Local runner Suman Kulung won the Royal Penguin Ultra Marathon overcoming the snow-covered trails in Solukhumbu on Wednesday. 

Kulung left behind 22 other participants to complete the 60-km race in seven hours and seven minutes. The 25-year-old Kulung of Gudel, a porter and guide by profession, earned Rs 50,000. Kulung had participated in many high-altitude races including the Everest Marathon where he finished third in 2014 and 2016. “It’s an incredible marathon and a great atmosphere,” Kulung said. 

Purnima Khaling Rai, another local runner from Jubling, won the women’s category, completing the race in nine hours and 19 minutes. “I used to prepare home-made wine and transport it to Lukla from Jubling. That gave me courage to participate in the event,” she said. Rai was the winner of 42.195-km Everest Marathon held in May this year. 

Kulung’s closest competitors Pemba Sherpa (7:23 hours) of Taksindo ended up second and Santosh Rai (7:48 hours) of Jubling third. The duo won Rs 25,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively. Sherpa was the winner of 2014 Royal Penguin Ultra Marathon. The  event, which began from 2014, was cancelled last year due to the devastating earthquake of April 25.