Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 125, December 2019 | Page 44

The Sleeping Buddha
Day two started early for some of us, at 4am, waiting for the sun to kiss the
snow-capped peaks of nearby Kanchenjunga, the third-highest peak in the world,
and the Everest range on the horizon. I was actually a bit early, because I had not
adjusted my watch after a time-zone change. Our first time change was in Mirik,
where it changed with 30 minutes, and we had to adjust our watches with another
15 minutes in Sandakphu. So I strolled out into the darkness and found an outcrop
where I waited patiently. In the silence, I had to pinch myself, sitting there in the
glorious Himalaya. The words of one of the organisers will stay with me: “You are
here for the mountains.”
I am so glad that I got up instead of snuggling in a warm bed for another hour,
because the visibility was great as the lady started revealing herself. The black
outlines started turning white as the sun neared the horizon, and soon the peaks
were painted with a soft orange brush. This was a soul-cleansing experience
that I’m glad I did on my own, on a little outcrop without anybody else there.
Later I joined others at the more popular viewpoint, enjoying a cup of coffee and
socialising with fellow runners and other visitors from all over the world.
After such a tranquil start to the day, it was time to focus on running. It was an
out-and-back run of 27km. To me this day should not be rushed. You need to
take in the scenery, especially if visibility is good, as this is never guaranteed and
clouds roll in almost every afternoon. This section of the route varies between
3200m and 3500m above sea level, and you get out of breath just sipping water.
However clichéd it may sound, the views of the Sleeping Buddha (another name for
Kanchenjunga) are truly breathtaking on the outward section of this stage.
The quicker runners fly past you on their way back to Sandakphu, but it is nice
to see fellow runners en route, not just at the finish line. Every runner has his own
strength and pace, but you do get to know some of your fellow runners moving at a
similar pace, depending on how much breath you have left to do any talking.
Roads made from cobble-boulders!
The rising sun lights up Kanchenjunga
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ISSUE 125 DECEMBER 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za
More and more switchbacks
Alfred and some of the local troops
on the India-Nepal border