WRITING ABOUT TRAIL RUNNING
My Perspectives for Public Discourse
“Trail running is a unique kind of adventure sport”.
Your mind, body, and soul can disengage from daily affairs and become entirely immersed in nature, wildlife, biodiversity, and mountains. Trail running allows you to experience romanticism with the beauty of nature. Although running uphill and downhill is a difficult endeavor without a squad to assist, being in the outdoors and being embraced by nature elevates your emotions to a new level. The key factor in your ability to learn to adjust to the trails is your mindset. It changes you to overcome your limitations in order to chase your goals. Trail running is undoubtedly one of the best activities for maintaining good health and happiness.
I've already completed more than a hundred trail runs in Nepal, and most of which took place along the rim of the Kathmandu Valley. The running journey was a combination of enthusiasm, curiosity, obstacles, and moments of awe that inspired me to push myself further than previously. Every trail, no matter how long or short, had something deeply reminiscing, directs broader attention, and influences the sustainability of mother nature.
[Image: Nagarjun Forest Reserve]
Professional trail runners may consider winning the race as a motivating factor, but in my case, despite having several opportunities to run alongside them, my perception of and experience with the trails has changed substantially. Trail running provides the purest, most positive experience of romanticism with nature-based pathways that encourage the mind, body, and spirit to reconnect with nature. While this may serve as a motivating factor for my sustained interest in running, I've also come to an understanding that the land of Mt. Everest offers a wealth of opportunities to demonstrate its potential as a trail runners' paradise. I previously stated, simply running is insufficient since the love of the trails and the surrounding environment demands the search for connections between trails and tourism.
The first attempt at turning my love for trail running into a sustainable national-level discourse for the larger community, society, and economy—local and global—will be a writing project titled ‘Trail and Tourism in Nepal- My Trail Running Perspectives for Public Discourse’.
Enjoy reading!
Bishal Raj Paudyal, CA
29-05-2023
I am a long distance hiker. One day, I hope to walk the Great Himalayan Trail from end to end. More events like the Annapurna Marathon to help keep the trails of Nepal as amazing a place as they are!