You don't stop skimoing when... 👴

Dinosaur run 🦕☝️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Pre-work 👩‍💻👨‍💻👨‍💻 run

Three (running 🏃‍♀️🏃🏃‍♂️) amigos

Berlauch 🌱 run

Somedays passed by and after another adventure in Solukhumbu region I enjoyed a few cappuccinos ☕️ while looking back 👀 at Manaslu Trail Race and writting ✍️ some lines.

A race where we will find diversity from Germany 🇩🇪 to Australia 🇦🇺, from Italy 🇮🇹 to Singapore 🇸🇬, from Norway 🇳🇴 to Japan 🇯🇵, from US 🇺🇸 to Iran 🇮🇷 and many others including 3 nepalis 🇳🇵 from Mira Rai initiative. Everyone with its background, stories to tell 🗣 and good spirit. 

After a long 9h bus ride 🚌 on Nepali bumpy roads, which will leave us with plenty of time to talk, we arrived before dark to the start of the race, Soti Khola 📍.

We are all there, rooms are assigned, a delicious dinner 😋 is prepared, briefing 📣 is given, we prepare the backpack for next day and get ready to sleep 😴 in the tea house. That will be the night ritual for the next 9 days.

#Stage 1
A kick off picture 📸 and finally we are off the first day. Very difficult to find a pace 🥵. I miss a sharp turn to the ledt ⤴️ that we have been told 🤦‍♂️ but luckily some hikers tell me just about 100m later.  Keep going and catch with Antonia 🇬🇧 and Hannah 🇬🇧, Sabina 🇳🇵 and Anita 🇳🇵. Shortly after with Anthony 🇦🇺.

In front of me I’ll learn there are Jeroen 🇧🇪 and Arajun 🇳🇵. Race goes on and I find myself between Jeroen 🇧🇪 pushing hard in the uphills and Anita 🇳🇵 flying down the downhills. A 1000m ⬇️ give me some advantatge with Jeroen but I have the thoughts 💭 that I would kill the race director if there is alternative to go down 1000m on stone stairs.

I paid back the excitement😌 on the first uphill ⬆️ and on the last 8 kms going slightly up I feel dead and cramping. About 500m from the end Sabina, Anita, Antonia, Hannah and Jeroen are in front. We get all there with a difference of 2 min. Arajun is there already for half an hour. We will learn that he is in another league 🏃‍♂️💨 

Jeroen and me need more than 20 min at the finish line 🏁 to being able to get up walk… we are over exhausted.

There are other stories to tell about the day. 

Ileana, a Sicilian 🇮🇹 girl who is signed up with James 🇬🇧 (his boyfriend), would say… “ I don’t know what elevation gain exactly mean…, so 2000m ⬆️ is going to be a big challenge.

…. and Matt 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 has been chasing Richard to get into the race since 2012 but some challenges made him only to be accepted 10 years later.

Matt, Ileana and James needed almost 12h to complete the first day and is uncertain how it will feel the next day with similar figures.

But still not the end of the day... we miss a runner 🏃‍♂️… Reza. Reza came to help Saba 🇮🇷 with her english and as well to record 🎥 some material to help to improve the situation that woman has in Iran. Is very interesting and encouraging to hear 👂 first hand the “double life” of Iran.

Reza got lost and need to sleep in another town 🏘.

Strava stage 1: [https://strava.app.link/pYHVokp6mvb](https://strava.app.link/pYHVokp6mvb)

#Stage 2
I would say that when doing stages, the second day is the worse… your body does not know why 2 days in a row going through such a pain…

Today, the start is splitted in 2 groups 👥|👥. I felt more doing my race, taking pictures 📸 with some other runners and not being over excited at the beginning. Still it was a long stage with 30 kms and hot temperatures 🌡 which made me suffer the last kms.

Jeroen 🇧🇪 took over towards the end and kept a controlled gap. Finally we got at the finish line with 1 min difference. It looks very tight 😅. Arajun 🇳🇵 took it easy and has arrived “only” 5 min ahead.

For Illeana, James and Matt was another journey of more than 11h… again arriving in the dark 🔦. They got always a big welcome and encouragement from other runners. Next days, on paper seemed to be shorter. So 🤞 they can keep it up

There is only one person who got more clapping 👏 and he was our cheff 👨‍🍳. He would go out everyday after dinner and always get more than 1 min clapping and whisteling 🥁📣. Great admiration to cook 🍳, in some very limited kitchen, food for 50 hungry runners + 20 hard working staff.

Reza 🇮🇷 still did not catch up with us but there has been some call from some lodge informing that he is catching up.

Strava stage 2: https://strava.app.link/khcFzfE8mvb

#Stage 3
Temperatures are starting to drop 🌡 and we need more clothes 🧤👒 at the start and the end. Today we plan to finish over 3000m.

