A tail to tell: The magnificent Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain)
Race Information
Entry is 520 euros.
Includes national park permits
for two and one night’s
accommodation for two
at the race finish, plus meals.
Also includes transport from the
finish at Lwang back to Pokhara
on Sunday 12th May.
There is also a Full Package for travel,
including domestic flights and
all transfers, all accommodation
for 11 days, and
acclimatisation hike available HERE.
It is an integral part of the HimalayanXtri and all XTRI World Tour races that each athlete brings with them at least one support crew member. This is for practical reasons, as the race is unsupported across much of the course, and also as the race is very much about fostering a sense of friendship and community. It is possible to hire a local runner/guide to act as your support. It will be mandatory for the support crew member to attend the race briefing and to be present at the start, T1, throughout the bike course accompanying the athlete by car, and at T2. It will not be mandatory for the support member to accompany the athlete on the run course.
Race base - Pokhara
The HimalayanXtri will be based in Pokhara, which is Nepal's second-largest city after Kathmandu. The urban area population is about 200,000. The race is based in the Lakeside area of the city (a 1km strip next to Lake Phewa). This area is well developed and has many hotels/restaurants to suit all budgets and tastes. We feel it is important to offer athletes and support crew access to full amenities before and the day after the race. It is important to note that the race will start at Lake Phewa, Pokhara, but will finish at a remote homestay village in the Annapurna Conservation Area, and so athletes and crew will not be returning to Pokhara immediately after the race. Drop bags will be provided for clothing and kit for the overnight, and the race organisation will transport those bags to the finish from a drop bag zone at T1. Overnight accommodation will be provided at the homestay village of Lwang at the finish - Saturday 11th/Sunday 12th. Race presentations will be made on the morning of Sunday 12th at Lwang, before all athletes and support crew will be bussed back to Pokhara around lunchtime on the Sunday (service included for the athlete and one crew member in the entry fee. Additional spots can be booked on request for a small charge).
Schedule
Thursday 9th May 2024
12 noon - 6pm: Registration opens - Hotel Candle Inn, Street 14, Lakeside, Pokhara - gear check (see mandatory equipment)
Friday 10th May
9am - 11am: Registration - Hotel Candle Inn, Street 14, Lakeside, Pokhara Lakeside - gear check (see mandatory equipment)
3pm: Race briefing - Venue to be confirmed
Saturday 11th May
2.30am-3.30am: T1 at Pokhara Lakeside opens for bike deposit and bag drop for the finish at the homestay village at Lwang
3.30am: Athletes to assemble at starting area at Lake Phewa, Pokhara Lakeside
4am: Swim start of the HimalayanXtri 2023
Sunday 12th May
8am: Race closes at Lwang
Peak performance: Seen from Phewa Lake, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain towers on the horizon, and at 6,993 metres is higher than the highest mountain in the whole of the Americas.
The Swim
The swim will start at 04.00 and will be held mostly in the dark. Sunrise at Phewa Lake in early May is about 05.00. The course will be lit, and kayakers will be patrolling. The water temperature averages about 20 degrees Celsius. Wetsuits/skins re mandatory up to 22 degrees C, but will become optional if the water temperature rises to 23 degrees C. A swim float will be provided *NOTE - This item must be returned to race officials at T1 after the swim. We will also provide a race swim cap at the registration, which athletes can keep. The lake altitude is 800 metres above sea level. The cut-off for the swim will be two hours at 06.00.
The Bike
The bike course is entirely on asphalt/Tarmac, but it is not smooth across the entire route. The overall surface is almost all good, but there are some short (up to 200 metres) bumpy sections. The race organisation will mark sections for safety purposes. Further details will be presented at the race briefing.
The bike section will begin from T1 just before sunrise for most athletes and it will be mandatory to have operating front and back lights. These will be checked at registration, and again on entry to T1.
The Run
This is a mountain trail run and so athletes must use trail running shoes with a lug grip, suitable for slippery and rough terrain. Road running shoes are NOT suitable. The course is almost entirely off-road, mostly on uneven forest trail comprising dirt and stone, but also with many sections with tree roots. This will be steep in places, both on the way up and down. Some short sections will not be runable, but can be fast hiked. There is a long 1000m section of descent on technical stoney trail from about 21km to 32km that will be especially taxing as you move towards the end of the race day. Hiking poles are allowed in this race. You will also have to consider the altitude gain, and be prepared for experiencing the 'thinner air' as you progress to the higher ground. It is not essential to acclimatise for the altitude on this course, as it is an up and down route on the day, but any time spent at altitude before the race will help.
