The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The 11th edition of Bhutan International Marathon commenced on 1st March 2025, featuring both international and local participants, making it one of the most highly anticipated event of the spring season. The event offered two types of race categories, the Full Marathon (42 km) and the Half Marathon (21km), each differing in its distance and terrain. More than 250 participants took part in the event. The event recurs every year on 1st March.
Full Marathon winner took home Nu 60,000), with the 2nd place awarded Nu 45,000), 3rd (Nu 30,000), 4th (Nu 15,000) and 5th (Nu 7,500). Where as for the Half Marathon, the winner took home Nu 30,000), 2nd (Nu 22,000), 3rd (Nu 15,000), 4th (Nu 7,000), 5th (Nu 5,000), categorized for both male and female .The prize money for this year’s edition had increased by 50%.
Founded in 2010, Bhutan International Marathon is organized by Bhutan Olympic Committee (BOC), which soon became the most celebrated event of the season, highlighting both the athlete’s achievements and the unique culture and natural heritage of Bhutan.
The core objective behind introducing the event is to encourage travelers to explore the country’s serenity and resilience through the experience of sport tourism. The event has attracted over 5,000 participants from 10 different countries in the past years, offering a unique experience to enjoy the tranquility of the country through the inspiring challenges of running. The marathon plays a pivotal role in promoting a running culture in Bhutan and it is seen as a platform for global connection.
The Race Director, Kesang Phuentsho Tshering said, “The whole concept behind introducing Bhutan International Marathon is that we saw potential in Bhutan being a brand destination as the country offers both cultural and natural heritage and some looks for other form of entertainment apart from this. So, we thought they could also run in the marathon. Our main objective is to portray both the marathon and the country as a brand destination for all the tourist.”
This year, the event commenced under the theme “Mindful Miles”, a wakeup call for the participants with the essence of living, something more than just a physical challenge where every step and breath they take helps in the journey of self-discovery with Bhutan’s breath-taking landscape.
The Full Marathon covered a distance of 42 km, which started from Gasa (Yemina) and ended in Punakha (Khuruthang). This route offered a perfect blend of rural beauty, with approximately 50% of the path on hard-packed dirt trails and the other 50% on paved roads. The Half Marathon followed the second half of the Full Marathon which is in Wokuna in Punakha and ended in Kuruthang. The distance covered 21 km of approximately 40% hard-packed dirt trails and 60% paved roads. Both the routes offered stunning landscapes of rural Bhutan. Aid stations and medical support were available throughout the race route at every 4.5 km to 5.5 km.
Goma Pradhan from Dagana, currently based in Phuentsholing, finished the race in 3 hours 18 minutes and 57 seconds, wining the Full Marathon category of women.
She said, “Crossing the finish line first was an incredible moment of pride for me as the last race that I participated was a letdown, so the victory felt like a personal redemption. The route was quite challenging, mostly consisting of downhill stretches in which I had to be careful to not hurt myself. However, on the flip side, it was also the most stunning route, offering beautiful scenic views to enjoy.”
She further added about her finest moment during the marathon, “I met a fellow runner after passing the third station, and we ran together for about 7-8 km. He was incredibly supportive and even offered me a glucose drink. That was the best moment for me during the race. The distance felt shorter and less monotonous to run alongside someone else.”
She also shared that due to work commitments, she couldn’t train as thoroughly as she hoped, undermining her confident at the start of the race. Despite her busy schedule, she made sure to run at least 10-15 km each day to maintain her fitness.
