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
One of the major, major advantages of living in Asia is that you can get a really good massage practically for free. And I was really fortunate to find a place in Kathmandu that, for 15 Euro, would massage the life out of me for 90 minutes. A friend introduced me to the ‘Sotai and … Continue reading Straightened out by Sotai Massage
He looked just like most Nepali porters. Short, stocky, sturdy from carrying loads up and down the mountains. He spoke no English, so sat there silently as the rest of us continued on with our English language conversation. Little did I know that I was sitting beside one of the world’s best mountain runners. Sudip … Continue reading Hidden Talent in the Mountains – Nepali Porter Sudip Rai
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
After a week of running around the Langtang Himalaya Mountain Range, I thought it might be nice to sit on my butt for a week and finally learn how to kayak. I’ve tried to learn how to kayak several times. Without much success. The problem was that I kept trying to learn when I was … Continue reading Learning to Kayak on the Bhote Koshi
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
I like races that differ from the norm. I like doing races that only a few others would ever contemplate doing. That’s why, despite swearing that I would never ever do another road race ever again, I signed up for the Kathmandu marathon that took place yesterday. You might think that the Kathmandu marathon would … Continue reading Chaotic Kathmandu Marathon