Batasia Loop couple excel inKalimpong Ultra Marathon

Yawan Gurung, EOI, MIRIK, MARCH 24, 2024 : Renu Rana of Batasia Loop, Darjeeling, came first in the women's category in the 2nd edition of the 90 km "Kalimpong Ultra Marathon" organised by Run with Roshni Foundation which was held at Pedong, Kalimpong, on Sunday. 

She completed her race with a timing of 13 hours four minutes and 15 seconds and was awarded with the prize money of Rs20,000. 

Her husband Bikram Thapa secured the third position in the similar event in the men's category. He completed his race with a timing of nine hours 56 minutes and 16 seconds and was awarded with the prize money of Rs 10,000. 

The Kalimpong UltraMarathon organized by Run with Roshni Foundation is one of the longest distance races in the entire hills. 

The 90 km run started from Pedong at 5 am and it went up to Phaperkheti via Lava and returned and finished in Pedong. 

The cut off time for the 90 km race was 14hours.The route was selected so it tests runners who will do their last and longest training run before the Comrades Marathon of 89 km in South Africa. 

Around 200 runners from all across the country had participated in this event.

Project Life, an NGO has posted in its Facebook page stating that its member Renu Rana from Batasia Loop, Darjeeling and her husband Bikram Thapa who also is a trustee have secured the first and third position in the women's and men's category respectively in the Kalimpong Ultramarathon. 

It has congratulated Renu for clinching the top position in the women's category at the 2nd Kalimpong Ultra Marathon, the challenging 90 km race organized by Run with Roshni Foundation in Kalimpong, finishing in 13 hours 4 minutes and 15 seconds. It has expressed kudos also to Bikram Thapa for securing 3rd place in the men's category with a remarkable timing of 9 hours 56 minutes and 16 seconds.