Gawa Zangpo from the Royal Body Guards was the first runner to complete the day one race. The 28-year-old completed the 42-kilometre race in about seven hours. A total of 28 runners completed the day one run of the Snowman Race that started today from Gasa. Of the 29 runners, David Mendelsohn didn’t finish the race.
The Snowman Race is considered one of the world’s toughest and high-altitude ultra-marathon at unseen proportions of the eastern Himalayas. The race will complete in five days at Chamkhar in Bumthang.
Today, the race flagged off from the Gasa Dzong parking in the morning at 6. Foreign Minister Dr Tandi Dorji launched the sports event.
They will be running through the most challenging terrains and mountain passes of more than 5,400 meters above sea level.
Gawa Zangpo reached the first camp in 6 hours and 57 minutes at 12:56 PM. He was followed by Sangay Wangchuk, a Sergeant in the Royal Bhutan Army who covered the stretch in 7 hours and 36 minutes. Sangay, a Lance Corporal at the Royal Bhutan Army completed the Day One race just three minutes after Sangay Wangchuk. And Choki Dorji completed in 7 hours and 59 minutes. Gabe Joyes, a mountain runner and adventurer from the US is the only foreigner to join the four Bhutanese in the top five spots of Day One. He arrived at the halt point in Narithang in 8 hours and 11 minutes.
In the women’s category, Sarah Keyes from the US is the first to complete the Day One race. She arrived at the first camp in 9 hours and 7 minutes followed closely by Kinzang Lhamo who completed it in 9 hours and 12 minutes. Karma Yangden reached the camp in 9 hours and 17 minutes followed very closely by 23-year-old Lhamo. She covered the distance just a minute later. And Roxanne Vogel also from the US reached the Day One camp in 9 hours and 35 minutes.
The athletes will leave for Lhedhi tomorrow. It will be their Day Two camp.
Against the backdrop of staggering mountains and majestic glaciers, the race is to create Climate Change awareness among the global community.
Tshering Dendup
Edited by Sonam
