Mesurez-vous aux fiers Mongols Tribune de Genève 1 October 1999

Les fleuves humains, genre Morat-Fribourg, vous coupent les jambes? Partez donc vous mesurer aux fiers Mongols en compagnie de deux Romands. Le Genevois David Bernasconi et le Neuchâtelois Nicolas Musy

Viennent de mitonner un ultramarathon dans le berceau du mythique Gengis Khan. Au pays de l'immense.

Prise en étau entre deux mastodontes, Russie et Chine, la Mongolie, indépendante depuis 1991, est la nation la moins peuplée du monde (2,5 millions d'habitants). Rapport à sa superficie, grande comme trois fois la France. «Montagnes au nord, désert du sud, taïga, steppe, les paysages dégagent une formidable impression de puissance et de solitude.», confie David, globe-trotter de 26 ans. L'Asie, il connaît comme sa poche. «J'ai bossé dans l'immobilier à Shanghai et écumé là-bas nombre de marathons,dossard au dos.»

De là à mettre sur pied une course, qui plus est requérant pareille infrastructure (hélicos, camp, ravitaillement) il y avait toutefois une foulée. Que son amour pour le parc national du lac Hovsgol devait lui faire franchir. «Cette merveilleuse réserve naturelle manque de ressources financières. L'idée a donc germé d'y organiser une épreuve d'un jour, sur 42 ou 100 km au choix, afin de la faire connaître. Et surtout de lui donner un coup de pouce, en lui reversant l'ensemble de nos bénéfices.» Généreuse initiative sur fond d'écotourisme. «Nous voulions redonner un sens à ce mot, trop souvent galvaudé par les organisateurs de raids business, type Marathon des Sables.»

«Les athlètes qui sillonnèrent des sentiers muletiers et de gibier, jusqu'à 2,300m d'altitude, se sont pâmés devant des décors fantastiques, tant par leur clarté que par une pureté naturelle inégalée.» A l'instar de ce lac de 140km de long, l'un des derniers réservoirs d'eau potable de la planète.

Pour se remettre de l'effort, les coureurs ont visité la région durant une dizaine de jours, goûtant notamment à la nourriture locale qui se résume en viandes et laitages. L'un des mets les plus prisés: la chair de mâchoire d'une tête de mouton bouillie, morceau de choix réservé aux hôtes de marques. «Ce n'est pas vraiment du Girardet!», plaisante David Bernasconi. «Mais la pauvreté de cette cuisine est largement compensée par l'hospitalité des nomades, don't le mode de vie n'a pas changé depuis des siècles.» De l'écotourisme, du vrai qu'on vous dit. Séduit par le concept? Alors, à vos agendas: le 2e Ultramongolia se déroulera en juillet 2000…

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Mongol trail blazers horde cleans house in Hovsgol 100k ultramarathon
Hong Kong Distance Runner Club Newsletter
Fall 1999

If you are thirsty you can drink straight from the lake. If you are hungry, just drop a hook in the same lake, you will soon catch your meal. If you are tired of civilization, of promiscuity, of pollution, of tight space, if you are bored of the Hong Kong life, if you are suffocating from the Hong Kong environment disaster, then drop your portable phone, pack and rush to the airport; it will take you 3 hours to Beijing, another 2 to Ulan Bataar and finally, after a 4 hours ride on helicopter, you will reach the shore of lake Hovsgol, at camp Toilogt, just 100km short of the frontier with russian eastern siberia.

At an altitude of 1600 m. the camp is surrounded by pine forests and snowy peaks reaching 3000 m., where you may have close encounter with giant brown bears, wolves, eagles and other ferocious predators. Don't worry, before risking your life you are taught how to behave when to face the beasts! Hundred miles around you will find instead of asphalted roads, just muddy or dusty tracks crossing huge areas where you see, once in a while, in the far distance, isolated gers, (traditional mongolian house) wild horses, yaks and millions of sheeps. In this country, where nothing else counts and exists than the moment and the place where you are, where an hour is lasting a full day, where the time has no limit, where pollution is an unknown word, there is a vast land of exceptional quality, that remained as natural as it was at its origin, where human is rarely seen, where the air is odorless, where the rain is a beverage and the celestial bodies are companions. There is no elsewhere, only an horizon, beyond which we do not want to know, at the end of which....

