It doesn’t get any easier. The hills don’t get any less steep. Your blisters don’t become less painful.

But the views are spectacular. The people welcoming. The miles of endeavour rewarding.

Yes, it doesn’t get any easier. But it doesn’t get any better than this.

This is Capital to Country 2025, and it’s a delight to be here in Nepal and to be holding this event again.

I’ve been lucky enough to have completed some iconic ultra marathons around the world myself, including the infamous Marathon des Sables.

So, to be able to put on an run like this, and watch other runners experience the pain and pleasure that only a multi-day ultra can bring is a privilege.

I’m pleased to be able to to report that all our participants this year successfully completed day one’s 27 miles, enjoying amazing views of snow capped mountains along the way.

Day two now stands in their path, but whatever the Himalayan foothills may throw at them, I’m confident our runners will respond with the resilience and determination that got them here in the first place.

And I will revel in watching every step that they take towards achieving something as spectacular as the mountains that surround them.

We’ll be keeping you up date with the adventure here, as well as on our Facebook page – with plenty more breathtaking photography from our intrepid photographer Adrian Howes, who will be taking to the back of a motorbike to capture some amazing images along the way.