14th International Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race a success

Thirty nine runners from twelve countries (UK, USA, Canada, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Argentina, Portugal, South Africa, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand) took part in 14th International Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race. Set in the Northeast Himalayas, the 100 mile course is one of the world’s most challenging endurance events.

Run in five stages over five days, the course winds over cobbled roads along the border of India and Nepal, traversing mountain passes, pine forests, and isolated jungles while passing through remote villages and settlements. 

With well-marked trails and fully stocked aid stations along the route, racers coped with the effects of altitude during the initial 24-mile stage, which ascended from 6350 feet to 12,000 feet.

Christian Schiester from Austria won the 14th International Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race with an overall time of 14 hrs and 43 minutes and got the privilege to receive the Sant Nagpal Baba Memorial Gold Award. The second and third position won by Johannes Schmid (Germany with a time 15 hrs 38 minutes) and Kai Stuke (Germany with a time 15 hrs 49 minutes) respectively. While Dolores Avendano (Argentina with 20 hrs 14 minutes) and Rachel Toor (USA with 21 hrs 14 minutes) won the first and second position among females, Marina Anderson from UK with 22 hrs 26 minutes was declared the third-placed winner. The finish rate was 95%.

The 15th international annual Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race is scheduled to be held during 21 – 28 October, 2005.