According to the organizers, Trail Running Nepal, the name comes from the ascent and descent during the race. The course is 10 km long—1,000m up and 1,000m down through lush, green jungle and fresh air of the National Park.[break]
Trail running, essentially an off-road running sport, has become a hugely popular sport in many countries, particularly France and the United States. Some 4.8 million Americans participated in trail running in 2009.
It is a test of strength to break the record to the top, of using skills on a mix of slippery steps and forest trails, and of stamina to keep going to finish the course in time, states the event’s website.
The event, which will see Nepal’s fastest trail runner Sudip Rai’s participation, will award the first three places in men’s and women’s categories and prizes for the first runners to reach the top.
Richard Bull, the organizer, says that event aims to raise awareness about the sport in which Nepal competes at a world-class level.
About the Shivapuri course, Roger Henke, race director of the Annapurna100, says, “The Shivapuri racecourse can compete with the best Vertical Kilometer courses around the world. It’s a great mix of hard uphills and downhills, beautiful forest trails, endless stone stairs, all set within moist old-growth subtropical forests, with occasional glimpses across the Kathmandu Valley.”
The race entry fee is the same for Nepalis and foreigners, plus the prizes for the first three positions are also equal for men and women.
For further details, log on to shivapuri.trailrunningnepal.org
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