Another stage with 2 groups’ start, so its very nice to keep seeing people the first half of the race. The second half I see only Anita 🇳🇵 from time to time and I wonder when Jeroen 🇧🇪 will appear and give me the axe 🪓.

There is a last steep climb ⬆️ but no one behind. When I arrive there is Arajun 🇳🇵. Anita and Sabina 🇳🇵 arrive shortly after me. We take a picture of the 4 and after almost 20 min arrives Jeroen 🇧🇪. He feels the last 2 days and decided to take it easy and go with Antonia 🇬🇧 and Hannah 🇬🇧.

Today is a special day. We will sleep in a Monastery 🛕. I might think that the group of 4 Babarians 🇩🇪 might not like it. Is the only day that they make a break from beer 🍻. I would have a beer 🍺 after a race but I might say that due to dehidratation and high altitude I kept myself most of the days dry… I was impress how they will feel good day after day with a few rounds of beer 🍻. Seems that for them it had really rehydratation and recovery properties 🔋.

Illeana and James today had a good day and arrived in less than 10h, however Matt suffered and has another 11h+ and finished in the rain 🌧 and cold…

Temperatures went substantially down, specially when clouds come 🌥 or the sun goes down. Whenever possible we stay in the kitchen next to the fire 🔥 to warm us up.

Reza 🇮🇷 is still not with us… and we are a bit worry, specially Saba 🇮🇷. She manages to send some message and is waiting for answer.

Strava stage 3: https://strava.app.link/NoSs2AX8mvb

#Stage 4
It has snow 🌨 overnight slightly higher of where we are. We start the race going a bit down ⬇️. Anita is first but she miss a turn ⤴️ and I call her 🗣 and she does not lose a lot of time. Soon we are gaining altitude, hence we start to step ❄️👣❄️ in a small layer of white ❄️.

The landscape start to change and we see by the first time Manaslu and other high mountains 🏔🏔 with more clarity since today is clear blue sky. And suddenly I see Reza 🇮🇷 😮. He finally catched up 🥳.

Today there is an IN and OUT to a valley with another monastery at 4000m. The intersection is at 3kms from the finish line 🏁 of today. We can neutralize the time, up there, to enjoy the views 👀🍿👀, acclimatize, and then continue 🏃‍♂️

The views up there are spectacular. I take my time and take a picture with Roman 🇱🇻 and his snowman ⛄️, one of the markers of the race.  Pictures to a mirror lake and later on with other runners 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️. After more than 1h up there I go down ⬇️ to finish the stage.

Unfortunatelly, some people including Anita 🇳🇵 missed the turn ⤴️ and they got to the finish line 🏁 without passing by the checkpoint. They needed to go back for the middle checkpoint adding a substantial amount of time 🥴.

Finally we arrive to Samagaun 🏘. The place where we will spend the next 2 nights and town that give access to Manaslu Base Camp. It is nice to spend 2 nights since we can wash 🧽 clothes and we don't need to pack.

Today, Illeana and Matt arrived with good time and they got some pressure released about arriving to the places to sleep 😴. In addition is 2 days and worse case they can skip ⏭️ the next stage and rest.

Reza🇮🇷 is tonight with us and explained what happened… the first day started earlier to take some pictures/videos 📸 but he went in oppossite direction of the start of the race for 6 kms… so it means in total 12 kms extra which took some time to recover. We are happy that he is back 🍻.

Strava stage 4: https://strava.app.link/5woyHoaanvb

#Stage 5
Today is another IN and OUT to Manaslu Base camp ⛺️ at 4700m, but we don’t know exactly where will be the checkpoint 📍. Since it snow 2 nights ago it can be anywhere where it becomes too difficult. We start below the line of 3600m and go for a bit more than VK… It is the hardest VK I ever done. My lungs 🫁 cannot grasp air while going up.

2 groups start 👥 | 👥 and we do the approach to the climb overtaking the runners from the first group 👥. Going up ⬆️ I found myself 2nd with Anita 🇳🇵, Sabina 🇳🇵 and Jeroen 🇧🇪 just behind me. Around 4200m, Roman 🇱🇻 appears and says is about 100m ⬆️ more so we push and push until we turn some corner and I see is at least 200m ⬆️ more 😅. Never trust Roman 😏.

Deads we keep going and at some point I see Arajun 🇳🇵 going down ⬇️. He never stops in the checkpoints 📍😅, rather than for sip of water.

After more than 1h we go down ⬇️ and Jeroen 🇧🇪 goes with me to improve his downhill. I don’t feel very smooth today but step by step 👣 we make it down.

Today, the whole Nepali 🇳🇵crew (Anita, Sabina and Arajun) flew down so they were ahead and got some extra minutes.

Strava stage 5:  [https://strava.app.link/0dImT5dcnvb](https://strava.app.link/0dImT5dcnvb)

#Stage 6
Today we started with a children’s race 🧒🏁 with some donation and presents 🎁 for them. A great experience to share. 