Tireless runners are training for the glory of their country, every day, in one of the most harshest climate in the world, where temperature can drop to minus 40 C during the long winter months, where the blazing sun and the age turn the face of these nomads from a pale brown at their birth to a dark tarred road colour. Just as their brothers are born on horses and travel huge distances, the trail runners, showing incredile stamina and endurance, are training in the Gobi desert or the endless steppes for the race of their life, for the most important day in the country short running history : the first ever international running competition in Mongolia. These athletes were told that the most enduring runners from England, France, Germany, Australia, South Africa, Japan, Switzerland and Usa would participate to the event. They know that they will compete with the world record holder Henri Girault, 63 years old, the man whose name is in the Guiness Book of Records and who will run at lake Hovsgol his 407th one hundred kilometers, not counting his numerous marathons. They heard as well about another frenchman who run 7 successive marathons des sables, the trans amazonia, the trans thailand, the Anapurna 100 miles on several occasions, the Norway troll raid, the Spartathlon race in Greece, 247 K. non stop and so many others that the undersigned could only listen, mouth wide open to the stories of these extra terrestrial creatures. Then, there was Klaus Muttke from Germany, who had won the 1998 Leadville 100 miles in Colorado. Fresh from successes at the HK round the Island race for the last 2 years as well as at the 1998 Mac Lehose, and after listening to these extraordinary tales I could only remain silent, be modest in my forecast and try to do my best at the race day. What about the mongols ? Would you believe, they are drinking nothing else than water and tea, they are all vegetarian, a surprise in a land where most of the population eat meat due to the lack of vegetables and fruits. With their torn shoes, floppy backpacks and old cotton track suits we thought they had virtually no chance. To be locals was apparently their only advantage. Well....

Thunderstorms poured their misery the whole night before the start. A dreadfull day was about to be born. At 2am we were up in the dark and the chill to take the last meal and went through the check up where each runner had to show a backpack containing 1,5 liter of liquid, a compass, a course map, a whistle, a torch, a survival kit including blanket, rain and cold outfit, food to be carried up to the destination and other important items. Then, like the previous day, there was a medical check up that included blood pressure and heart rate tests, and like boxers prior to a fight, the doctors scaled our weight. Similar optional check up were scheduled along the course, every 15 K.

At 3.50 am, the Trans World International TV crew as well as the Mongol television cameramen were on site to catch the first glimpse of the assembling runners behind the starting line. There were 23 internationals and 13 mongols athletes ready to tackle the brutal 42k marathon or the 100k madness run. At 4am, with headlamps on, heading for the forest and the first pass at 2300 m. altitude, we all went off, letting out all the pressure and the anxiety that had built up during the previous days. After 300 meters, entering a deep dark forest and jumping over dead trees, the first falls occured....

In a land where the nature remain frozen up to eight months a year, only at the beginning of June lake Hovsgol will finally be free of ice! The surrounding land will remain frozen throughout the year 1/2 meter below its surface. This is what scientists call "permafrost". Frozen soil below the surface and soft ground on the top. Whenever it rains, the water stagnates, and running on such terrain is a dangerous, risky adventure. At every step your foot disappear, sucked in the unknown while your energy quickly fades. Half of the course was mapped along such difficult territory not counting three mountain passes at high altitude, for a total elevation of 3365 meters, roughly 10000 feet. The marathon itself included an elevation of 2400 meters.

