Thinley Namgay

Seven Bhutanese runners will take part in the upcoming 2024 Snowman Race between Laya and Bumthang, which will be held from October 24 to 28.

The most difficult race in the world that is increasingly gaining international fame has 18 participants in all.

Among the seven Bhutanese runners, four are women.

The Snowman Race Secretariat finalised the list of Bhutanese runners yesterday.

Officials from the secretariat said the national runners were selected based on their performances at the Highlanders Selection Run and the Trans-Bhutan Trail Selection Run held last month.

At the Highlanders Selection Run, athletes ran between Taktsemakhang to Laya and the Lungo loop in Gasa.

The objective was to include runners from highland communities as they are more familiar with the changes in their environment due to climate change and can spread their voices globally through media and international participants.

The Trans-Bhutan Trail Selection Run witnessed race participants running from Motithang in Thimphu to Pumola-Tsalupang-Tsalu-Jela, ending at the National Museum in Paro, covering more than 60 kilometres in a day.

Participants experienced elevations of up to 4,000 metres above sea level.

Pema Choki, Karma Yangdon, and Leki from Laya have been selected from the Highlanders Selection Run, while Tshering Lhamo from Lhuentse, Samten Dema from Trashigang, Tashi Norbu from Samdrupjongkhar, and Sangay Wangchuk from Dagana qualified through the Trans-Bhutan Trail Selection Run.

Karma Yangdon and Sangay Wangchuk have also competed in the first Snowman Race.

Participants said they are glad to be nominated and eager to compete and carry the message of climate change.

Sangay Wangchuk, who stood second in the first edition, said, “I am doing lots of personal training by running at different altitudes. I want to give my best. This year, competent international runners are there, and I am certain that the race will be competitive.”

So far, nine  international runners have been selected by the secretariat. The selection for one more is underway. The nine runners are from the USA, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Bangladesh, Switzerland, and Tanzania.

In the first edition of the race in 2022, there were 29 runners, including 20 foreigners.

The Director of the Department of Tourism and the Head of the Snowman Race Secretariat, Damcho Rinzin, said the number of participants was reduced this time mainly due to safety reasons and also to ensure better monitoring.

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