One month later than usual, but it is very much on: The Manjushree Trail Race 2026 in Kathmandu sports a large and very international start list across the distance categories of the event, of which the 100 Miles and the 50km are the traditional qualifiers for the ATM Championship points ranking. Many of Nepal’s top elite runners will aim to score their points, but indeed may face some solid opposition. On the 100 Miles, Arjun Rai Kulung is the favourite to take the crown for the fourth consecutive year, while on the 50km we have rising star Man Kumar going for his second consecutive win at MTR. The women’s 50km features Singapore-based Belgian Vanja Cnops versus the exciting new Nepali star on the horizon Kalpana Budha.

The Manjushree Trail Race 100 Miles is one of those few natural 100 milers. Going all around the city’s ‘valley rim’, it’s a fantastic course full of meaning. Obviously, it’s also a very tough one. Arjun Rai Kulung has been unbeatable the past years. Let’s see if previous podium placers Milan Rai and Sher Tharu can stay closer to him this weekend. Also Bijaya Rana Magar, Ranjit Rai and Indian runners Pritam Rai and Soumyadip Mondal may fancy their chances for a top result.

The women’s 100 Miles is without Nirmala Rai, elder sister of Priya, as the duo will be running in Philippines this weekend at the ATM Grandmaster Quest event Danao City Ultra Trail. That leaves a great opportunity for Anita Rai and Ang Furba Sherpa to take the glory. However, Japan’s Yasuyo Hotta and Denmark’s Stine Heiselberg may also say a word about that.

The 50km has a huge field and we might as well get to discover some new raw talent. But Man Kumar must be the top favourite. Winner last year and winner of the 9 Dragons 50 miles race two months ago. Man Kumar can already put one leg into Team Nepal for the ATM Championship Final in Vietnam later this year. He will be up against fast Jumla runners Dhira Bahadur Budha and Chandra Rawat on Saturday, as well as Lokendra Rai, Homlal Sheshtra and many others.

The women’s 50km sees Vanja Cnops as the one to beat. In-form and a big fan of Nepal trail running, Vanja has spent most of April in the country. However, the now 18-year-old sensation Kalpana Budha won’t give up easily, having finished second behind Priya Rai a year ago. It will be interesting to see if the teenager continues to develop as a competitive athlete.