Emerging from the woods after 5 k, the dawn had arrived. I was along with a skinny 23 years old mongol carrying a huge bag. We went on chatting, as his English was quite understandable, up to 20 K together. By that distance I had already swallowed a full liter of isotonic drink, but Bayar, as he called himself, simply refused the beverage that I had offered him twice, as he had mentioned earlier he would not drink before 25 K ! At that moment, at the summit of the first pass, where a freezing wind was blowing, I thought I had landed on the moon. Remoteness and isolation set in. We were surrouded by a large crater covered with sharp slices of rocks. Bayar asked me several times: do you mind if I go in front ?! Was that respect of my age as he had asked for it earlier on, or simply courteous behavior in front of a foreign visitor? Never ever I came across such a polite competitor, such a gentlemen runner. I could only urge him to go on: I am old, go ahead, win the race! As he accelerated, I thought he would exhaust himself and bow out before the end, but he amazingly finished 3rd of the 100 K. In between the first 2 passes, we went through horrible swamped, marshy valleys, often with water up to the calf. This is where my dream ended when I left an ankle, sprained, in the mud somewhere around 27 K. That was a terrible disappointment! I could not drop out of the race in such a way, as I had trained so hard for months just for that 100 k.; although I could wait for the rescue, I could hardly imagine how the organizers would help me out of this area?

Means of transportation are camels in the south, near the Gobi desert, horses and yaks! in the central steppes and the mountainous north where the race was held. I had no other option than to move on, at least up to a hospitable area. As my survival kit included adhesive bandage, I quickly strapped my injured foot, the Australian way, thanks to Jonathan Moses, I believe the best fizzio in HK, who had taught me weeks before the event how to do it. Warm I had to stay to stand a chance to continue, and I carried on up to the top of the 2nd pass, over slippery logs and rocks and through bramble. Just behind me were a Japanese group of 5 and 2 Americans. Although the Japanese sticked together, their leader was surprisingly not a flag carrier... The incline going down was steep and I had no other alternative than to walk while the group of the 7 runners dropped like snowballs and quickly disappeared in front, out of my sight. At the foot of the mountain, reaching 32 K on a flat portion and a decent trail, I thought, well, why to waste all this accumulated energy still available for a 100K. Ignore the pain, don't look at the swollen ankle and run as fast as possible to the marathon. But then, be courageous, don't be foolish, dare to drop out if you want to run ever again. That was 10 K of madness, of self-determination, of suffering ignorance. One by one, I caught up with 12 runners, to finish 4th out of 20, in six hours. Never before I encountered a tougher course. Never before I met with a marathon winner looking as strong as this Mongol man who battled 4h45 to finish the 42 K! That sort of time and performance might give you some idea of the course difficulties. I ended up on one leg, and went straight to the doctor ger, the so-called portable hospital! Meanwhile, the 100k runners were heading for the 3rd pass, and we heard that the French and German runners were battling up front for the first position, while the Mongols followed closely as well as a top female 100k runner from Japan.

In a country as large as Western Europe, there are only 2,3 millions inhabitants, out of which 1,8 millions are nomads. We therefore could not expect to be cheered by spectators, but we were at least "greeted" by hot potatoes, served at each aid station. The fluid was taken straight from the numerous streams along the course.

The last 30 k proved to be too much for the European, as a 29 year old Mongol powered himself to the front and never looked back until reaching the finish line, clocking 12p2, more than 40minutes ahead of the surprising Japanese female. My companion of the first hours finished completely drained, but in 3rd position, while German and French reached their goal after 14 hours. Apparently latest versions of camel backs, fanny packs, vitamin supplements, altimeter watches, heart rate monitors, isotonic drinks, fluorescent spandex and other western gimmicks were not enough to bother the Mongolians!

Running in dark forests with hungry wolves and bears around was considered a little bit dangerous, as imported meat, we were told, was a rare meal for the local animals! For that reason the organizers had set the time limit at 18 hours, from sunrise to sunset; the last 8 runners came in just in time for the after race banquet: giant pieces of fresh yak and mutton meat chopped probably with an axe, boiled in Mongol tea and served as a supreme delicacy. I ate, I mean I stuffed myself, I must admit, with...a bar of cereal.

