EVEREST TRAIL RACE 2025 – STAGE 6

Posted on November 19, 2025 by talkultra

The Final Push to Glory in Lukla

The end is in sight. After five brutal, beautiful days in the high Himalayas, Stage 6 of the 2025 Everest Trail Race delivers the final blow and the final reward. It’s 28.5 kilometres fo Lukla, a day marked by more descent than ascent: 2612 meters down, 1578 meters up, and every single step earned.

An early start, the arrival of the sun and soon, the heat will come – not only in the sky but with the bodies of each participant.

The day kicks off with iconic trails that weave from Stupa to Stupa to Namche Bazaar, the buzzing Sherpa hub perched on the mountainside like a fortress.

The backdrop behind, stunning, but the participants don’t get a chance to see it…

Namche brings checkpoint 1, it’s welcome, the early kilometres had worked the body hard with a steep descent, followed by a gentle climb and then an ‘easy’ run to the refreshment.

The early kilometers retrace some familiar ground – Sanasa, Phunki Tenga, and trails edged with mani stones and prayer flags, twisting through pine forests and clinging to cliffs. But don’t call it a repeat. The fatigue, the altitude, and the stakes make every step feel different.

This stage is less about vertical brutality and more about holding form, keeping control as the trail drops fast and hard. Quads burn, knees scream, but momentum is everything.

Soon, the trail funnels runners toward the legendary new Hillary Bridge – a sweeping, high-tension crossing that swings over the Dudh Kosi with views that could stop you in your tracks, if the clock wasn’t ticking.

Past the bridge, it’s Jorsale, where the race starts to feel like it’s dragging runners home. The Phakding checkpoint (CP2) marks another milestone, each bib scanned there is one step closer to Everest Trail Race glory.

By the time runners hit Cheplung, it’s all on the table. Here, a sharp left turn signals the endgame: the final climb to Lukla and oce again, Nepal and the Porters remind us, how lucky we are!

It’s not long, but it bites. After the day’s long descent, this uphill kick demands whatever strength is left in the tank. Runners grit teeth, dig deep, and push toward the town that marks the start of most Everest dreams, and now, the finish of this one.

Crossing into Lukla is like breaking through into another world. Crowds, bells, cheers, and tears—this is where it all ends. For some, it’s a triumphant sprint. For others, a silent, emotional walk over the line. But for everyone, it’s the culmination of six days of relentless racing through some of the world’s toughest terrain.

The 2025 Everest Trail Race is done, everyone earned more than a medal, they earned the mountain’s respect.

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EVEREST TRAIL RACE 2025 – STAGE 5

Posted on November 18, 2025 by talkultra

Into the Heart of the Himalayas

Stage 5 of the Everest Trail Race pulls no punches. At 24km with a punishing 2,483 meters of ascent, this is the stage that earns its reputation as the toughest of them all. The numbers alone are intimidating, but it’s the relentless terrain and shifting altitude that test runners on every level – physical, mental, emotional.

This year’s route sees a change from previous editions, adding new layers of challenge and beauty. Starting in the shadow of Sagarmatha National Park’s giants, the trail weaves through the quiet village of Chumoa before rising into the bustling trails of Namche Bazaar, where the first checkpoint offers a brief reprieve. But this is only the beginning.

From Namche, the course climbs to Syangboche, skirting airstrips and yak paths, before pressing on to Kumjung, a Sherpa village set high beneath the peaks. Then comes Mong La – Checkpoint 2 – perched like a balcony above the valleys below. From there, it’s a steep descent to Phortse Tenga, followed by a lung-busting climb to Phortse, a village known for its mountaineering legacy.

But the final ascent is where Stage 5 seals its legacy. The climb to Tyangboche Monastery, sitting at 3,860m, is a final test of grit. Legs scream, lungs burn, but the reward is immense. As runners crest the trail, they’re greeted by one of the world’s most iconic alpine views: Ama Dablam, Everest, Nuptse, and a horizon lined with Himalayan giants. Arguably, one of THE greatest finish lines in the world.

The pain is real, but so is the pride. After this brutal day, there’s relief in knowing only one stage remains. For those who made it to Tyangboche, it’s not just another finish line – it’s a summit of spirit, dedication, tenacity and perseverance.

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EVEREST TRAIL RACE 2025 – STAGE 4

Posted on November 17, 2025 by talkultra

INTO THE HEART OF THE HIMALAYA

After three gruelling stages through remote and rugged terrain, Stage 4 of the Everest Trail Race turns the page. Today, the athletes trade solitude for the storied footpaths of Nepal’s most iconic trekking corridor. This is the gateway to Everest.

