The Trail Running Scene in Nepal

Richard Bull / 17.05.2012

The local running scene is only just beginning in Kathmandu with a handful of trail races and perhaps a hard-core numbering less than 80 regular runners.

Foreigners have been coming for over a decade however to run some crazy races. It’s mainly been French runners doing so since one Bruno Poirier ran the length of Nepal (Crane-cousin-style) with his friend in around 40 days in the 90s. Since then he has returned to Nepal every couple of years with a group to complete a challenge-stage race.

Every two years there is the Everest Sky Race, which reaches 5,550m and guarantees competitors a barking cough, and the Annapurna Mandala Trail which loops over two high passes on the edge of the Annapurna Circuit. More extreme is the bi-annual Himal Race, which connects two points of geographical significance in a will-breaking 25 stages. Last year it was Mount Kailash in Tibet to Annapurna Basecamp. Next year it will be Annapurna North Basecamp to Everest Basecamp.

There’s more than just stage races going on. There is of course the Everest Marathon (and joined by an Everest Ultra) and the Annapurna 100, which are one-day events, and in Kathmandu, there are several tough short races up the valley’s surrounding peaks.

Still, running with a light pack from tea-house to tea-house, moving quickly and further than any tour company’s itinerary will let you, is certainly something the grazing yaks on the trails are going to have to get used to.

Nepal is no longer just for trekking.

For more information, see: http://trailrunningnepal.org/