The day after we flew to U.B. for the prize award ceremony held at the Chinggis Khan beer brewery where, as at the Hovsgol lake, the drinks were on the house the night long. Besides an original, colorful certificate and a warm sweater, the usual medal was replaced by a beautiful necklace in the shape of a round silver Mongol dress button.

Henri left early in the morning as he had to catch a plane to France where 48 hours later he would run successfully his 408th 100 k in something like thirteen hours! Meanwhile, we enjoyed the annual   Naadam festival, a combination of 3 sports events for the national day. In a roman look like amphitheater, wrestlers and archers fought for national supremacy, while outside U.B., hundreds of horse riders were battling over the hills and through the steppes in incredibly long races up to 30 kilometers!

And when the colors of the sky went from bright to pale, when my eyelids slowly drifted over my tired eyes, I saw an apocalyptic vision in the dimming light, trembling like a mirage over the horizon, amidst a suspended cloud of dust, thousands of horsemen just like the hordes of Attila and Gengis Khan, charging through the vast plain, heading towards the darkness of the night where they disappeared with the day light. I left my dream and Mongolia with a full bag of souvenirs and nostalgia.

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Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset 100km IAU Newsletter September 1999

Henri Girault (FRA) added another country stamp to his passport and another 100km race to his collection when he completed this innaugural race in Lake Hovsgol National Park near the border of Siberia in northern Mongolia.

Henri is a special person and we follow his career with interest. He has run more 100km events (much more) than any other person. We lose count of his achievements and before the ink is dry on the total 100kms he has completed we learn that he is running in another event. As a rough guide he has now completed at least 410 events over 100kms.

Competitors in this trail race are obliged to traverse three steep mountain passes with much of the off-trail ascents through mossy forest. The event is organised by a team of five experienced runners from Switzerland, Australia and USA and all competitors should know they are in “safe hands”. The next race will take place on July 6^th 2000 and is supported by the Mongolian Government.

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Mongolian runners prove trail blazers in Hovsgol marathon Mongol Messenger 28 July 1999

They came with their camel backs, fanny packs, vitamin supplements, altimeter watches and fluorescent spandex. They came from all over the world: the United States, England, South Africa, Japan, France and Switzerland. And they came with lots of experience. The athletes gathered on the shores of Lake Hovsgol for Mongolia’s first Ultramarathon had run thousands of cumulative kilometres in dozens of countries; and some had even won big time races.

Klaus Muttke had won the Leadville 100, a grueling 100 mile race in Colorado. Another runner was a champion of the Hong Kong 64 km race. Mary Ritz and Kristina Irvin were both experienced runners from the United States. Ritz is trying to become the first woman to run an Ultra-marathon on all seven continents, while Irvin has run atleast 70 Ultra’s.

But in the end it was the Mongolians who won the 100km and 42km races held July 8. But won doesn’t do their performance justice, dominated or obliterated are better words.

The Mongolians – with their tom shoes, floppy backpacks and old cotton track suits – stormed out of nowhere to finish with remarkable times over the wet and treacherous terrain, setting the pace for Mongolia’s first Ultramarathon.

“I am surprised they finished with these times. I didn’t expect anyone to run it so quickly.” said race organiser Tyler Pike, who set the course.

Even the Mongolians surprised themselves. None had ever run 100 kilometres before, they were noticeably ill-equipped for such a race, and they were tired. Almost all had driven or three days on bone jarring roads from Ulaanbaatar, while the foreign runners had been shuttled direct to the starting line days earlier in a MIAT helicopter.

“This race shows that Mongolians are able to face difficulties and challenges, it is one of their better qualities.” Said 100km race winner N. Tsogbaatar who finished in 12 hours 22 minutes. “No one knew what to expect, we had never seen anything like this. Winning an Ultra-marathon never crossed our minds, we just wanted to finish.”

Tsogbaatar’s long and lanky frame, ideal for running, proved the most enduring over 100km. But it was another Mongolian, Ch. Bjambadorj, who ran the fastest 42km segment. His marathon time of 4 hours and 45 minutes easily eclipsed Tsogbaatar, who came into the third aid station in 5 hours and 15 minutes. Bjambadorj, a guard at a power plant with a rough countryside face and compact, muscular body won with experience. The 32 year old is a Mongolia sports champion and has dollected dozens medals from local competitions.

