What better way to celebrate the 1650th run of the Kathmandu Hash House Harriers than to go away for a weekend of running?
Dhulikhel is a little town 90 minutes drive out of Kathmandu on the road that leads to Tibet. Nearly 40 of us headed out and stayed at the Dhulikhel Mountain Resort, a pretty little place perched on top of a hill with lovely views of miniature valleys all around. It’s nothing like the majestic Himalayan peaks to the north, but it provided ample tracks and gradients for a substantive trail run.
Saturday involved a 14km run through valleys, around paddy fields, straight up hills, along dried river beds, down steep slopes as well as round and round in circles.
The two young Nepali kids nicknamed “the Scholars” laid a wicked trail that none of us would have found on our own.
Even though it was an afternoon run, the Nepali heat took its toll. I ran out of water towards the end even though I started out with a litre, most of which I sweated out on the actual trail.
Sunday was a sprint, a bus transporting us around the hill for a 7 km downhill run back into Dhulikhel.
Overall, good weekend away, great trails, superb company, and here’s to the 1700th run when we get to do it all over again!