Check our Facebook page for latest results from the 2012 race.
The Annapurna 100′s got big mountain views, forests trails, village culture and it’s probably the only ultra race where you get a tikka on your forehead at 20 km and a khata around your neck. It’s Nepal’s original ultra-trail race with great 50, 70 and 100 km courses.
The next race is on Saturday 9th March 2013 so add it to your calendar. (If you cannot make this dates, see here for more events in Nepal).
Click to download our race brochure PDF thing (1 MB)
What kind of people run the Annapurna 100 and why?
Around 100 local and 100 international runners entered for the 2012 race, and came from many different places and for different reasons. All were motivated people, not afraid of a challenge, wanting to experience something new and a little bit different. Here’s what they said about signing up:
- “I love running and mountains!”
- “A great holiday with a challenging ultra thrown in!”
- “I am looking for a serious challenge….The Annapurna 100 would be the challenge of a lifetime”
- “I have wanted to complete an ultra for some years now and to do so in the Himalaya would be a dream come true”
- “Will be running this race on our honeymoon with my fiancé/wife”
- “…on my fortieth birthday, which will be on 1/1/2012, something really special beckons – the Annapurna 100!”
History
Listen to an interview with cricketer Ian Botham here (MP3 6MB)
Ian Botham above Pokhara
On October 31st 1995 Sir Ian Botham, world-renowned cricketer, with Jan Turner and Ramesh Bhattachan, started the first 100 km race. Twelve local runners proved that a run from Pokhara to Poon Hill and back was possible in less than 12 hours. The route normally would take an average trekker five days. The winner took 11 hours 55 minutes..
Since then, due to a decade of conflict, only a couple more races could be run. Now the race has become an established annual event with a successful 100 km race in 2009, a 71 km trail-only race in 2010 and a 75% trail 100 km race in 2011.
2012 will be the best race ever, with an improved course with more trail than ever.
It is now a point-scoring, qualification race for India’s ‘The High‘ and the UTMB.