“This was a difficult course, running up and down mountain sides, across rivers and through the marsh. But that was what made it fun. I found it more challenging and exciting than normal road races,” Bjambadorj said.

Japan Power
But the Mongolians didn’t steal the show entirely. Part of the glory was snagged by an unassuming Japaneses woman named Mari Takemura. The 30 year old office worker ran the 100km race in 13 hours flat, 38 minutes behind Tsogbaatar, but 19 minutes ahead of the third place finisher.

The shy and demure Takemura trotted across the finish line to the cheers of locals and other runners. She looked unfazed, as if running 100km was just a jog in the park. But then found herself as the centre of attention. The press wanted interviews and pictures, and everyone else offered their congratulations.

“I didn’t really expect that, but it was nice,” the Nagano native said.

Mari surprised the crowd again when she ran another five kilometres at the end of the race, accompanying her sister Nobu, who finished in 17 hours and 50 minutes.

Rounding out the rest of the top finishers in the 100km race were 3. B. Erdenebayar (MGL, 13 hours 19 minutes), 4. Klaus Dieter Muttke (GRM, 13 hr 27 min), 5. Gerard Verdenet (FRA, 14 hr), 6. T. Gurragchaa (MGL, 14 hr 23 min) 7. Dieter Jung (GRM, 14 hr 30 min), 8. B. Dorjbat (MGL, 14 hr, 38 min), 9. Tyler Pike (USA, 15 hr 39 min) and 9. Yoshimi Tsugawa (JPN, 15 hr 39 min).

After Biambadorj, the top runners in the 42 km marathon were 2. L. Batsengel (MGL, 5 hr 15 min), 3. Chris Hazen (USA, 5 hr 48 min), 4. Mark Progin (FRA, 6 hr 4 min), 5. David Mills (S. Africa, 6 hr 6 min). Three Mongolians, B. Ganchimeg, D. Tuvshingtogs and S. Bilegt, arrived just steps behind Mills. Ganchimeg, a resident of Moron, Hovsgol Aimag, was credited with the 42km win in the female category, despite Takemura’s 42km time of 5 hr 34 min.

The last competitors, Nobu Takemura, Kunihiko Tsunamura and Masaaki Yoshikawa, finished in 17 hours and 50 minutes – just before the 10pm deadline. The race was billed as the ‘Sunrise to Sunset’, and no runners were allowed to compete in the dark.

Fighting the Elements
Ironically, the race started in pitch darkness at 4:05 am, just outside the largest ger camp at Toilogt. The dark, wet and chilly night was a little unnerving, but there was too much adrenaline pumping to let these petty conditions matter.

All 36 runners counted down from 10 together, then plunged into the forest, stumbling and slipping their way across a rough single track. Rain had poured down all night and stopped just minutes before the races left the starting line, but conditions remained boggy.

Several runners veered slightly off the course in those first kilometres, and wandered in the darkness looking for the little bits of orange flag which were strung along the 100 kilometre trail. The dawn had arrived by the time the runners were out of the forest and on the main jeep road headed north. The track hugged the shoreline for 12 kilometres until the first rest station at kilometre 12. Mongolian doctors and cooks, along with foreign assistants were on hand to help the runners. Food and drink were made available, but most runners stayed no more than three or four minutes.

I was running the race myself, to gain a better perspective on the event, but was forced to walk almost all of the course after injuring my knee around kilometre 8. I was crawling along the flats and downhill, but felt fine on the uphill.. Which was good because after the first aid station, the trail ground its way un and over the…

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Over the river and through the woods Mongol Messenger 7 July 1999

The rugged mountains and wolf infested forests of Lake Hovsgol National Park seem an unlikely place to hold a foot race; but on July 8, these very shores will be home to Mongolia’s first “ultramarathon”.