A warmer night, lower altitude and this morning, the runner’s may have felt a little more rested, however, stage 4 was intimidating.

Covering 27.36 kilometers with 2,170 meters of elevation gain, Stage 4 is no break in the action. It’s a demanding route with steep climbs, quad-burning descents, and a new cast of characters on the trail: trekkers, porters, yaks, and teahouses buzzing with the hum of expedition life.

From the gun, it’s all uphill. The stage opens with a brutal 1,000-meter climb in just over 6 kilometres. The goal? Kari La, perched at 3,080 meters. This is the kind of climb that shows no mercy. Legs burn, lungs strain, and the views remind runners they’re racing through giants.

Checkpoint 1 at Paia arrives as a welcome relief. It’s a place to regroup, rehydrate, and reset. But the descent to Surke at 2,750 meters is no victory lap. Fast, technical, and relentless, it punishes tired legs before the next climb begins.

From Surke, runners face another grind: the climb to Chaurikharka (Checkpoint 2) at 2,621 meters. It’s lower in altitude but still a fight, especially coming late in the stage. From there, the course becomes unpredictable: a rollercoaster of ups and downs, testing whatever reserves are left.

The final push into Phakding at 2,620 meters marks more than the end of the stage. It’s a symbolic arrival.

The runners are now on sacred ground, part of the ancient route to Everest Base Camp. The trails are busier, the lodges more frequent, and the landscape unmistakably Himalayan.

Stage 4 isn’t just a physical battle, it’s a transition. The isolation of the early stages gives way to the buzz of one of the world’s most legendary trekking routes. But don’t let the crowds fool you. With over 2,000 meters of climbing and the fatigue of three hard days behind them, today was a war of attrition.

The finish line at Phakding means rest, food, and maybe even a little comfort, tents are traded for a lodge. Everest still looms. And the toughest stage lies ahead – stage 5 the ultimate test.

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EVEREST TRAIL RACE 2025 – STAGE 3

Posted on November 16, 2025 by talkultra

A BRUTAL TEST OF LUNGS, LEGS, AND GRIT

Stage 3 of the Everest Trail Race is where the real punishment begins. With 28.3 kilometres of unrelenting terrain and a leg-wrecking descent from the high-altitude village of Kamo (3855m) down to the valley floor at Jubing (1600m), this stage isn’t just tough, it’s a full-body assault.

Runners start high, where the air is thin and every step feels like a negotiation with your lungs. The early climb up to Checkpoint 1 at Kamo is already a grind, but what follows is what defines this stage: a relentless plunge that feels like it goes on forever.

The descent from Kamo to Jubing is not gentle. It’s steep, technical, and unforgiving. The views are spectacular, sure, but most runners will be too focused on staying upright to take much of it in. The drop of over 2200 meters smashes quads and shreds knees. Every rock, step, and switchback becomes part of the battle. If the climbs test your endurance, the downhills here test your durability.

Fortunately, the support is solid. CP1 at Kamo, CP2 at Hewa, and CP3 at Jubing are well-stocked and strategically placed. Runners have every opportunity to refuel and regroup, though few will find much comfort in the knowledge that the real sting comes right at the end.

Just when you think you’ve done enough, the trail throws in a final climb up to the iconic village of Kharikola. It’s a steep, grinding ascent that comes after hours of muscular destruction.

This is where mental strength counts just as much as physical preparation. After hammering down thousands of vertical meters, your legs are begging for mercy, and yet, up you go again.

Kharikola, perched proudly in the hills, is a reward in itself. Not just for the views, but for what it represents: survival. Conquering Stage 3 is a badge of toughness. It’s where the Everest Trail Race shakes out the pretenders from the contenders.

Stage 3 doesn’t just test you, you feel it in your legs for days. You carry it in your mind for longer. It’s beautiful, brutal, and unforgettable. And for every runner who arrives in Kharikola, it’s a hard-earned victory etched into the heart of the Himalayas.

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EVEREST TRAIL RACE 2025 – STAGE 2

Posted on November 15, 2025 by talkultra

BRUTAL BEAUTY AND RELENTLESS CLIMBING

Stage 2 of the Everest Trail Race doesn’t waste time. The gun goes off, and it hits hard, right into a beast of a climb that defines the day. The route is 26.6 kilometers with 1,483 meters of vertical gain, but ask anyone who ran it: it feels like double that.

