Bikedock Belles

The lastminute.com decision to go the Himalayas was also nearly turned on its head lastminute.com, when Taryn's India visa application still hadn't been processed with 2 days until departure. True to form she pulled out all the stops, so much so that the pendulum swung from having no visa at all with 24 hours to go until the flight and therefore couldn't go to the race, to having two passports with two Indian visas in her hand just 12 hours before departure.

A huge sigh of relief was breathed as the Belles finally sat down on their flight from Belfast on Wednesday 20 October. Hmmmm, the journey ended just the way it had begun then, breathing a huge sigh of relief to be on the flight home again 10 days later!

After 24 hours of travelling, Taryn and Andrea arrived in Delhi on Thursday evening, where they began to truly share this incredible adventure – more audibly than some cared for! After a day around the city on Friday, they were back at the airport for a flight to the mountains and their first view of the spectacular countryside and ascents that they would be covering!

It all lay ahead of us, rose-tinted was the preconceived idea that the Belles would arrive home from the dizzy heights of this challange, rejuvenated by the fresh mountain air, feeling on top of the world and ready to wind down the rest of 2010 and bring in 2011 with renewed vigour. Ahem?!

The girls spent Saturday night acclimatising at 6,000 feet (upstairs in a hotel!) and on Sunday went on a road trip to Darjeeling, to spend a few hours at 7,500 feet, before returning to sleep at 6,000 feet. The day trip allowed an insight into local life, giving glimpses of the West Bengal way of work, rest, play and religion. Later that evening the girls reflected further on biblical references, with particular emphasis on the story of Noah's Ark! Then before lights out, they were forced to test new boundaries. Personal, physical…..the Belles know no bounds!

Monday 25 October – Race Day 1

24 miles - 10,000 ft ascent and 3,800 ft descent

The 445am alarm came around too quickly, particularly when the race didn't start until 730am! But there was a 1½ - 2 hour bus ride from our hotel to the start line. As it turned out this was one of the most pleasurable parts of the 5-day event! The drive took us up through lush green tea plantations in bright early morning sunshine, with the backdrop of some of the world's highest snow-covered mountains.

The group of 63 participants (7 from Northern Ireland!) reached the start area just before 700am. The little street was lined with locals, all bemused by this band of merry?! Westerners who were setting off to run in the mountains for 5 days. Adventurers from 14 countries (USA, UK, Germany, Spain, Argentina, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Brazil, Ireland, Italy, Chile, Venezuela, and Serbia) were taking part in this event. The Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race has been distinguished as one of the world's most challenging and toughest endurance events with "AAA" rating.

After a local prayer blessing, all competitors received a white, silk, good luck scarf (much to the astonishment of Taryn, who thought it was too heavy to carry for the day!) and then the racing hooter sounded. The journey proper had begun!

It was a fast start down through the village, which lasted all of 2 minutes before the steep up hill began and everybody started to walk! The first uphill was extremely lengthy and relentless, immediately setting the tone for things to come during the 5 days! The first downhill also set the tone, there was little opportunity to recover on the downhill given the extremely uneven and rocky surfaces. Many found the downhill as challenging as the uphill, and many ended up falling and displaying war wounds throughout the week!

Taryn and Andrea had no plans to run together during the challenge, but on the first day found themselves within shouting distance of each other for much of the time. Taryn was feeling under par, quite surprising given her extensive rest and relaxation?!, and training and tapering plan?!, before the lastminute.com trip! Andrea was feeling strong, eager to embrace the huge challenge and keep on climbing. With 5 miles left to go on that gruesome first day, the two Belles decided to stick together for the final onslaught of gradient.

They had been warned in particular about the final 500m climb at altitude of 12,000 ft and in a demonstration of zeal, Andrea shouted through gritted teeth "we're nearly there….right…c'mon you fecker!". Taryn replied, "ok then", totally misunderstanding that Andrea was addressing the ascent and not her!

In high spirits, the Belles crossed the finish line together after 5hrs 55mins – and high up the field in 15the place. The finish was a primitive camp at Sandakphu, a welcome sight at the end of Day 1 that had brought with it many memories already. Bands of smiling, waving children along the route; friendly and encouraging soldiers near border areas; curious villagers; numerous temples; colourful prayer flags fluttering in the wind; the beginnings of bonds with fellow participants.

