Holidays

As expected, October has been a slow month so far. Fever and flu kept me out of action of nearly 2 weeks and I'm only now really recovering my stamina. For someone used to running almost daily, 2 weeks of inactivity has a very noticeable effect.

It's now Deshain time in Nepal, which is the biggest festival of the year for most Nepalis. Shops are mostly closed and schools are on holiday. Yesterday I celebrated the main day of the festival with family, receiving tikka and barley to wear behind my ear. Nepali Hindus believe barely was the first food, given by god, so it has a special significance for them.

On Wednesday I will travel to Pokhara, to take part in what will be the by far the hardest race of my life, the Annapurna 100. This is a 50km trail race in the Himalayas, with more than 3kms of vertical ascent, and reaching a peak altitude of around 3500 metres.  It's completely unlike anything I've ever run before and large sections of it, i.e. those going up!, promise to be physical and mental torture!

So why am I doing it? Well, apart from the fact that I like a challenge (you have to if you want to work in Nepal really!) I'm trying to raise money for Manisha UK's Learning Resource Centre. So please, click the link below and sponsor me to support a really amazing cause. Just a pound or two goes a long way in Nepal and every donation really does make a difference.

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DanWichmann