The stage opens with arguably the most iconic stretch of the entire race, a 4km climb straight out of the start gate, topping out at the summit of Pike Peak at 4,046 meters. There’s no easing into it. You’re immediately lunging skyward, legs burning, lungs gasping, every step on loose rock and narrow trail.

But what a reward. The views from Pike Peak are the kind you earn. Everest, Thamserku, and the distant giants of the Himalayas tower on the horizon.

There’s a strange serenity up there—above the tree line, above the chaos, if only your quads weren’t screaming so loudly.

From the summit, runners are thrown into a tricky descent, technical, steep, and demanding full attention. This is no cruise; it’s controlled aggression. The terrain underfoot is a mix of loose stone and rutted trail, constantly shifting. Jase Bhanjyang appears below like a mirage, a short-lived reprieve at 3,510m before the next test.

After a quick breath, it’s back uphill, another climb, this time to 3,800m. It’s less brutal than the first, but by now the fatigue is setting in. The altitude, the sun, the effort, they add up. This section wears on you slowly, sapping strength before delivering a massive release:

This is the stage’s exhale. A long, fast descent winds down to Jumbesi, where Checkpoint 2 awaits. The descent is runnable FOR SOME but relentless. It’s a test of patience, footwork, and knowing how much to push without blowing up. At CP2, some collapse into chairs, others refuel and move quickly, no time to waste.

From Jumbesi, the route shifts gears. A more gradual climb takes runners to Phurteng at 3,000m, a steady push that gnaws at tired legs. Then, a rolling descent gives a hint of relief, but it’s a trap.

Because this stage has a final sting: the kick to Ringmo. Just when you think you’ve made it, the trail juts upward again before finally dropping into the finish at 2,740m. It’s psychological warfare. You can see Ringmo before you reach it – but the trail makes you fight for it.

Stage 2 is a monster. On paper, it doesn’t look like the toughest, less gain than Stage 1, more downhill, but the terrain, altitude, and sequence of climbs make it punishing. The raw elevation loss (2,203m) sounds helpful, but it hammers your legs in a different way. Many finish looking shell-shocked. Others, oddly exhilarated.

This is the Everest Trail Race offers up some of the most staggering views you’ll ever see on a race course, and today, in the shadow of Pike Peak, the price of admission was steep but worth it.

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EVEREST TRAIL RACE 2025 – STAGE 1

Posted on November 14, 2025 by talkultra

Brutal and Beautiful: Stage 1 of the 2025 Everest Trail Race Sets the Tone

The 2025 Everest Trail Race exploded out of the gates with a punishing Stage 1—23.10 kilometres of raw Himalayan grit, climbing 1,551 meters and descending 1,012 meters across technical trails and high-altitude terrain. From the start line in Dhap (2,950m) to the finish at Chyangsyngma (3,490m), runners were thrown straight into the deep end of this six-stage ETR test of endurance, mindset, and mountain resilience.

There’s no easing into the ETR. Stage 1 wastes no time in reminding runners exactly where they are, high in Nepal, breathing thin air, legs already burning. Early highlights at Sigane and Chyangba delivered sweeping views and traditional village life, but the serenity masked the effort required to get there.

The route dipped and climbed through Khamding, home of the first checkpoint and a welcome chance to refuel with fluids and snacks. But nothing about this stage was easy. The technical nature of the terrain demanded constant focus, one misstep could spell disaster. Warm daytime sun gave runners a psychological lift, but cold nights and the ever-present altitude ensured no one felt too comfortable.

The trail pressed on to Juke, the second checkpoint, offering another chance to grab supplies before the day’s most brutal truth set in, the final 5 kilometres were going to hurt. With around 800 meters of elevation gain packed into that last stretch, the finish at Chyangsyngma felt like a slow-motion battle uphill, but the views help with compensation.

There was no room for rhythm here, just grind, grit, and survival. Poles an essential accessory. Every switchback stung. Every false summit tested patience. But that’s the Everest Trail Race. It’s not just a run; it’s a confrontation with the terrain, and Stage 1 made that clear from the outset what lies ahead.

With five stages still to come, the 2025 ETR has already thrown down the gauntlet. Those who made it through Stage 1 know what’s coming: long days, steep ascents, dizzying descents, and no shortage of mental warfare. But for now, reaching Chyangsyngma was a victory in itself and proof that this race is not for the faint-hearted.