Tuesday 26 October – Race Day 2

20 miles - 4,000 ft ascent and 4,000 ft descent

A 430am start on Day 2 to be up for sunrise and the new day breaking over the surrounding mountains. From our camp, 4 of the world's 5 highest mountains are visible - Kanchenjunga dominates the scene….while Everest, Makalu, and Lhotse huddle together on the other side.

The temperature outside was baltic, making it hard to get out of our bunk house. Taryn in particular, given she had equipped herself with a sleeping bag that has been used at the North Pole and Everest by famed Northern Ireland adventurer Hannah Shields! Little did Hannah know that such a technical bit of kit would be used indoors on a bed rather than outdoors in a snow cave! Nor alongside the luxury of lavender mist pillow spray! Every adventurer uses it!

After a 530am breakfast, again a hearty meal (and don't we just love it that such extreme events mean you can eat chips and chocolate at any hour of the day!!), it was time to prepare for the 700am race start. All a bit surreal, shivering away at zero degrees but slapping on the sun-cream for protection from as early as 0700am.

Day 2 was an easier stage than Day 1, made more so by the stunning views from what has to be one of the most beautiful running trails in the world. Perhaps about 50% of the route was runnable (compared to about 10% on Day 1!!) but again many found the rocky terrain extremely difficult. The stage was an out and back route, which included a tough ascent at the very end to the 10-mile turnaround point and then a testing 2 miles at the very end before the finish back in Sandakphu.

Taryn and Andrea were again within shouting distance for much of the race, until the last 4 miles when Andrea started to feel grim and struggled to keep moving forward. This proved to be the start of mental warfare, with all sorts of tactics being adopted to keep putting one foot in front of the other! In contrast, by this stage Taryn had found her running legs (aided by a dose of iboprufen!) and finished the 20 miles at a good pace.

Taryn clocked 4hrs 6min and Andrea 4hrs 8min. Again the girls finished highly at 15^th and 16^th places.

Wednesday 27 October – Race Day 3

Mount Everest Challenge Marathon – 26.2 miles (ahem??!!), 4,000 ft ascent, 9,000 ft descent

Challenge bests describes Day 3 rather than Marathon! Organisers, despite years of protests about the length of this route, continue to pin the distance at 26.2 miles…..but GPS data, and manual calculations on the basis of distances marked on aid stations towards the end, put Day 3 at a minimum 31 miles. It's an Ultra, not a Marathon!

The vast majority of competitors found this stage took them to, if not past, their limits and visible emotion was on display at the finish line. This was a true test of endurance and character, with the seemingly never-ending course resulting in many cases of extremely low morale.

The race started at 0600am and for the first couple of hours the runners negotiated frost covered, uneven terrain. The first 10 miles of the day were the same as the out bit of Day 2, before participants faced an additional 4-mile out, 4-mile back route and then a 8-mile?! (plus the extra 5 miles that aren't officially recognised!) continuous quad-busting descent. At the bottom of the descent, when racers think the finish line is in sight, they are told there is another 4 miles to go.

The icing on the cake is that at the finish line, the official distance is 41.8km – in km terms that's actually just less than a Marathon!

For the Belles, this was a tale of two halves!

Taryn felt on top form as the stage got underway and had a blast of race, demonstrating great strength on the uphills, but superb technique and speed on the testing downhill. By the end of the day, everybody was talking about her – and for once it wasn't because of her bright pink kit!! This was a truly impressive running performance and her ability allowed her to enjoy the spectacular views that the additional out-and-back part boasted, as well as savour the memorable experiences of running through remote villages and witnessing daily life in the mountains.

Andrea, who had been struck by illness during the previous night, started the day feeling grim – and ended the day feeling even more grim! Nothing about the stage was pleasurable and the amazing vista was not appreciated. Every step from the very beginning was a challenge, made more so by the immediate onset of regular vomiting during the race, and the knowledge that she had only started an extremely long stage and would be out there for hours, on her own. To describe it as the "worst day (physically) of my life" is no exaggeration and in fact in doesn’t even come close to just how abhorrent this experience was.

In tears (not for the first time that day!), Andrea crossed the line in Rimbik and slumped to the ground in a time of 7hrs 28min. Still, in the top half of the table at 27^th place and 11^th female.

Taryn had stormed home in 5hrs 51min – putting her in 3^rd female spot and an impressive 8^th overall.

