In 1999, a small group of adventurous runners met at the shores of the beautiful Lake Hovsgol in Northern Mongolia for the first ever Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset 100km trail run. Twenty years later, runners from all over the world will come together to take part in the 20th anniversary edition of the spectacular race.
Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset (MS2S) is more than just a one-day marathon and ultra-marathon race. It is a full week of adventure and exploration. This year, the event takes place in the week of 28 July to 4 August 2018, with the race day being held on Wednesday, 1 August 2018.
Throughout the entire week, participants will get in touch with the nomadic culture of the population and learn about Mongolian traditions, beliefs, and way of life. Participants will also get to experience horseback riding, mountain biking, kayaking, or fishing in the stunning nature of Mongolia. In short, MS2S opens new perspectives.
Not just a race, it’s a charity event too
The organizers not only pioneered ultra-trail running in Asia, but also established a charity organization to support the local population and the unique environment. All the proceeds from Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset are used to finance these charity initiatives.
“When we discovered this remote, untouched and stunningly beautiful area, we decided to put our efforts into preserving it. Over the years, we funded a litter control project, bought garbage trucks, hired park rangers, supported the local culture including shamans, and raised awareness with nation-wide TV spots”, explains Nicolas Musy, one of the founders and race director of MS2S.
A challenging and life-changing race
The two distances offered by the race are 42km and 100km. Participants will be running past wild horses and yaks, seas of wildflowers, the craggy Mongolian mountains and mind-blowing lowlands. The elevation at the start line is 1645m.
Participants can expect challenging race condition due to the change of altitude over the race course. The accumulated elevation gain/loss in the marathon distance is more than 2,200 meters, while the gain/loss in the 100km ultramarathon is more than 3,300 meters. With a strong preparation and good race spirit, runners will be able to complete the race within the 18 hours cut-off time.
Henri Girault, World Record Holder for the Greatest Number of completed 100km races (600+), professed that MS2S is his favourite race.
It was an outstanding event – not to be missed. I have often been asked to name the race that I enjoyed most. My previous hesitations to name my favourite event are now replaced by a certitude: Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset.
Registrations for this once-in-a-lifetime experience are now open on www.ms2s.org. Reduced package prices for the race week are available until the end of February. The race is limited to 100 runners only!