The race start time was a leisurely 0830 after an 0600 wake-up, hot tea delivered to each tent. Remarkably, Nepalee runner, Dal B Kunwar completed the stage in rapid, 2h 40min – there is a great deal to be said for being on ‘home’ turf. The first woman, Nepalee Chhoki Sherpa placed 3rd on the stage in a time of *h *m – full results can be viewed post-race at the ETR website HERE.

The Everest Trail Race is on. And it’s already living up to its legend.

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MDS 120 JORDAN 2025 – Stage 3

Posted on November 8, 2025 by talkultra

Stage 3 of MDS 120 Jordan, 26 unforgiving kilometres, darkness and the glow of head torches started a day full of promise and pressure. At sunrise, Wadi Rum ignited in gold.

This was the final stretch, the last push through soft sand, searing silence, and soul-stirring scenery. One last chance to earn the medal. One last trial through the desert’s raw beauty and brutal truth.

The route cut through a living painting, towering rock faces, vast plains, and dunes sculpted by centuries of wind.

The first challenge: a steep descent down a glowing dune, soft sand cascading beneath every step. It was beautiful. It was punishing.

As the sun climbed, so did the heat. Every footfall dragged through thick sand. Every glance ahead revealed more of the same: no shortcuts, no reprieve, just the relentless call to keep going.

The terrain twisted between jagged mountains and flat expanses that played tricks on your sense of distance. Wadi Rum doesn’t offer false hope, only real demands. But in that, it gives something rare – clarity.

At the conclusion of stage 3, runners will have logged 70, 100, or even 120 kilometres across Jordan’s desert. Stage 3 wasn’t just the final day, it was the exclamation point.

Bodies were depleted, minds frayed, but the finish line pulled like gravity.

And what a finish. The final stretch opened into a wide, sun-drenched plain, the sound of cheers carried by desert wind.

At the line, tears flowed freely of pain, pride, exhaustion, and elation. Medals were placed on tired and elated bodies, but the real reward was something deeper.

Every runner who crossed that line brought a story. Some came to test limits, others to heal, some to prove a point only they could understand. Each journey was personal, yet all were part of something greater, a living, breathing mosaic of endurance and emotion. This is what made MDS 120 Jordan more than a race.

And within the mosaic, some pieces really stood out, especially the two pieces of Danielle and Bernard – Bernard had completed MDS Legendary and wanted to share the MDS experience with his wife of 50-years – they experienced MDS 120 Jordan, side-dy-side, an incredible and awe inspiring journey of love and solidarity that touched the sole of every participant and staff – this personifies MDS.

And then there’s Jordan itself, its people, its land, its soul. Their generosity turned this challenge into a celebration. Without them, the journey would have been just hard. With them, it was unforgettable.

Now it’s over. Sand still clings to shoes and skin.

Muscles ache. But the desert leaves more than blisters and fatigue, it leaves memories burned into the heart. It leaves friendships forged in dust and sweat.

Stage 3 wasn’t just an ending. It was a transformation. And the desert? It watched silently, as always, as each runner a piece, a small tiny piece and part of the vast, magnificent puzzle that is MDS 120 Jordan.

And each runner will carry it with them forever…. It leaves a new version of themself, one they didn’t know existed.

Interested in a MARATHON DES SABLES EVENT?

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MDS 120 JORDAN 2025 – Stage 2

Posted on November 5, 2025 by talkultra

A Brutal, Beautiful Battle Across Wadi Rum

The second stage of the MDS 120 Jordan began today under a sky that could stop you in your tracks. As the sun climbed over the horizon, it lit up Wadi Rum in gold and fire. Towers of sandstone blazed in the morning light, and the vast silence of the desert seemed to breathe. It was a moment of calm before the suffering.

At 0700, the main field set off, hundreds of runners stretching out across the sand in a single wave.

An hour later, at 0800, the top-50 elites launched from the start line, eyes locked on the far horizon and the distances ahead. Three choices lay before all runners: 20 km, 40 km, or 60 km. No matter the distance, no one got an easy day.

By mid-morning, the heat was already rising fast. There’s no mercy in the Wadi Rum sun. The sand, soft and shifting, sucked at every step. It was a grind from the first kilometer. For many, fatigue from Stage 1 was already in their legs. Now, it became a question of how much pain they could manage, and for how long.

But the landscape kept pulling people forward.

Runners wound through canyons where shadows clung to the rock walls, through open plains that shimmered in the heat, and over dunes that seemed to have no top. The colours changed constantly, red, orange, ochre, bone-white. Every climb gave a new view, and every descent brought another challenge.