The Sunrise to Sunset race is a gruelling 100km long course that includes 3,300 metres of elevation change. Organisers have put a cap of 18 hours to finish the race, which begins at the break of dawn. “No one will be running in the dark,” said race organiser Nicolas Musy.

26 runners have signed up for the event [36 actually participated]– including 6 Mongolians. Other competitors hail from Japan, the United States, Switzerland, France, Great Britain and South Africa. For those that can’t hack the 100km, another course has been set that is only42 km. An eight hour cap has been put on this segment.

The last runner to be included was 23 year old B. Erdenebayar, a mathematician from Uvs Aimag with a passion for running. Erdenebayar said he heard about the Sunrise to Sunset run just hours before a July 2 press conference which gave a race update for the media. After the final questions were asked, Erdenebayar shot his hand in the air and asked Musy if he could run the 100 km. Musy accepted – a true display of the friendly and open spirit of competition that the event brings.

Erdenebayar, who said he once ran 70 km in 6 hours, was enthusiastic about the event, indicating that such a competition would be good for Lake Hovsgol and Mongolia.

“Its set in a great location, perhaps the best place to run a race in Mongolia. I think all the runners and the spectators will enjoy it,” he said.

Other runners include 62 year old Frenchman Henri Girault, who holds the world record for the number of 100km races run – 406 in total. Leading Japanese female ultrarunning sisters, Mari and Nobu Takemura will also run the race. Leading the field of Mongolian runners will be Sodnompil Dondogdorj, Mongolia’s 1997 and 1998 marathon record holder.

The first 12 km of the race are an easy lake side jaunt to the Chichee Aid Station (elevation 1650 m). Kilometre 17 is the Chichee Pass at 2300 metres. Kilometer 25.5 drops back down to 1700 metre before the course climbs back to 2100 metres. The race descends again to the lake side before climbing again to the 2000 metre Jankhai Pass at kilometre 59. After a series of hills and valleys, the last 12 kilometres are along the lake.

Musy admits that the course will be extremely difficult, but such is the nature of an ultramarathon.

Foreign runners are paying $1500 for a package that includes round trip transportation from Beijing to Camp Toilogt (the start of the race), accommodation and meals at a ger camp at Toilogt, entertainment and the $200 race entry fee. Mongolians run for free.

The race is a non-profit event and proceeds will be put into a fund to assist in environmental projects at Lake Hovsgol. Musy told reporters that the $4000 profit from this year’s event will be used to purchase a garbage truck that will collect trash at Hovsgol ger camps for disposal in Hatgal.

The Sunrise to Sunset is sponsored by Montrail, a trailrunning a trekking footwear producer and Altrec, a leading adventure sports website. The major local sponsors are Mongol Daatgal and Chingis Beer – which has offered cash, beer and meals. The race will be filmed by Transworld sport, the video production arm of IMG, the world’s largest sports production company. The programme will be distributed to over 100 rebroadcasters, and eventually to a local TV station.

Musy expects that the event – planned to be held annually – will grow in coming years. He has already predicted that next summer’s run will raise between $10,000 and $20,000.

“This is the private initiative of a few people that like Mongolia, its purpose is to promote this country as a place for people that like nature. And the money we raise will be used to develop ecoutourism,” he explained.

Musy says the residents of Lake Hovsgol are welcoming the event as a sort of “second Naadam.” When he ran in the hills near Hovsgol two years ago, Musy said the locals were baffled, but have since gotten used to the idea of “transportation without a horse.”

“They are very strong up there, I think one day we will have a local runner doing 100km,” he said.

Locals will also play an integral role in setting up the event. Paid workers have marked the course with yellow ribbons and will man the eight rest stations. Mongolian doctors and a local search and rescue team will also be on hand to assist if necessary.

Locals have also been busy making the traditional garments embroidered with ‘Sunrise to Sunset’ logos, which will be sold to tourists and race participants.