There are a number of rest stops built for hikers on the run course on the way up to the turnaround. There will be race volunteers at these to assist and medical staff at High Camp. It is possible for the athlete and support to resupply nutrition and water themselves at these rest stops.
Run course rules
There will be random kit checks at T2 to ensure athletes and support (if they are going out on the course) have the necessary equipment for the run. The run course will be well marked and there are stations on the route for assistance, but this is still a climb above 3,000 metres over a long distance. Nothing can be taken for granted in the mountains and so safety precautions are vital.
Mandatory equipment from T2
Mandatory - Running backpack, waterproof jacket, headtorch (minimum 250 lumens) with extra batteries, whistle, emergency foil blanket, fluid flasks to 1 litre, mobile phone with emergency contact number stored, ACAP/TIMMS permit (supplied), passport copy (can be photo of information page stored on a phone). Recommended - waterproof trousers, gloves, hat, one spare top with long sleeves.
Run course cut-offs
In order to progress to the 4,000m turnaround athletes must reach High Camp (3,500m asl) by 17.45. Athletes who progress beyond this point to the turnaround and finish will gain a black T-shirt with the 4,000m badge. There is also a cut-off at Low Camp (3,000m asl) at 19.30. Athletes who beat this cut-off get to continue to High Camp. Those who reach High Camp and the finish will also receive a black finisher's shirt, with a High Camp 3,500m badge. There is a cut-off at T2 at 17.00. Those who leave T2 before that time and make it to Low Camp after the 19.30 cut-off there but continue to the finish will receive a white T-shirt and the Low Camp 3,000m badge.
Mountain life: Another aspect of this race that may be seen as unusual is athletes, their support, and race crew will be staying overnight after the finish at a homestay village, experiencing true Nepali culture and hospitality before returning to the hustle and bustle of Pokhara by bus (provided) on Sunday 8th.
Support, and options
Each athlete is required to bring at least one support crew member to assist for the duration of the race. The entry fee covers some aspects of the event for one support crew as well, and additional crew members can be added for $140 per person. One support crew member must accompany the athlete through the race from T1 to T2. There are then two options for the support crew member from T2.
1 - To go the full run route with the athlete.
2 - To leave the athlete at T2 and take a car to the finish and race mountain base at the homestay village of Lwang and wait there for the athlete to arrive.
Bikes and equipment can be transferred by the race organisation from T2 back to Pokhara to a secure location for collection the day after the race on Sunday 7th. For athletes and their support who both go out on the run course, clothing and small bags can be transferred from T2 and the car and taken to the finish at Lwang by the race organisation for collection.
Car hire
It is usual for foreign visitors to hire a car with a driver. This will be the case for the race day itself and for assisting on the bike course. A hire car driver does not count as a support team member. The race organisation can assist in arranging a hire car and driver. The costs vary, but are usually up to $180 for the full day starting at 03.00 in the morning before the race start.
Insurance & Medical
It is highly recommended all athletes and support crew members have insurance that covers taking part in adventure sport, and at altitude. We also ask all athletes to be checked by a doctor to ensure they are in good condition for this race.
Littering
We are immensely privileged to be able to share this magnificent landscape with the local Nepalis and to experience the best of nature in this area. It is our duty to act responsibly, so deliberate littering during the race will result in disqualification. The run section enters the Annapurna Conservation Area, so the race organisation will endeavour to keep any plastic use to a minimum and will remove and recyle anything used. The race organisation is committed to hosting a clean and sustainable event.
Organisation
We are very excited to be able to offer the chance for athletes and support to experience an extreme triathlon in such an exotic location. HimalayanXtri is the lead company as race organiser. The race has been co-founded by Jamie Ross Mackenzie and Rikesh Yonzon (Ricky). Both have extensive experience of operating high-altitude sports events through their association with the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon. Jamie has many years experience as an ultra-runner in many parts of the world, and has marshalled at our XTRI World Tour big brother Norseman. Ricky has many years experience as a tour and adventure sports leader across Nepal, for Himalaya Expeditions and Adventure Sports Nepal.
HimalayanXtri Co-founders and Race Co-directors Ricky Yonzon and Jamie Ross Mackenzie