But that’s one real advantage of going to an event that is as long-running as this one: The race director, Mr. Pandey, has had many years to figure out the problems, and to continue improving his organization.

I really do strongly recommend this race. (That’s why I came back for a second time, and I do truly hope to make it back to run it again some time). It is challenging enough to push elite and other highly experienced runners to their limits. However, the race organization is really dedicated to making completion of the full route accessible to all competitors, and they also offer great hiking or road transport options for any runners who either are unable to complete one or more stages, or who simply need a day off.

I remember that, when I ran this for the first time in 2013, I had many questions about the conditions and the terrain and what to bring. Although I did find some information in blogs, what I found wasn’t always consistent (and, in some cases, it seemed unduly negative!) So here are a few thoughts about things to bring or be prepared for, based upon my two visits to India to run this race:

Pay attention to your visa requirements. Most visitors to India can now get an e-Visa, which can be applied for online. But note that the e-Visa allows you a total of 30 days in India. These 30 days include your arrival date and your flight departure date, and the visa is absolutely not extendable. (Dave and I found this out the hard way, as we had purchased a flight that had us there for 32 days - a very expensive mistake as I had to play for a host of flight changes).

Get your vaccines in advance. Find out which ones your country's health authority recommends. Aside from the major disease ones, Dave and I both took Dukoral, an oral vaccine that prevents many types of travellers’ diarrhea, and neither of us got sick at all - I definitely recommend it.

Do what you can to adapt to the altitude. Ideally, spending time up high for two weeks before the race (which is how long it takes for new blood cells to grow) is your best bet - but of course this is not always possible. This time, Dave and I did manage to do that - spending 10 days at altitudes of 3100 m to 4900 m before travelling to the race, and I think it really served us well. Even if you can only get up to Mirik (race headquarters, at 1675 m) a few days early, this will still help with acclimatization and getting over the jet lag and on to a regular sleep schedule.

However, in 2013 I was not able to arrive early. I, along with most of the other competitors, pretty much just flew in and started the race. That time, I took Diamox (a medication that you either take in advance at a low dose to help prevent altitude sickness, or that you can have on hand and take at full dose if you develop symptoms). I would suggest discussing these options with your GP (and also with the race doctor) so you can learn about the side effects of Diamox and then make the decision that is best for you.

One other thing to consider is taking iron prior to the race. Again, this is something to discuss with your GP. If you are only arriving right before the race, this may not make a lot of difference, since you will not have time to grow any new blood cells (although it is still good to make sure that your iron levels are not low - which is a common issue for female distance runners). However, if you go early, like Dave and I did, then there may be an advantage to taking vitamin B12 and folic acid (which are important in helping to grow new blood cells) as well as iron supplements (to make sure that your hemoglobin has enough iron in it). That way, the new blood cells have all the basic materials they need as they are growing. Taking too much iron can be dangerous, though, so it really is a good idea to discuss this with your GP to see if it iron supplementation is right for you.

Bring appropriate shoes. Most of the first three days is on cobblestone, which is much harder on the feet than either pavement or natural outcrop (because it is so hard, but also very irregular). Bruising the bottom of your feet is a possibility, so shoes with a fair degree of cushioning and hard protective soles are a good idea. The final two days are on pavement. I was happy with my choice of La Sportiva Ultra Raptor (well cushioned yet grippy sole) for the first three days, and an old pair of road runners (which I gave away at the end of the race) for my last two days. Dave was happy running in his Hoka Mafate Speed trail runners for all five days.

Bring some food appropriate for racing and for recovery. Protein is very important for rebuilding muscle on a multi-day race. Although the meals offered by the race organization are of excellent quality and really tasty, they are quite carb-heavy. I suggest balancing this up by bringing protein-rich snacks such as jerky, nuts, or protein bars.

If you are a coffee drinker… Note that coffee is available at all of the breakfasts, but they tend to make it very weak in India. Also, the cups are very small! Dave and I were really happy that we brought our travel mugs, so we could bring coffee back to our rooms after breakfast on race days, to sip on while packing and prepping. We also brought single-serve instant coffees, so that (a) we could “top up” our coffee if it was weak, and (b) so we wouldn’t clean out the coffee supply with our big mugs if not a lot had been made (we could just ask for hot water instead, and make our own coffee).

Leave your western-world expectations behind. I was disappointed to see that some racers complained about our lodging up at Sandakphu, the high point of our race. Yes, it was cold up there (umm, it’s a windy mountaintop in the Himalaya!). And no, there were no dining tables (but there were chairs for everyone, and tasty hot meals were on offer, buffet-style, so we could all eat when we wanted and as much as we wanted). This race takes us to remote areas with limited infrastructure. The race organizers accomplish miracles with very little, and they really go that extra mile to make us as comfortable as possible (including bringing EXTRA fluffy blankets up to our huts at Sandakphu, and having the staff rise at 3am most days to prepare our breakfast and set up the aid stations). However, not everything is at a standard that many of us are used to. Some toilets are pretty basic (as in squat-holes), and they may not always be very clean (definitely bring your hand disinfectant).  If you have an adventurous nature, and if you appreciate the chance to travel to remote areas that most of your friends will never see, you will find these inconveniences a small price to pay for the experiences this race gives you.

The next Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race will take place from October 27 to November 3, 2017. What you experience on this race - from the cultural experiences to the Himalayan vistas - is unforgettable. Race registration includes transport to and from Delhi (by air to Bagdogra, and by bus from there to Mirik), so you need only book your flight in to Delhi. This will be the race’s 27th year, making it one of the longest-running multi-day ultramarathon events in the world. For more information, you can look at the race website www.himalayan.com, or contact the race director, Mr. C.S. Pandey directly on hrtindia91@gmail.com - maybe I'll see you there!