In the spirit of the ‘fun run’, race winners will be awarded with a certificate and a silver button made in Hovsgol. Three Hovsgol Members of Parliament will be on hand for the award ceremony. All racers will be given T-shirts and will be led back to Ulaanbaatar in time for next week’s Nadaam festival.

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Mongolia seems to attract the craziest people. In past several years, adventurers have ridden horses and bicycles across Mongolia, climbed to its highest peaks, skied its longest slopes, and kayaked its wildest rivers. But now comes an entirely new breed of pain pushers – the ultra runners.

On July 8, the shores and mountains of Lake Hovsgol will be home to Mongolia’s first ultramarathon, a gruelling 100 km run. Race organisers bill the event as the “sunrise to sunset” run, as that is how long it will take most competitors to complete the course – a full 18 hour day. “Ultramarathons are the next wave in long distance running and are attracting people committed to either greater levels of fitness or greater degrees of adventure given by ‘traditional’ marathons and road races. Ultramarathons seek to break all boundaries regarding terrain, distance or location limitations,” says co-organiser Chris Hazen.

More than 100 competitors from North America, Europe and Japan are expected to participate, including some of the world’s top ultra runners. Locally based runners, both Mongolians and expatriates are also welcome, but numbers will be limited. For those who can’t hack the full 100km, a regular length marathon of 42 km is also in store.

Race organisers, which include ‘Leadville 100’ consultants and Baz Holley, a world renowned race organiser, say they can’t imagine a more ideal place for such an event. With “easy on the legs” soft ground and the pristine environment of Lake Hovsgol as a backdrop, the Sunrise to Sunset is an ultra runner’s dream come true. “Lake Hovsgol is an alpine wilderness area that symbolizes the commitment of Mongolians to preserve their environment intact. It is one of the most spectacular scenic areas in Mongolia, if not all of Central Asia,” Hazen said.

The course begins at Camp Toilogt, a three hour jeep ride from Hatgal – Hovsgol’s jumping off point. The first 20 km are an easy lake side jaunt, things then become more complicated as the course heads into the hills and over a 2600 metre pass. After a series of valleys, runners arrive at the midway station. Two more valleys and a 2500 metre pass later, surviving trailblazers take on the final 15 km lake shore run to the finish. An 18 hour time limit will be set, runners behind the pade at aid stations will be stopped. The entire race has a gain/loss of 5000 metres. The lowest elevation is 1500 metres and the highest 2600 metres. This is not a race for the unfit. Aid stations will be dotted along the course, along with doctors and other medical staff. Locals will be asked to help set up stations and distribute water. A helicopter will even be on site for emergency purposes.

The race organisers, all experienced ultra runners from Europe, Australia and the U.S., have lined up big name sponsors for the event including Nike and Iridium [not correct]. Locally based sponsors are also expected sign on.

The ‘Sunrise to Sunset’, a planned annual event, will also leave something behind. Proceeds from the race will start a foundation to promote environment friendly travel in Mongolia, including ‘eco-improvements’ for tour companies and ger camps. The foundation, still in its infancy, could provide ger camps with wind mills, solar generators, water saving devices and waste recycling ability. Other sustainable tactics such as environmental education and programme consulting are being considered.

Dozens of ideas for the project are being tossed around, but co-organizer David Bernasconi says things will be taken one step at a time. “We need to raise funds to promote eco-tourism. The foundation can’t happen unless we can raise the money.” Bernasconi, an entrepreneur involved in real estate in Ulaanbaatar, says the foundation is designed to keep Mongolia pristine during a time when tourism is just starting to sprout its wings. “The impact of tourism has been negative in a lot of countries in Asia, we want to make sure the same thing does not happen in Mongolia.” The first step to upgrading the eco-awareness in Mongolia, says Bernasconi, is an eco-aware ultramarathon. “Zero impact,” he touts. “That is why we are limiting the number of runners.”

Runners from abroad can expect to pay more than $1500 for the race. This includes round trip transportation from Beijing to Camp Toilogt, accommodation, entertainment and the $200 race entry fee. Fees for Mongolians have not been determined.

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