Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 125, December 2019 | Page 47

TRAIL RUNNING Alfred, thankful for his dream coming true... Traditional prayer flags adorn the route Early morning Himalayan setting for a run Dream Come True I started dreaming about running in the Himalaya after watching Ryan Sandes and Ryno Griessel’s video of their Grand Himalayan Trail FKT, but never in my life did I think I would actually be able to go. Not everyone has that kind of sponsorship money behind them*. Of course, this race is nowhere near the level of running that they did, but I’m also nowhere near the type of athlete they are. My dream was just to do some running in the Himalaya. I did not know where or when that would happen, but this opportunity was the perfect fit for my dream to come true. This race makes it possible for people to get access to the mountains and enjoy running at altitude without breaking the bank. It is not an extreme trail run, but it is a nice introduction to big mountains and higher altitude. The race is perfectly designed for road runners to do a bit of trail. But with that said, it is not only a race, it is a cultural, physical and spiritual experience. So my advice is this, don’t wait for later. Do it. In the words of Ryan Sandes, “Life is short. Live every day to the fullest.” * Thank you to Mr C.S. Pandey, organiser of the Himalayan 100 Miler, and Modern Athlete magazine, for making it possible for me to achieve this dream. The Himalayan 100 Miler is doable even by roadies The Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race has been on the race calendar for 25 years, and the next edition of the event will take place from 1 November to 5 November 2020, with the third stage featuring the Mount Everest Challenge Marathon on 3 November. To find out more about this event, go to www.himalayan.com, or send a mail to [email protected]. 47