Mustang Trail Race - the runners

There were 35 "runners" for the race, 36 if you include the police escort (far left in the picture) who ran two stages. However not everyone ran every stage and some people walked the whole way.   

We were a mixed ability group ranging from Salamon team runners to those who had not done anything like this before. So who were the runners?

Sylvan - a French runner based in Singapore who did much of his training on a treadmill. He had trekked for 10 days up to 5000 metres to acclimatise. Overall 1st

Stefan - a Salamon sponsored runner from Bavaria who owns a running shop with his wife Barbara. The only person who ran every hill. Had lived at altitude for sometime so was acclimatised. 2nd overall. 

Tyler ( the younger)- from Montana in his early 20s. On a Salamon scholarship and had been in Nepal for a couple of weeks to visit and run with Mira Rai.

Gian Mario (Jimmy) - from Lake Garda and had run the UTMB and on his way to run a World Skyrunning race in a remote part of Western China. 

Tyler ( the older but still young) - living in Pokhara with his wife originally from Spokane, Washington State and an experienced fast runner. 

Natalia - from Spain but living in Switzerland. Had run the Manaslu race and the Glencoe Skyline.  Going to China with Jimmy and doing the Dragons Back in May. Great runner. 

5 Young Nepali girl runners. Regina, Sita, Rashila, Sunita and Kamala.  Regina was achieving times similar to Mira Rai on this race. 

George - from the UK who ran with me for 5 stages had a fast marathon time but not done anything like this before. Once he was acclimatised he stormed ahead. 

Chris (Canada) - from Edmonton was an experienced runner and very fast downhill. 

Sven - from Germany carried a heavy Leica camera with him the whole way. Once acclimatised he was strong uphill. 

Nick - from New York but based in Russia was a really strong runner who was not well for the last couple of days. 

Alex - from Cambridge was an experienced Ultra runner who once acclimatised was strong. Doing the Dragons Back in May. 

Barbara - Stefan's other half was consistently strong not finishng long after me most days. 

Tite - from the Dolomites had run the race before and had looked after Mira Rai when she was in Italy. Going to china with Jimmy and Natalia. 

Erica - from Australia. She was consistently strong and always had a positive outlook.

Jo - from Northern Ireland but living in London was a strong runner who finished well up the field. 

Steph - from Dubai was a multiple Comrades finisher and doing it again this year. 

 

Pushba - a Nepali living in the UK and in the Hampshire Constabulary.  The daughter of a Gurkha soldier and was really a great person to be with as well as being a tough runner. 

Priti - a Nepali living in Kathmandu and a part of the trail running Nepal scene. An experienced runner and fun to be with. 

Paul and Shona - from Australia and had done the Manaslu race and were experienced trail runners. 

Andrea and Ivelia - A couple from Italy. Andrea was an experienced trail runner but chose to run with Ivelia who was new to it. 

Helen - from the UK was not experienced on this sort of terrain but was determined to finish each stage. 

James - the oldest participant based in the UK finished each leg in good heart and an experienced runner. 

Jim - from Australia never intended to run e race but walked (very fast) each stage and was great company. 

Hiro - from Kathmandu was a great runner and had done the race before. He chose to take photos most of the time.