After this small race across Samagaun we walk together to Birendra lake for a group picture 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 with spectacular background and from there we will have a short run 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ to Samdo.

Short and fast is not my strength and everyone starts full gas ✊️. I try to pace myself and just enjoy the views on a quite friendly wide trail.

Half-way I catched Anita 🇳🇵, but Jeroen 🇧🇪 would be impossible. His longer legs and ex-professional cyclist cardio 🫀 are very demanding. However I make it to the end about 2 min later.

Today we have quite a lot of time to rest and again we will have 2 nights in Samdo. This is the highest point 🏘 where we will sleep 🛏 at 3860m.

Later in the evening we will visit a Tibetan family and spend some time with them and listen 👂 about their story. Very heart ❤️ touching…

Strava stage 6:  https://strava.app.link/GZPgGeXdnvb

#Acclimatization day
This day is optional but highly recomended to get higher and acclimitize. The suggeated plan is to go to the Tibetan border at 5000m and back ↩️.

Is actually a long way since the approach is quite gradual and it finish with a steep climb and we get into the snow ❄️ in the last vertical meters. Everyone decides if do it till the border or save some energy for the critical day (pass day).

On the way down I find Arajun and we play in the snow ❄️  !Sliding 🛷 in the snow is the closest I am from getting ahead of him 🤭.

A highlight 🌟 is as well to listen the superpowered voice 🎤 of Anita singing on the way down.

Once down, dinner, briefing, prepare backpacks and tomorrow is a big day. We don’t race… buf we all need to get over the pass at 5106m which is a big challenge 

Strava Tibetan border: https://strava.app.link/UZ2VBcbenvb

#Cross de pass: Larkya La
We wake up very early start at 4am and we are rewarded with a beautiful sunrise 🌄. We got all over the Larkya La pass in quite good timing. Night 🌖 does not catch anyone up and we can enjoy in the nice tea house in Birmthang.

The downhill is quite long and I did not drink enough water 🚰. So I need a couple of hours afterwards to recover from dehydratation and altitude sickness.

Stage Larkya La pass: https://strava.app.link/hGHM8UAenvb

#Stage 7
We woke up on a frozen valley at 3750m with views again to Manaslu. Is the last day and we will farewell the big mountains 🏔🏔 and run down the valley.

We are all next to the stove 🔥 waiting for the start. Actually we go to see the start of the first group 👥 and back to the fire… then once is time for the second group we go 🏃‍♂️.

A downhill ↘️ stage which is quite fast and feel quite good despite usually I don't like that much downhill. I do the first half until the aid atation quite conservative. Shortly after leaving the aid station Sabina 🇳🇵 roll her ankle 🦶 and Anita and me who are just behind stop to see how she is…

Luckily the running doctor 🏃‍♀️🩺, Shanga, comes and asked us to leave and she will help her. Sabina end up running, however she rolls the ankle once again 😨 before the end 🏁.

We keep going and after very fast kms downhill I make it down about 9 min after Arajun 🇳🇵.

A total of 9 days of trail running with aproximately 180kms and 11000m ⬆️.

Strava stage 7:  https://strava.app.link/NVZtGOOenvb

#Way back to Kathmandu
From here is a 6h jeep 🚙 ride to Besisahar. 

And after one night sleep another 9h in buses 🚌🚌 to Kathmandu

#Reflection
We were a group of 50 runners 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ + 20 Staff on expedition mode. We were all together and we found always topics to talk and more imlortantly we did not generate any friction.

A masterpiece experience from the people, to race to the extra activities we did along the way. 

Big kudos to the Staff and organization who made everything happen smoothly and without hiccups. Even with the extra challenge of having too much snow to make the mules pass over the pass, hence needed to be carried by them.

#Mentions

- Jeroen Pattyn  
- Petra Krause ​ 
- Thomas van der Lee 
- Edward Millington-Jones​ 
- Edwin de Groot 
- Shanga Balendran ​ 
- Antonia Fan ​ 
- Bilo Val 
- Samuel Gagnon ​ 
- Saba Nazi Enjileh ​ 
- Anthony Canfell ​
- Martin Riess 
- Wendy Newman 
- Mirjam Steunebrink 
- David Babbitt 
- Thomas Naughton 

If anyone missing... Text me 📝


Top Sports

David Lopez Valero

Manaslu Trail Race 🏁: Summary ✍️

89 Photos

29 Comments

Splits

Sign up to view more activities from David Lopez Valero

You don't stop skimoing when... 👴

Dinosaur run 🦕☝️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Pre-work 👩‍💻👨‍💻👨‍💻 run

Three (running 🏃‍♀️🏃🏃‍♂️) amigos

Berlauch 🌱 run

Want to see more?

The #1 app for runners and cyclists

Sign Up for Free. Track your progress and reach goals. Join 100 million active people on Strava.

See More from David