Triathlon story
The Triathlons can be classical, but they have inspired other kinds of Triathlons.
In 1977 Eric Lon, then aged 27, was second in a French National Triathlon organized by the International Federation of Body Builders: IFBB.
In 1992 Eric was organizing French biathlons in Nature: the “trails”.
In 2009, Eric is pioneering the first Himalayan triathlon in the Annapurnas This Nepalese trekking company is used to open new ways.
To be understood this new concept of Himalayan Triathlon must be detailed.

Himalayan Triathlon: running, swimming, paddling.
The first triathletes approached are both enthusiast with the idea of taking part in a new and great challenge in the Himalayas, but on the other hand they are afraid by the height of this adventure. This is a wise reaction because they are not used to trek in the high mountains.
The Himalayan Triathlon is not made for crazy people. At the contrary it is under preparation to offer the greatest safety in off roads Himalayan conditions.

Running
Running in high altitude is possible.
A friend of Eric Lon, who is also a French physiotherapist, was used to organize the highest race in the world, to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Africa. For several years the participants coming from all over the world, generally from sea level, climbed running from 1850 meters to around 5600 meters, and back down within five days. No accident occurred. Eric Has shot this event.

Nowadays there are more and more international participants in the Everest Marathon and also in the Annapurnas, crossing the Thorong La pass: 5416 meters, where the Himalayan Triathlon will end.
During the Himalayan Triathlon running will be only when ascending the trails, without taking any risk at the descent.

Swimming
Swimming in cold water and at high altitude is possible.
In cold countries like Scandinavia people are used to break the ice of the lakes for taking a bath. They are nor catching a cold.
Nowadays the iron triathletes are used to swim long distances in cool waters with a long wet costume. They will wear the same costume in the Himalayas.

For more than 30 years Eric Lon is used to swim naked in high mountains lakes. He is using a special yoga exercise to warm his body within. It is easy to learn. Eric is not crazy. At the contrary he is a French certified swimming teacher trained to save lives. He knows the limits to respect. Have a look to his photo gallery.

Paddling
Paddling with a kayak at high altitude lakes will replace biking because it is much safer than carrying a bike on his shoulders up to rocky trails and taking the risk of falling down at the descent.
Eric Lon has already experienced positive paddling adventures in the Indians Himalayas as well as in the Annapurnas. Paddling at such places is like being on the top of the world.

Combining the challenges
Running on the Himalayan trails and then swimming and paddling at high altitude lakes is available for many fit people looking for new outdoors challenges.

The title of the first book of Eric Lon is: “Challenges on skis”. Eric loves the challenges. The first Himalayan Triathlon is a challenge especially made for you.

Combining different adventures is a challenge both for the body and for the mind.

The acclimatization is the more important thing to respect for going higher in Himalaya.

Even for very fit people it is not recommended to land on a high mountain and to start doing a lot of efforts. Some skiers are using the helicopter, but they are skiing down. The Himalayan triathletes will run up: this is very different.

To avoid the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness, it is highly recommended, even to fit people, to get acclimatizing slowly by trekking from low altitude.

As a certified physiotherapist and also a physical training teacher who has a lot of experience with trekking in the Himalayas, Eric is proposing to start trekking on a gentle way, following for a week the famous “Annapurnas Circuit”. He knows it.

It is only from the altitude of 3320 meters that the Himalayan Triathlon will start.

For avoid any accident on the descents, the running race will be only on the ascents.

Swimming and paddling will be only with your own long swimming costume.

Respecting these wise precepts the triathletes can take part in the first edition at the beginning of October 2010.

If you are afraid because you don’t have any high mountain experience, you can take part in the special trek organized in September 2009 on the itinerary of the Himalayan Triathlon.

You can also take part in the second trek which will be organized at the beginning of October 2010 on the same itinerary, but not at the same speed as the triathletes.

If there are not enough participants to organize the first edition of the Himalayan Triathlon in 2010, it will be postponed in 2011, but both treks will be completed in 2010.

