TRAIL
That afternoon we took a short walk in the afternoon ( in very windy conditions ) and did some stretching , and the following day , we had a short but superb 5.5km hike to our next overnight stay at the tiny settlement of Khangsar , a few hundred metres higher than Manang ( and the new start of our marathon ). In the afternoon , we visited the monastery at Serikarka , which had many colourful scenes depicting various aspects from the life of Buddha , and we had time to sit and meditate , contemplating our blessings at being able to visit foreign countries , and take part in events such as these . Suzette reminisced on the many marathons throughout the world that she had already completed .
As we gained altitude , the views became more and more stunning . Although we were at times out of breath with exertion , the fact that we were fit and healthy , and eating and drinking well , meant that we all felt acclimated and comfortable , eagerly anticipating the marathon the following day . There was no time pressure to complete the marathon . We planned to take it easy and have a relaxed run . The elevation and the several uphill sections would require more power-walking than running .
Race Day at Last
We all slept reasonably well , and after a short breakfast , we were ready to start at 7am . This was Suzette ’ s 100th marathon , in a stunning , majestic setting ! The sun had not yet risen above the high mountains , and it was cold , but we were well wrapped . The sun would be up within the next hour , and the temperature would progressively rise . The owner of the guesthouse where we had stayed overnight , adorned his colourful local attire , and set us off on our 42km journey with a loud cheer from Apollo , our trekking crew , and a few curious locals .
The first section to SeriKarka was relatively easy , if only because it was uphill , and was taken at a brisk trot , gradually warming up the muscles and increasing our heart rate with the increased effort , even though we were going slowly . We trotted through an archway leading up to the monastery , passing alongside several mani walls inscribed with mantras and prayers , with flags fluttering in the wind on both sides of the walls . It was exceptionally colourful . At the end of the monastery , we made our first U-turn , and as we were now on the descent , we could stretch our legs and run more comfortably , even at the high elevation . We were heading back to Manang and our first aid station .
Thom led off , followed by Suzette and James , who had decided to run the route together . As we were slower , Larry and I brought up the rear . A course marshal directed us off the dirt road to follow a single track for between 3km and 4km , prior to the track rejoining the dirt road , which led directly into Manang . Apollo ran between the front three and back two on this section , taking plenty of pictures and making sure that everyone was comfortable . The backup / safety vehicle driven by our crew had first aid and emergency kit , and operated up and down the road during the day . Even though the route was well marked , it was comforting to know that there was backup readily available .
The refreshment station at Manang was very timely , coming as it did after approximately 10km , and we handed in our warmer layers , which would not be
required until we reached Pisang .
A small selection of liquid refreshments was available , and several snacks .
We had time to chat to our crew , and to several of the trekking groups who had been made aware that there was a running event in progress , and they cheered us on our way .
A Runners ’ High
The route to Pisang was mainly on the dirt road , with a mostly downhill slant , although there were a few relatively minor uphill parts . There were several long , flatter sections , where it was much easier to run . There was a second refreshment station at 17km and a third at 25km . We bypassed Pisang on this descent , as the dirt road continued onto the right-hand , northern side of the valley , and the village was on the other side . From Pisang , there was a downhill 5km section , prior to a second U-turn at a prominent bridge . After the turnaround , the uphill section was taken at a much slower fast-walking pace , and I saw Suzette and James on this section , as they were heading back up towards Pisang , when I was still heading downhill .
The weather was beautiful – barely a cloud in the sky , temperatures in the low to mid-20s Centigrade – and there were high mountains all around , their snow- and ice-covered ridges and slopes glistening in the sun . Although the air was rarified , the day was perfect for Suzette ’ s 100th run . We passed through numerous villages and settlements , where several locals , perhaps alerted by our crew that a running adventure was in progress , encouraged us on our way . We also stopped to speak with several trekking groups as they requested selfies with us . The only downside about running on the road , however , was the dust from vehicles , but we soon got used to the temporary discomfort , as the other elements that are important for an enjoyable run were available in abundance .
The McIvor family early in the Yeti Marathon
Suzette comes in to finish her 100th marathon or ultra
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