As August approaches its final week, the French ski resort of Chamonix transforms into the epicentre of the global trail-running community. Tens of thousands of top trail runners from around the world gather for the most eagerly anticipated event: the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB).

This year, the UTMB Mont-Blanc event takes place from August 26 to September 1. It features eight races, each presenting unique challenges and experiences for participants.

Among the runners getting ready to tackle the tough routes of the prestigious UTMB event this year is Nepal’s Rashila Tamang. She will be tackling the 101-km CCC course. It takes runners through some of the most beautiful, yet brutal, landscapes in the Alps with 6,100 metres of elevation gain.

“This race has great importance to me,” she told 8850media in a brief interview over Facebook Messenger while waiting at Geneva Airport to board a connecting flight.

Tamang secured her place in the CCC race by accumulating 616 UTMB index points, which earned her sufficient ‘Running Stones’ from previous races to win a lottery for the race. Since 2017, she has demonstrated remarkable consistency and commitment by completing all but one of the 20 UTMB races of 50km or longer.

The CCC may be shorter than the flagship 171-km UTMB, which features 9,963 metres of elevation gain, but it demands no less grit and determination as it encircles the Mont-Blac massif. The race starts in the picturesque Italian town of Courmayeur and winds through the serene Swiss village of Champex before reaching its epic finale in Chamonix.

Other offshoot races of the UTMB are the 57-km Orsieres-Champex-Champonix (OCC); the gruelling 148-km Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie (TDS); the 15-km Experience Trail Courmayeur (ETC); the 40-km De Martigny-Combe a Chamonix (MCC); the 300-km Petit Trotte a Leon (PTL) and the youth-focused 15-km Youth Chamonix Courmayeur (YCC).

For her, the chance to run in Chamonix is not just a personal test but also an opportunity to show the world how strong and spirited Nepali trail runners are.

“I sustained an injury after a race in Hong Kong earlier this year. It took longer to heal than I expected,” the 23-year-old ultra-runner said. “I’ve trained hard for the last three months. But it’s a long race and anything can happen. All I can do is give it my best.”

Tamang’s journey to this point has been far from ordinary. She got into running by accident. On International Women’s Day in 2015, she attended a training event in Lalitpur, Nepal. The event organisers urged people to join a 5-km running race. Tamang had never run before and worse still, she was in casual everyday attire. She hesitated, but eventually obliged. She came home second in the race, behind star trail runner Mira Rai. This unexpected result inspired her to focus on running.

Before long, she tasted her first success with a victory in a 12-km race at the Himalayan Outdoor Festival, further igniting her passion. She has since raced in numerous competitions, including over a dozen international races. In 2023, she achieved her first major international success, winning the 77-km Asia Trail Master in Indonesia, followed by a credible second place in the 100-km North Face Malaysia Mountain Trail Festival.

When asked about her aspirations for the race, Tamang’s answer was modest yet resolute. “It’s a contest, and everyone wants to win,” she said. “But more than that, I want to gain experience from this event. Every race teaches you something new, and this one will be no different.”

Looking ahead, Tamang’s ambitions extend beyond Chamonix. She is set to defend her title at the Asia Trail Master Championship. The championship final will take place this time in Malaysia on September 14.

“I am not sure how much I can recover, but I will give it my all,” she admitted. Following that, she aims to compete at the Asia-Pacific Trail Running Championships in Korea on November 26. However, she is still searching for a sponsor, highlighting the ongoing challenges Nepali athletes face in pursuing their dreams.

Her team, T8, the maker of trail running apparel, along with several individuals, have contributed to her travel and accommodation in France. “I’m deeply grateful for their incredible support. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their encouragement and assistance,” she said.

Tamang, also a professional trekking guide, represents both the aspirations of her community and the essence of Nepal. She is working to raise $2,000 to plant 2,000 fruit trees in her village of Dhunibesi, located about 20 km west of Kathmandu. This initiative is part of a broader project launched by The Juniper Trust to tackle environmental challenges and promote sustainability in local communities. The project emphasises reforestation and environmental education in Nepal.

As Tamang laces up her shoes for the race in Chamonix, she brings with her the hopes of her country and the wisdom she has gained from her journey. Regardless of the outcome of the race, Tamang’s story is already one of triumph. Her journey demonstrates that with passion, perseverance, and a stroke of luck, even the most unexpected paths can lead to something great. Her dedication to making a difference extends well beyond the trails she runs.