Keep on running | Feature | wavemag.com.np

The female trekking guides of 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking have a reputation for being tough cookies. Coming from rural areas in western Nepal and trained by the three sisters of the first "women guides for women trekkers" agency, the girls have walked all their lives and now they do it for a living. Without doubt, these ladies are some of the fittest women in Nepal.

So when the organisers of Annapurna 100, an ultra endurance event of varying distances (50km, 70km, 100km), wanted some female runners to boost their profile, the women were a natural choice.

"We told the guide at Three Sisters: 'You'r fit. You can do it,'" said Roger Henke, organiser of the race.
Nepali runners are now on the global extreme sport map. Phu Dorje Lama Sherpa recently took first place in the gruelling 850km Himal race from Mt. Kailash to Annapurna Base Camp. Sudip Rai, who won the Annapurna 100 with a time of 12 hours 5 minutes, was the first runner-up in the Mt. Kinabalu International Climbathon.

In its fifth year, the Annapurna race didn't have many female runners in 2010. Organiser Roger Henke was determined to change that with the 2011 race.

Of the 11 female participants from the 3 Sisters Trekking Agency that Roger invited to compete in the marathon, five completed the race, and Anita Rai, 23, finished third. Anita is from Dingla of Bhojpur district; this was her first time taking part in any competitive sport.

"My friends were taking part, so I thought why not give it a shot?'' Anita told WAVE.

She nearly didn't make it. But nothing was going to stop her. Despite arriving late at the starting point at Mustang Chowk, Anita soon managed to catch up with the other runners and overtake them. She wasn't even sure which direction to run on the trail, but just kept going.

"I was running the final hour of the race alone'', she recalls, and volunteers along the trail cheered her on. "I reached Birethanti at 2.20pm. It was a long race, but I am happy I stood third.'' Encouraged by her win, Anita now plans to train for next year's marathon.

Women's trail running has always been an up-hill battle in Nepal, due to the sorry state of support for women's sport. One of the organisers of the race, Roger Henke, says his aim was to improve the state of women's trail running, and wants more women to join next year.

"Nepal is a bit behind the wave (in the West) when it comes to women's sport", he says. "If Nepali girls start training, they could be very serious international trail runners. It's time to get rid of the idea that women can only run five kilometres.''

Still, 2011 was a good year for women in the Annapurna 100. Britain's Lizzy Hawker, a 100km world champion, took part in the marathon and became the first woman to finish the race in 15 and a half hours. She was delighted to be running with Nepali women this year. "I know that for some women it was their first ultra event, so it was an incredible achievement for them to finish'', she said.

She says the mountains of Nepal provide incredible inspiration and she hopes that "Nepali women will realise that trail running is for everyone – men, women and children''.

Dicky Chhetri, one of the founders of 3 Sisters, says she was inspired by the effort and courage of the guides from Pokhara who participated in the 50km marathon. "I hope there will be many more", she said

Another runner, Lalmaya Shahi says she had "an instant desire to race'' and plans to train for next year. The 20-year-old says that "Nepali women are behind in the sports arena because they don't grab the opportunities given to them''. Are things changing? Only time will tell.

Trail running getting started

Get a good pair of shoes. We say this even though we know our ancestors have been running barefoot all over because good shoes absorb the shock, make your feet bounce and prevent stress injuries.

Ladies, invest in a good sports bra. Not only does it stop the jiggling while running, it will also prevent your breasts from reaching your waist before you are 30.

Find a good running trail. Luckily there are plenty if you just venture outside any urban sprawl. Carry some light snacks and water, ideally with jeevan jal to replenish the salts.

Our favourite tunes for the run

Summer song, Joe Satriani
Last man standing, Bon Jovi
Time machine, Black Sabbath
Disturbia, Rihanna
I don't care, Fallout Boy
With or without you, U2
Alive, Pearl Jam
Going the distance, Cake
Supersonic, Bad Religion
How far have we come, Matchbox Twenty