The Snowman Calibration Run began today coinciding with the 8th Wedding Anniversary of His Majesty the King and the Gyaltsuen. The Run was flagged off exactly at 6 am from Gasa and all the seven runners completed the first-day run and successfully reached their station at Rodophu (4215 metres above sea level).
The runners covered a distance of 66 kilometres in 7 hours.
According to a source, these selected Bhutanese men are trained runners and all the necessary safety measures have been set up along the trail. The main event will be next year.
The runners started their Run with backpacks containing some necessary equipment including Global Positioning System (GPS) to locate their movement in the process and lots of good wishes from the officials gathered to see them off. They are sweating through the rough and rugged terrain of mule tracks, crossing several rivers and jungles.
Like this, they will be running more than 300 kilometres in total crossing the highest altitude of 5470 metres in five days before reaching to their final destination in Chamkhar in Bumthang on Thursday. According to the information, five stations have been set up for their night halts with all supplies and a first-aid facility.
“The most difficult would be the second day as we have to run more than 60 kilometres. Likewise, the last day will also be the same as well since we have to run more than 50 kilometres,” said Karma Zamba Wang, a Participant.
“We have trained rigorously for two months by going to Laya, which is more than 4700 metres from the sea level. The biggest concern is the high altitude disease. We are hoping to go successfully if we do not suffer from altitude disease,” added Duptho, a Participant.
The runners are being monitored and their movement located through the GPS. They will continue their runs from the station at 6 am tomorrow and will reach to the day-two station at Tsojo, (4067mtrs), which is about 68 kilometres from Rodophu.
The calibration run is a test run for the first edition of the most challenging Snowman Run scheduled in October next year. The Snowman Run is an ultra-marathon, challenging the world’s fittest and most elite runners to help raise awareness on the impacts of climate change.
This Run is emanated from His Majesty’s visit to the highlands with a goal to protect our natural environment and preserve the natural unique age-old culture and tradition of the highland communities, adversely affected by the climate change.
Changa Dorji
