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Kristin Larsson of Sweden, 1st placed foreign women and 2nd placed foreigner overall.

2^nd EVEREST 65K ULTRA – 5 NEPALESE BREAK THE RECORD

By

RAMESH BHATTACHAN MoD, Amiam (UK)

Chief Race Organisor

INTRODUCTION

The 2^nd Everest 65K Ultra was held on 13 April 2012 starting from Gorakshep which is the last village towards Mount Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 5140m and running through the picturesque village of Lobuche-Thukla-valley of Pheriche-Pangboche-Tengboche-Lausasa-Namche Bazaar-Munjo and finishing at Lukla.

RUNNERS PROFILE

Sudip Kulung from Gudel Village of Solukhumbu wa the favourite to win the race and at the end he managed to retain his crown of the 1^st Everest 65K Ultra which was held in April 2010. He was given a tough chase and fight from a group of very strong runners form the pole position until the finishing point. They were Ram Kumar Rajbhandari winner of 2 Dec. 2011 Everest Marathon and runner-up in Tenzing-Hillary Everst Marathon on 29 May 2011. Phurba Tamang winner of Tenzing Hillary Marathon in 2009/2010 also participated. Both these runners had participated in the 6^th Anapurna 70K this year and they reside in Lukla-the gateway to Everest. The Nepalese Runners totalled to 23 from various districts with good hill-trail running background and experience while the foreign runners comprising of good nine male and two female runners came from Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Croatia, Ireland, Sweden, UK, and a lady walker from Thailand.

THE ACTION RACE

The Action Race was started at 0600 hrs sharp by Mr Pasang Sherpa, the proprietor of Yeti Resort in Gorakshep-the official hotel. The morning was blessed with a perfect weather suitable for trail/ultra running with crystal clear sky and outstanding view of Everest and surrounding mountains. 13th April coincided with the auspicious occasion of the Nepalese New Year of 2069.

Sudip immediately started and charged his ‘turbo engine’ and led the pack in front and at 0635 hrs (in 35 mins) he had crossed the Lobuche Water Point and check Point 1- Thukla. He was followed closely by Jitendra, Chitij and DB within a minute difference. Ram Kumar and Phurba were also not far behind Sudip.At the Check Point 2 Pangboche, Sudip clocked his time of 1 hr 35 mins passing the valley of Pheriche which was only a medical point. Ow! awesome running by Sudip. Chhitij, Jitendra, Phurba and Ram Kumar checked in a minute late. In the foreign category, Daniel from Sweden was also running very well and was leading and arrived Thukla in 46 mins and Pangboche in 2 hrs 2 mins. Not bad !

Sudip, Jitendra, Chhitij, Phurba and Ram Kumar passed Tengboche check Point in 1 hrs 53 mins-54 mins-55 mins respectively alerting Sudip. The race started to pick up the tempo and acclerated the lead runners speed in anticipation of breaking the old record set by Sudip. Downhill running towards the base of Tengboche was a minor running action for these lead runners and they all completed within an incredible time of 15 mins – a mind- boggling time!. The uphill run to Lausasa and Sansasa was not a big deal for them and gradually they levelled themselves towards Namche Bazar.

Sudip was maintaining his lead but the switch of 2^nd/3^rd position took place whereby Phurba and Ram Kumar overtook Chhitij and Jitendra. They all passed Namche Bazaar Check Point in 2 hrs 51 mins-52 mins-53 mins-54 mins respectively. Another superastic timings! Daniel in the meantime, managed to maintain his speed and ranking in 14^th overall position passing through Namche Bazaar.

At Munjo, Check Point No 6, Sudip arrived in 3 hrs 26 mins, Jitendra, Phurba and Ram Kumar clocked in 3 hrs 28 mins simultaneously with Kiran Kulung in 3 hrs 33 mins taking the 5^th position. Daniel gradually increased his gear to Munjo with a time of 4 hrs 23 mins.

The final leg to Lukla through Phakding-Benkar-Thado Koshi-Cheplung-Chauri Kharka was the determining locations whether Sudip and the rest could withhold their endurance ‘batteries’ mentaly and physically or overtake and capture the crown from Sudip. Sudip then incredibly and with sheer determination not to lose his crown, finally accelerated his speed and established a new race record time of 5 hrs 1 secs by retaining his position of first. The 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th positions also had a dramatic finish with Ram Kumar, Phurba, Kiran and Jitendra also breaking the old record respectively.

FOREIGN CATEGORY

In the foreign category Daniel finished first and overall eleventh with a credible time of 6 hrs 36 mins followed by Kristin also from Sweden-1^st in the ladies category in 7 hrs 53 mins 45 secs, Darren-Australia and Kreshima-Croatia came joint 2^nd position with a time of 8 hrs 16 mins 50 secs. Theressa Orr-Australia came 2^nd in the ladies category while Russel also from Australia came 3^rd in the Mens Foreign Category. The last runner was Sean Staunton from Ireland who completed the race in 13 hrs 13 mins. Due to his lack of time Dr. Chris Honfia from the UK, resident in Hong Kong started his race on 10^th April and finished his race in 21 hrs 18 mins. Not bad for a doctor. Well Done Chris ! Congratulations and well done all foreign participants for completing the course and establishing excellent timings without any injuries and problems. You have all done well.

PRIZES DISTRIBUTION

The prizes Distribution Ceremony for the Nepalese Runners took place on 14^th April starting at 0630 hrs in the morning while the foreign runners were distributed their prizes and souvenirs in the evening at Kathmandu. Mr Ang Phura Sherpa, President of Himalayan Club Lukla kindly distributed the prizes for the Nepalese Runners while Mr. Nilendra Shrestha, President of Nepal Amateur Athletics Association was the Chief Guest and Mr. Richard Bull, Chief Coordinator of Press and Publicity of the Annapurna 100K was the Distinguished Guest who distributed the prizes and presents to all the foreign categories runners at the offical hotel named Hotel Magnificent View Roof Top based in Thamel, Kathmandu.

2^nd EVEREST 65K ULTRA – TOP 10 INDIVIDUAL TIMINGS

13 APRIL 2012

A.    NEPALESE RUNNERS

B.    FOREIGN CATEGORY – MENS

C.    FOREIGN CATEGORY – WOMENS

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