Support points were lifelines. Blue and orange jackets worked hard to keep everyone hydrated, motivated, and upright. Every shaded tent was a brief oasis. Words of encouragement were exchanged in multiple languages, often between competitors who had just met but already felt like teammates. That’s how it goes out here: shared struggle, instant connection.

For those tackling the 60 km, it was a full day and night affair. As the sun dropped, temperatures fell fast, and headlamps started flickering on across the desert. The sound of footsteps on sand and the occasional burst of laughter carried in the darkness. Some ran together in quiet partnership; others moved solo, locked in their own internal battles.

By midnight, many had reached the bivouac, collapsing into sleeping bags or cheering others in. But the course was still alive. The final competitors came in just after 0100, nearly 18 hours after the first wave set off. There were hugs, tears, and a level of exhaustion that only the desert can deliver.

It was a brutal day. But it was also unforgettable.

Wadi Rum tested everyone, their legs, their lungs, their minds. But it gave something back too: the raw beauty of this land, the solidarity of the competitors, the deep satisfaction of pushing past limits. Stage 2 didn’t just challenge people. It changed them.

A rest day brings and opportunity to re-charge, and stage 3 brings more kms, more heat, more unknowns. The reward, a medal and memories for a lifetime.

Wadi Rum sleeps under a silent sky, and every runner who crosses the finish line , whether first or last, has earned the reward.

Interested in a MARATHON DES SABLES EVENT?

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MDS 120 JORDAN 2025 – Stage 1

Posted on November 3, 2025 by talkultra

INTO THE FIRE OF WADI RUM

Wadi Rum, a land that looks like another planet but punishes like the real world. This year, close to 600-runners from 31 countries are taking on the MDS 120 JORDAN – a three-stage ultra through the desert, spread over four days with one crucial rest day. With a choice of three ´distances, 70km, 100 km, or 120 km – but no matter the number, the journey starts the same way: in the scorching, silent furnace of Wadi Rum.

Welcome to Wadi Rum

This desert is not just scenery, it’s a character in the race. A vast, cinematic expanse of red sand and jagged rock, Wadi Rum, also called “The Valley of the Moon” – feels ancient and otherworldly.

Think towering cliffs, sand that grips your shoes like quicksand, and a horizon that never seems to get closer. It’s a place that doesn’t care how well you trained.

The silence is thick. The beauty is brutal. And from the first step, they feel it: this is going to be tough.

The Numbers Behind the Madness

This year’s field is as diverse as it is determined:

• 600 competitors

• 55% women—a powerful showing in an event known for pushing limits

• 93% are first-time MDS runners

• Youngest runner: 18-year-old – Charles

• Oldest: 74-year-old – Gunard

They’re backed by a lean but formidable race organization team:

150 staff, including 25 medics on the ground, constantly monitoring, assisting, and ready for anything.

Stage 1: 27.4 Kilometres of Reality Check

Day one hits fast and hard. Stage 1 is 27.4 km, but under the Jordanian sun and over Wadi Rum’s unpredictable terrain, it feels twice that.

The stage includes two checkpoints:

• CP1 at 8.5 km

• CP2 at 9 km

The land between them is rugged, and the gap is designed for course management and medical observation. Smart racers use both to fuel, hydrate, and recalibrate.

The course itself is a ruthless sampler platter: loose sand, sudden inclines, rocky outcrops, and heat that seems to rise from beneath your feet. There are no spectators, no shortcuts, no illusions. Just you, your gear, and the next checkpoint.

The Desert Doesn’t Care

The heat, the terrain, and the weight of self-sufficiency slows everyone down. You carry everything: water, food, gear, your doubts.

Every climb feels like three. Every descent threatens your knees. Sand invades everything. By midday, the only thing that’s soft is your resolve—if you let it be.

Shared Solitude

Despite the isolation, there’s camaraderie. Strangers share conversations. Encouragement is shouted in a dozen languages. Some falter, some stop. You need help, someone will stop for you.

The bivouac after Stage 1 is rough but welcoming. Yellow WAA tents flap in the wind. Meals are cooked with shaky hands. But the feeling is clear: we made it. One day down. Two to go.

What This Stage Really Means

Amazingly, 93% are running an MDS event for the first time, Stage 1 maybe a rude awakening? It tells the truth, immediately and without apology: this may (will) hurt. But, if it was easy everyone would do it!

And for all 600, from the youngest to the oldest, it’s a reminder that the desert doesn’t care about your splits. It rewards grit, humility, and the will to keep moving.