Nepal Trail Series 2019- Throwback and Lessons
In 2019, we toured around Nepal to explore possibility of conducting first National trail series in Nepal. The objectives were:
The national series would have acted as a qualifying race series for the Golden Trail World Series finale that took place in Nepal in 2019.
To collaborate with regional race organisers and support them for publicity and technicalities of a good trail race (shared from ITRA).
To maximise the participation of the local athletes in each race. The top 5 winners were sponsored to race the next race.
15-16 February 2019
Male Winner: Umesh Rai , Bhojpur
Female Winner: Priya Rai , Khotang
4th Bhojpur Trail Race by Mira Rai
This was the charity race started by Mira Rai, celebrity ultrarunner and Nat Geo Adventurer of the year 2017, in her village in the eastern region of Nepal called Bhojpur. In past three editions, the race was of distance 8 km and 16 km focused towards her village children in Sanodumma.
In 4th edition, Nepal trail series was project supported by Mira Rai Initiative and we were given the organising responsibility along with the local community, Bhojpur sports and education club in Bhojpur . The race distance was upgraded to 36 km, and event was extended to two days, for the juniors and seniors. For the first time, we introduced a village tour package for the international clients for this race.A massive campaign was organised for all the village wards.
Observation
We saw remarkable participation of about 400 participants who had arrived a day before for the race.
Chief minister of State 1, came to inaugurate the race. First time in the history of Sanodumma, a man of that rank had landed on the helicopter!
The race had elite athletes sponsored from Kathmandu but was won by the local participant with a record time of 3 hours 36 minutes for 36 km.
9-10-11 May 2019
Male Winner: Bhim Gurung, Gorkha
Female Winner : Sunmaya Budha, Jumla
Gosaikunda-Helambu Trail Marathon, Helambu Trail Running Club
This is the most scenic and challenging race conducted along one of the holiest lakes of Nepal called Gosaikunda at 4300 mt. this is the central region of nepal and The race will take you from 1700 mt to 4600 mt in 42 km distance.
Conducted by Manish Tamang and Helambu trail running club, the race also gives you an experience of the Tamang culture in the Tamang community when you start and finish your race.
Race review by Hannah Straw!
Observation:
The race was very well supported by local businesses, local authorities and the team from Trail Running Nepal, Lizzy Hawker, bringing the race more publicity and sponsorship which is initially needed to launch a good race.
The elite runners of Nepal participated and won the course.
The entire Tamang village was up and preparing the race showing when a local organiser is leading, there is a strong community support.
17 June 2019
Male Winner: Durga Raj Budha, Rukum
Female Winner: Humi Budhamagar, Pyuthan
Guerrilla Trail Race 2019, Sunil Rokamagar, Rukum
This was a surprise race entry for us in 2019 in the western region of Nepal. The organisers insisted that the race take place during what we perceived as peak summer month of June. The time when the Magar community celebrates a major festival of worshipping the earth.
The race was to commemorate the guerrilla war history in Nepal, of which Rukum region was the epicenter. The 56 km race route went around 3 major districts of Rukum, Rolpa and Myagdi and 9 villages. The competition finished at a common ground where festival procession ended from all the 9 villages.
Observation:
With needed support and publicity, the village race could also be a very interesting destinations for race vacations or just a very authentic experience.
There are some stunning virgin locations in Nepal with rich culture and it needs cooperation to explore these regions.
The male winner of the race was from Rukum, he was competing against the winners of past two races! Again showing the latent talents hidden in these remote regions of Nepal.
We were surprised with number of female participants who were running 56 km for the first time and finished the race.
15-16 September 2019
Male Winner: Dhira Bahadur Budha, Jumla
Female Winner: Rammaya Budha, Jumla
Jumla Rara Ultra Marathon 2019 , Karnali Youth Club , Jumla
The Karnali region of Nepal is a region to one of the most spectacular destination of Nepal called Rara Tal, biggest river of circumference 15 km located at elevation of 3000 meter.
The course on our watch ranges from 49 km to 51 km and goes to the peak elevation point at 4200m. Spectacular, brutal and challenging race with two hard climbs,many technical trails and downslopes.The race is not for beginners but anybody who has intermediate level of endurance, is fascinated with adventure and has affinity towards challenge will derive the best out this race.
This race is a tough one to organise and Karnali club does the best to organise this stunning race annually. The club under Soraj Shahi and Hari Rokaya is the most active club in Nepal to train both male and female athletes for high altitude trail running championships.
Observation
Nepal has some really awesome technical trails for trail racing.
This course also requires serious training!
Accessibility is a major challenge in this region as transportation is unreliable due to weather conditions.
The race winners were from Jumla.
TOP WINNERS -GOLDEN TRAIL SERIES
Male : Kilian Jornet (Team Salomon)
Female : Judith Wyder (Team Salomon)
The observation
1. Some of the village destinations blew our minds with fascinating culture, festivals and lifestyle !
2. The races were on stunning landscapes and each were so unique from each other!
3. The local athletes were champions most of their time on their home ground even while competing with seasoned trail athletes !
4. The hospitality and humour of the hosts and people in the village were precious memories to keep.
5. All the races except Guerrilla trail race hosted few international runners. The village destinations are rough and very tough with limited facilities, if the community wants to attract international clients, it has to work on lots of services like accessibility, ease of communication, accommodation, hygiene and sanitation, rescue team etc. And these are the areas, that all the related community need to support the organisers for.
New plan for 2020
A little blooper for the Nepal trail series was when there was no qualifying criteria needed to participate in the Golden Trail Series finale for the Nepali runners. So, we had to keep content with the overall results and observations.
We might have to scrap away the point system in 2020 until the accessibility to each region becomes easier in Nepal.
We realised we had just scratched the surface and there are so many other stunning destinations to explore. So for 2020 we are working on some new race destinations and training tours. Nepal trail series will have both trail running training camps and retreats as well as races in the calendar for 2020. Meanwhile these are the destinations we will be working on in 2020 :