> DATES
14 October - 21 October 2010
The triathlon will follow the Annapurna trek itineray. Details here

Triathlon itinerary
At the beginning and during one week it is not a triathlon’ run but a classic trek on the Annapurnas Circuit in order to generate the acclimatization. Please have a look to the detailed itinerary connected with the trek around Annapurnas, and visit the photo gallery.

Triathlon day 1: from Humde 3320 meters to Manang 3520 meters.
This first run is done on a wide trail without any difficulty, in an easy environment, with many tea shops on the way. The triathletes must be self sufficient when running daily.

Triathlon day 2: from Manang to Milarepa cave: 4000 meters.
Run down from Manang to Braga village by the same way as yesterday. At Braga village you will cross the river, the fields and ascent a hill by a narrow steep trail. You will pass trough high summer village. It is a very good opportunity to learn adapting your speed and run style to the slope and to the altitude.
Magnificent arrival on a beautiful spot at the bottom of Annapurnas III where there is a Buddhist monastery and o big statue of Milarepa and his disciple, a hunter from Braga.
Way back to Manang by walking softly. Enjoy the Himalayas: take photos.

Triathlon day 3: from Manang to Ice Lake: 4600 meters.
Run on an excellent trail with steep slopes ascending and some flat sections. The Himalayan landscape of the Annapurnas, Gangapurna and Tilicho peak is exceptional. The next days we will come closer to these beautiful mountains.
Ice Lake is the end of the run. It is not frozen at that time, but no swim is allowed in this holly lake.
Way back to Manang by walking softly. Enjoy the Himalayas, take different photos.

Triathlon day 4: from Manang to Tilicho high camp crest: 4900 meters.
Start from Gangapurna Lake: 3500 meters. Run easily on the narrow but well maintained trail, crossing one bridge, and run softly till the higher crest: 4900 meters.
No run in the rolling stones leading to the Tilicho high camp hotel, 4150 meters, where we will spend two nights. It is a nice place for yoga and massage.

Triathlon day 5: from High camp hotel to Tilicho Lake: 4920 meters.
Run on a regular narrow steep trail. The trekkers are used to reach Tilicho Lake within 3 hours. What will be your time? Wonderful close view of the Grand Barrier of the Himalayas crowned with snow and ice.
Paddling and swimming at Tilicho Lake presented as the highest lake of the world.
Walk back to hotel Tilicho: 4150 meters.

Triathlon day 6:  from High camp hotel to Yak Karka: 4500 meters.
Take your time for the long run ascending on a narrow trail. Reach a beautiful and easy pass dominating two valleys. Then walk down on a gentle way until crossing the river and reaching the main trail of the Annapurnas circuit to start running again until Yak Karka.
Enjoy a long afternoon  yoga and massage session.

Triathlon day 7: from Yak Karka to High camp hotel: 4850 meters.
Short run on the main trail with a steep ascent on the last section above Thorong Phedi. There is a big board giving information about Acute Mountain Sickness. Be reasonable when you are running at the altitude of the Mont Blanc.
To give you a comparison, Eric Lon is used to trek slowly in one day from the Tilicho hotel to the high camp hotel, and the next evening he is resting below Muktinath.

Triathlon day 8: High camp hotel to Thorong La: 5416 meters.
Run on a regular ascent through amazing high mountains landscapes.
Swimming and paddling at the lakes close to Thorong La. End of the triathlon.
The awards should be given at Kathmandu by the Ambassador of France.
From Thorong La it is a classic trek down to Muktinath and Jomosom and then a flight to Pokhara and to Kathmandu.

Let’s talk about this project of Himalayan Triathlon
Let’s spread the words about this project with your sport friends and with trekkers.
Have a look to the photo gallery of Eric to visualize the different parts of the trek.
Each photo has both a comment in English and in French.
You can add your comment on Flickr.com

Eric is used to trek slowly: you can do it faster being aware that the efforts in the high mountains are more strenuous.
Run as softly as an old Himalayan goat if you want to run and trek all the way long.

The first Himalayan is under preparation under control of the Nepalese Authorities.



Contact: eric@yogatrekking.com