Thursday 28 October – Race Day 4

13 miles – 2,500 ft ascent, 2,000 ft descent

A lie in until 0700am! And Day 4 also marks the end of the off-road route, and onto tarmac. The final two days are for road runners. The route started from Rimbik with an extremely long downhill, which many found difficult however given the testing long off-road downhill the previous day. The road then meandered along a river before crossing a bridge and climbing up towards the finish at Palmajua.

Taryn had another awesome run, while Andrea continued to struggle. Another grim day was only made more bearable by the company of one of the top Spanish girls, who had suffered in exactly the same way as Andrea the previous day. So the two were grim together!

Taryn clocked 1hr 59min and Andrea 2hrs 34min, before collapsing at the side of the road! Where Taryn relished in taking photos! The Belles were again top half of the results table.

Participants were brought back to Rimbik by bus from Palmajua, allowing relaxation time in the afternoon – or to go to bed feeling ill and sorry for yourself!

Unfortunately there was a 5pm deadline however, with a "cultural evening" part of the organisers' timetable! Each nation had to get up and perform a traditional dance or a song from their country, as locals crowded around for their biggest party of the year! The Spanish did an impressive version of the Macarena, South Africa drew on the infamous noise of the World Cup vuvuzela, the Germans did a form of lederhosen dance…………what did the 7 of us from Northern Ireland do? Well, we stood up and said, "we were going to sing a song, but can't sing, we were going to do a dance, but can't dance" …."so instead we're going to do a human pyramid, which we've never tried before"! At least our attempt provided entertainment, whereas a song or a dance certainly wouldn't have done!

Friday 29 October – Race Day 5

17 miles – 3,500 ft ascent, 3,500 ft descent

Another 500am start for the final day of the race. A bus drives us back to Palmanjua for the 17 miles on tarmac to Maneybhanyjang. Many were drained, but eager to get underway and get the thing finished! The final day starts with a relentless 6 miles uphill through the forests before a long, gradual descent to the finish. School children lined that last 30 metres to the finish line, where the impact of what everybody had just achieved hit some more than others.

For the Belles, the overriding feeling was relief.

Taryn finished the last day in 3hrs 3min and Andrea in 3hrs 28min.

Overall Results:

Total Race Time – Taryn 20hrs 54min, Andrea 23hrs 34min

Female Rank – Taryn 5^th, Andrea 9^th

Overall rank – Taryn 11^th, Andrea 20^th

The fastest Male time was 16hrs 23min and the fastest Female time was 17hrs 8min.

The slowest Male time was 39hrs 35min and the slowest Female time was 39hrs 6min.

The race complete, it was back to HQ for a celebratory dinner and awards ceremony, before an early night and getting ready for the long journey home. The trip back from the mountains to Delhi took up most of Saturday, with the trip time home from Delhi then another 24 hours.

Taryn and Andrea had traveled with 5 other girls from Northern Ireland, all of whom successfully complete the race. Most of the group relished in the adventure of the event and enjoyed the company of likeminded N'rn I'rn females! They also relished the company of their extended group, having met up with 8 other runners from England at Heathrow under the organization of Nice Work, the running specialist and event management company based in East Sussex and headed by Martin and Cathy Burke.

Himalaya 100 was a memorable experience. The organization by Mr Pandey and his team was second to none, with well stocked water and aid stations every couple of miles, top quality medical care and fantastic food in ample and frequent supply.

Yes, it's all memorable, whether for the good, the bad or the ugly! For whatever reason, the power of the mind keeps the body moving forward even when it has very little power at all. The battle is maintaining even just a little of the power of the mind, which is the most draining feat when tested to the limits. "Run if you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must – just keep moving forward". It can be hell on earth, but it is possible.

Anyway, it wasn't all bad – only 70% of it! – and perhaps more so than ever Taryn and Andrea again showed that even in the depths of despair and misery, their laughter and like-mindedness will always see them through.

So, that preconceived idea that the Belles would arrive home from the dizzy heights, rejuvenated by the fresh mountain air, feeling on top of the world and ready to wind down the rest of 2010 and bring in 2011 with renewed vigour? How wrong can you be?!

Totally wiped out, altitude sickness, malnourishment, and jet lag. Hair and skin far from a healthy state, congested heads and sinuses, difficulty in breathing, chesty coughs and phlegm!

It's a glamorous sport!

Ding Dong!

Ps how funny that the pics make it look like we were on a jolly!

Andrea