Pokhara international mountain trail race held for the first time

Kathmandu: Armed Police Force (APF) team won the first time Pokhara International Mountain cross country trail marathon Wednesday. The popular cross country trail marathon was held in Pokhara amidst Chinese and Nepali teams including individual Chinese runners.

The winning APF team comprising of marathon runners Santosh Bikram Bista, Ganesh Thakuri, and Indrakala Nembang finished the 42.2 km marathon in 4 hours, 17 minutes and 22 seconds.

The criteria of the race were to cross 22 km by running, 19 km distance by cycling and 1.2 km by boating in Phewatal. Both Santosh and Ganesh are marathon racers, although they participated in the cross country trail for the first time.

The Guerrilla trail team secured the second position in the race. This team consisted of Damodar Budha, Durga Raj Budha, and Rasila Tamang and finished the trail in 4 hours, 18 minutes and 23 seconds.

The Chinese team comprising of three runners finished third in 4 hours 24 minutes and 33 seconds. Individual Chinese runners had also taken part in the marathon race.

A total of 25 Nepali teams and 2 Chinese teams along with 24 individual Chinese participated in the long trail race.

The marathon participants ran across Pokhara’s Barahighat through Rastrabank chowk, Damside, Devi’s fall, Tibetan camp till Fusrekhola. The second team of runners from Fusrekhola did cycling through Kamera, Ramdi, Mattikhan, Ramkot of Syangja till Kubhinde from where the race was repeated across Ulleri, Kharikhani, Paiyu chautari, Okhaledanda, kalabang, Motiraj chowk, Swara, Lijumswari, Talla gaun, Dhungapani, Shantistupa till Phewatal banks.

Then the next teams covered the remaining distance of race by boating in the Phewatal till Barahighat. The marathon race exposed and focused on the significance of trekking trails in the Gandaki region that ultimately benefits the rural tourism which has been the main theme of Gandaki provincial government. The marathon trail racers were given warm welcome at various places as they passed through several Rural Municipalities during the race.

The winning teams of this competition will be participating in the upcoming world-famous mountain marathon to be held in Kunming in China in November 2019.

The State Ministers for Social Development Nardevi Pun gave away the prizes to the winning team members.

This 42.2 km long trail race was organized jointly by Pokhara Industry and Commerce Association, Paschimanchal Hotel Association and China’s Kunming Mountaineering and Exploration while tourism board, athletics association, district sports committee, Kaski, Sahara club and former player’s forum also assisted in organizing this event.

All Photos: Ghanshyam Subedi/Mim Kaji Gurung