RacingThePlanet: Nepal 2011

Stephen Major and Nicholas Wickes are participating in RacingThePlanet: Nepal.

Here is a review of the race details.

Itinerary, Stage Dates and Distances

Saturday, Nov 27
    •    Mandatory Competitor Briefing (8 am)
    •    Competitor Checkin with Administrative, Medical/Equipment Review (9 am – 1 pm)
    •    Depart for Camp 1 (2 pm)

Sunday, Nov 20 - Stage 1, 40 km / 25 miles

Monday, Nov 21 - Stage 2, 40 km / 25 miles

Tuesday, Nov 22 - Stage 3, 40 km / 25 miles

Wednesday, Nov 23- Stage 4, 42.8 km /26.6 miles

Thursday, Nov 24 - Stage 5, 75 km / 47 miles

Friday, Nov 25 - Stage 5 (continued)

Saturday, Nov 26
    •    Stage 6, 15 km / 9 miles
    •    Finish (Noon)
    •    Awards Banquet (7 pm)

Checkpoints and The Long March

During each stage there are checkpoints approximately every 10 kilometers / 6 miles, often less than this due to the amount of elevation up and down hills. 

The much-anticipated Stage 5 in RacingThePlanet events is known as The Long March. Generally, this stage is between 70 - 90 kilometers / 43 - 56 miles, roughly double the length of the previous four stages.

Photo: RacingThePlanet

Altitude

• Highest point of the entire course: 3,200 meters / 10,500 feet in Stage 4.
• Highest campsite (Camp 4) approx. 2,700 meters / 8,800 feet.
• Every stage, except Stage 6, will reach a point that is at least 1,500 meters / 4,900 feet above sea level.
• The lowest elevation on the course is 700 meters / 2,300 feet above sea level.

Elevation Gain and Loss

• Total elevation gain across the full course is 9,000 meters / 29,500 feet
• Total elevation loss is 9,700 meters / 31,800 feet.
• Each stage has overall elevation gain of approximately 1,500 meters / 5,000 feet.
• The largest elevation gain within a checkpoint is 1,200 meters / 4,000 feet but for most is not more than 700 meters / 2,300 feet.
• The largest elevation loss within a checkpoint is 1,500 meters / 4,900 feet, but most are not more than 800 meters / 2,600 feet.

Photo: RacingThePlanet

Terrain

Much of the hills will require the racers to go up and down steps which are hand-made using stones.  In between the hills there are stretches of the course which are easier to run, they are relatively flat on easy terrain such as gravel jeep tracks and smaller tracks not used by vehicles which are also mainly gravel or hard-packed dirt.  Racers will pass through many villages and small fields which grow rice, corn, grass and other local crops.   
  

Photo: RacingThePlanet

Bridges

There are more than ten bridges that racers will cross along the course - the longest is 250 meters / 820 feet long and 150 meters / 490 feet high.  Most are very secure cable bridges made of metal.  The bridges are generally narrow (easily allowing for one person to walk and just allowing for two people to pass).  The sides are completely sealed up to at least one meter.

Source: RacingThePlanet: Nepal race information summarized from RacingThePlanet.