Manjushree Trail Race kicks off

Kathmandu, Apr. 6: The fourth edition of the Manjushree Trail Race began on Friday with 324 national and international runners. This race is claimed to be the country's first 100-mile ultra-marathon along the ridge of the Kathmandu Valley. The race started from Single Tree at Ichangu Narayan.

The event is organized by the Manjushree Trail Race in association with Trailmandu. The runners including 40 runners from 8 countries will pass through Jamacho, Mudkhu, Garje Bhangjyang, Baghdwar, Chisapani, Jhule, Nagarkot, Kalamashi Buspark, and Sanga Bridge before returning to the starting point.

The three-day event includes three races in 100 km, 50 km, and 10 km. The 100-km race started from the Hill Vision Resort at Jhule on Friday. The 50-km race will begin from the Hotel Pateshwor Lodge at Badikhel, and the 10-km race will commence from the Solid Rock Lodge at Dolu on coming Wednesday, informed Director of the Race, Ashish Mishra.

Out of the 324 runners, 289 are female, said Mishra. There are 19 checkpoints along the trail to provide food, water, and basic medicines to the runners.

The trail was initially envisioned by renowned runners like Lizzie Hawker, Seth Wolphin and Roger Henken in 2015, while Jimmy Oostrom, Raj Pradhan and Narayan Acharya had repeatedly mapped the trail with alternative routes.

The top five finishers in each race will qualify for the Asia Trail Masters to be held in Hong Kong.

The winners of the 100-mile race will receive a cash prize of Rs. 60,000, while those trailing in second and third will pocket Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 20,000 respectively.