High in the hills of Dhading, in a small village called Dhunibesi, a young girl grew up surrounded by fields, forests, and the quiet rhythm of rural life. Her world was simple—helping at home, walking to school, dreaming small dreams. She never imagined that one day, those same hills would prepare her to run across the highest mountains and stand on podiums around the world.
Rashila Tamang is that girl, today known as one of Nepal’s most inspiring ultra-runners and climbers. But her story began with a pure accident.
It was 2015, International Women’s Day. Rashila followed her sisters to what she thought was a celebration march. She imagined handing out leaflets, not racing. But when she arrived, the crowd was lining up for a run. She had on jeans and ordinary shoes—hardly the gear of an athlete. Yet, when the whistle blew, she ran. She ran with no expectations, no training, no plan—only with her heart. And against all odds, she crossed the finish line in second place.
In that moment, something awakened inside her.
Soon after, she was invited to run the 12 km jungle trail at the Himalayan Outdoor Festival. She won. And in that victory, she felt something she had never felt before—the freedom of the mountains beneath her feet, the joy of movement, the strength she never knew she carried.
But life is not always a straight trail. After that first taste of racing, Rashila paused. Her studies wavered, and doubts crept in. It was during this uncertain time that she met Aashish Mishra, a friend who told her she could dream bigger—that she could run, and study, and believe in herself all at once. His encouragement rekindled her fire.
By 2017, she was racing beyond Nepal, stepping onto foreign soil for her first international event in China. And in 2019, her breakthrough came: a gold medal at the Jiaozi Mountain Crossing competition China. That same year, she proved her resilience in the 170 km Mustang Trail Race and braved the freezing Original Everest Marathon, starting at 5,200 meters in the bitter cold of December. Every race was a test of spirit, every finish line a lesson in endurance.
Then came 2023, a year that etched her name in history. Rashila became the first Nepali athlete to win the Asia Trail Master Championship. For a girl from a small village, it was more than a personal victory—it was a message to every child in Nepal that dreams are not limited by geography or circumstance.
Her triumphs spread across borders: the Ultra Tour Monte Rosa in Switzerland, The Hell Race in India, the Koboi Malaya Classic in Malaysia, and multiple wins at the Original Everest Marathon,UTMB world championship. With every step, she carried the spirit of her mountains and the pride of her people.
Yet, Rashila’s heart beats not only for races but for the trails themselves. She saw how few opportunities existed for Nepali runners, how fragile the natural landscapes were becoming. So, she founded Trailmandu Nepal Pvt. Ltd, a company born from passion—a way to organize races, preserve trails, and share the beauty of running with the world.
Her commitment also extends to her community. Partnering with The Juniper Trust, and Nepal Evergreenshe distributed fruit tree plants in her village, planting not only trees but hope—hope for greener hills and sustainable futures. So far more than 3000 fruit trees are already planted as she runs a competition. She raises money and with that money she buys plants and provides in the community and people who are inspired by her work also providing their cash prize that they win in races.
For Rashila, running is not just about distance. It is about connection. To the earth beneath her feet. To the mountains that shaped her. To the people who cheer, guide, and run beside her. And to the little girl she once was—the one who stood uncertain at a starting line in jeans, not knowing that her life was about to change forever.
Her dream now is to become one of the world’s top mountain athletes, to inspire the next generation, and to show especially young girls from rural Nepal that greatness begins with a single step, no matter how small, unprepared, or unexpected it may seem.
And so, Rashila Tamang keeps running—through forests, across ridgelines, over mountains. Every stride is a story, every trail a reminder that sometimes, the most beautiful journeys begin by accident.
Because what started as a Women’s Day run has become a lifelong mission: to run, to inspire, and to dream without limits.
