Day Five: Final 27 km, this time a big up then a big down.

Jacqueline Windh / 07.11.2013

Spirits were good in the group as we headed out for our final day of racing. Everyone was in amazing shape, considering what we had gone through so far - a few limping slightly from sore knees or ITB issues, and a few minor scratches in scrapes, but no serious injuries at all. For the final time, Mr. Pandey warned us at the start line not to break our knees or angles - not to let our guard down just because it was the last day.

We started from Palmajua - the end of our big uphill from yesterday - to continue with another 600 m (2000’) of uphill. More switchbacks on pavement. It was suprisingly cold, as we were climbing the north-facing slope of the valley, shaded from the early morning sun, and it was covered by a thick forest cover anyway.

The uphill was, again, relentless, and the group soon spread into three broad packs: the “real” runners, those who mixed running and hiking on the uphill, and those who mostly hiked. My legs still felt great, and I led the mixed running/hiking group up the hill, knowing that many of them would overtake me once we reached the crest at the 10.5 km mark, and started the 17 km downhill run. Which is mostly what happened.

Mr. Pandey was there to greet us at the aid station at the crest. I was feeling great, well fed and hydrated, and bypassed the food and water on offer there. Several runners passed me over the first few km of the downhill. I found myself alone for a time, then caught up with Jorge, and we jogged together for several km. We didn’t talk much, but we had travelled together parts of the other days, and even without words we could both feel the support for one another to make it through this final day.

I was hoping there would be no flat section as there had been the previous day, and I was in luck. Our downhill included 2 or so km of a gradual uphill, which was just fine with me. I liked the uphill, and more uphill meant more downhill, which I also liked. I got ahead of Jorge on the uphill, and to my surprise I passed several runners (who had previously passed me) on the final downhill section.

My legs were aching - the road runs are much harder on my body than the trails, partly because I never train on roads but also because it is hard to find an excuse to take a walking break. I could smell the end of this thing, and I just kept running, winding my way down that never-ending downhill slope.

I finally heard some cheers reverberating along the valley walls, and knew I was within a kilometre or two of the finish. I rounded a bend, and there were rows of children in school uniforms clapping and waving flags, shouting “Welcome!” and Assistant Race Director Mansi giving a high-five tape, and I ran through the tape at the finish (they put it up for every racer, at every stage!) and there you go, I was done! I finished the stage in 3:33, not a fantastic time but still a result that I, not being a road runner, was very pleased with.

Some of my fellow racers were there cheering for me (others were already at the food building) and I stayed for a while to cheer the next few racers in before heading off for food and warm clothes myself. Woohoo, done, 160 km of hard Himalayan racing behind me!

Next post will go through final results and a race wrap-up. For now, here are top results for Stage Five:

Men: 

1. Martin Cox (UK) 2:08 - 1st overall

2. Dan Dosedel (USA) and Juan Carlos Rodriguez (Spain) 2:26

4. Mariano Ruiz (Spain) 2:27

(And, of note: Spain’s Gonzalo Cisnal, Luis Gutierrez, and UK’s Alan Li al tied for fifth, in 2:46)

Women:

1. Marit Holm (Norway) 2:33 - 2nd overall

2. Fiona Bugler (UK) 2:53

3. Thamar Houliston (South Africa) 2:59

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