My mate, Roger, lives in Kathmandu. Not only is he a mad mountain runner, but he’s an increasing promoter of mountain races in Nepal. Now, having read my book on the Wicklow Round, his thoughts have turned to the possibility of a similar Round around Kathmandu’s mountain rim. As Roger himself has recently penned, “Races … Continue reading A Nepal version of the Wicklow Round around Kathmandu?
Just found an interview I did last year for Friday Weekly, a Kathmandu based magazine, whilst I was based in Nepal. Thanks to Leah Olson for writing it. “I’m spoiled here,” ultra-runner Moire O’Sullivan says. For O’Sullivan, mountain ranges are not simply panoramas to be admired from a distance. They are not just picturesque photography … Continue reading Interview with Friday Weekly Magazine, Kathmandu
Living on the flood plains on the banks of the Mekong River can severely limit hill running options - it’s as flat as a pancake in Cambodia’s capital city. So I was pretty excited when we planned a weekend away, to the town of Kep on the coast near Viet Nam. Friends who I had … Continue reading Finding hills in Cambodia – Kep National Park
So, after a sedentary 4 day walk on the Milford Track, I was itching to do some proper running. We were staying in Te Anau for 2 nights on New Zealand’s south island. Unlike Milford Track, that you need take a boat to get to, the start of the Kepler Track is a mere 4 … Continue reading Running the Kepler Track, New Zealand
I had 3 days left before leaving Nepal for good. So when I found out that Roger, Ramesh and Sudip were going to recce the Annapurna 100 race route, it seemed the perfect way to wrap-up my stay in Nepal. (View trail here). The Annapurna 100 race is the 2011 version of the Annapurna 71k … Continue reading Recce of Annapurna 100k Race Route
So having spent 3 days up and around Langtang Valley, it was time to run back home. I had originally thought it’d be nice to do a circuit, go south and cross Kangja La at 5130 metres. But anyone I spoke to said I was crazy. The route is only for expedition camping and not … Continue reading Mountain Running Holiday Day 5 to 7: Langtang Village to Kathmandu City
It’s amazing that I was still able to run after the 9 hour bus ride from Kathmandu. There were bags and people cramped into every possible nook and cranny, with more than half spilling out of the bus or balanced precariously on top. Fortunately the landslides from the road had been cleared earlier in the … Continue reading Mountain Running Holiday Day 1 to 4: Langtang Valley
I’m just back from an incredible 7 day mountain running trip to Langtang Mountains in north Nepal. Originally, I had hoped to enter the Himalayan 100 race in north India. But despite contacting the organisers months in advance, they told me that the race was full. Not wanting to be put off and still wanting … Continue reading 7 Day Mountain Running Holiday to Langtang Mountains
Last weekend, the Mourne Mountain Marathon was staged back home in Ireland. I have run the race 3 times. But seeing that I’m currently out of the country, I decided to hold my own 2 day mountain marathon here in Nepal instead. I had always wanted to run along the Helambu trail, the track that … Continue reading My own Nepali Mountain Marathon – 2 days on Helambu Track
New race just announced... you heard it here first, organised by my Nepali mountain running buddies! 50, 70 and 100 km trail races through fantastic forest trails with stunning views of the Annapurna range. An unforgettable start to the year! History It started with a cricketer. On October 31st 1995 Sir Ian Botham, world-renowned cricketer, … Continue reading Annapurna 100km Trail Race – Saturday 1st January 2011