Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race
Gantioler & Winter Win Himalayan Marathon
Paul Halford / 21.11.2008
A total of 44 competitors completed the gruelling tour around Singalila National Park in India, near the border with Nepal and in the shadow of some of the world’s highest mountains.
The five stages in as many days took place at altitudes between 1900m and 3600m and incorporated a total elevation change of around 20,000m.
As the participants started from the village of Maneybhanyjang, the altitude of 2000m altitude took an immediate and noticeable toll on their lungs. The luxury of flat running lasted just minutes before the beginning of the initial climb, which contributed to a cumulative ascent of more than 3000m on the opening stage.
Gantioler was soon on his own at the front. However, although there were was a cumulative descent of 1500m on the first stage, the relentless climb in the final few miles made its mark even on the Austrian, who holds a world mountain running 24-hour record. It was here he admitted to walking for the only time of the week!
But Gantioler was safe in first place as he reached the finish in Sandakphu and was followed in third overall by Winter, who finished strongly after a conservative start.
Gantioler and Winter would go on to finish first man and woman respectively on each of the five legs.
The stage race incorporated, on day three, the Everest Challenge Marathon – so called because runners can catch a glimpse of the world’s highest peak as they reach one of the highest points on the route. However, with the stage matching the opening leg for difficulty in the opinion of some, not everyone was in a state to fully appreciate the sights.
After 16 miles of steeply rolling trails came a sharp descent of around 1300m. For Gantioler and eventual stage runner-up Alex Copping of Britain, this was a chance to stretch their legs and run at speed despite the extremely technical terrain. This reduced most, including some of the leading competitors, to eight or nine miles of mentally mind-numbing walking.
American Scott Penticoff, whose charity Admission Possible was one of the many benefiting from the event, was third on the marathon stage.
Winter, a 2:46 marathoner at best, coped adequately enough on the downhill to finish first woman. Having run 2:49:56 at the Flora London Marathon earlier this year, she ranks just outside the top 20 in Britain where she is currently based.
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