‘The mountains are perfect for running’
Northwestern Lehigh grad starts company that puts marathoners in the Himalayans of Bhutan
When it comes to bucket list marathons for runners, a dash into Panathenaic Stadium in Athens or a stride down the Champs-Elysées in Paris are typical dream destinations. But a trek up a rugged stone staircase to a monastery precariously perched on a cliff in Bhutan?
It might sound more fantasy than reality, but Northwestern Lehigh graduate Bryan Gensits is in the business of helping to make those kind of dreams come true.
Gensits, who has spent three years living in the Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas’ eastern edge, has carved a niche for himself and other runners in a country where archery is the national sport and trails are mostly rough and rugged switchbacks that run through jungles and up steep mountainsides.
How he got there is a story in itself — one that begins in Denver where Gensits was born, cuts through the Lehigh Valley, and detours roughly 7,638 miles to the tiny nation where 70% of the terrain is coated in forests.
“I spent the spring semester of 2015 in Bhutan and completely fell in love with the culture’s relaxed attitude towards life and the dramatic landscapes in the country,” Gensits said.
What he didn’t expect is that living in Bhutan, a fiercely independent and vibrant nation, would reignite his love for running.
“Running is not very common among the youth [in Bhutan] but there definitely are a few who compete, and it’s gaining popularity with middleaged people as a way of staying in shape,” Gensists explained.
‘The greatest mountain range in the world’
While traditional Bhutanese sports haven’t exactly had a breakout moment, running is gaining ground in a country where the territory also contains hundreds of glaciers and the highest Himalayan peak — Gangkhar Puensum — climbs nearly 25,000 feet above sea level. It’s what Gensits is talking about when he said he “couldn’t pass up an opportunity to live in the greatest mountain range in the world.”
The challenging terrain has proved alluring for locals and foreigners alike, and that’s where Gensits and his company, Bhutan Marathon Tours, enter the picture.
Before visiting Bhutan, travelers need to arrange their trip and pay a fee to an authorized Bhutanese travel agent. The packages offered are all inclusive, but pricey.
“Ours run about $300 per day, which seems like a lot until you break it down and realize what’s included,” Gensits said.
Part of that price includes a government-mandated $65 per day contributed to the nation’s Sustainable Development Fund, which provides free healthcare and education, in addition to funding conservation efforts. Also included in Gensits’ marathon tour packages are hotel accommodations, three meals a day, bottled water, a licensed (English-speaking) tour guide, private land transportation, visa processing, entry fees to attractions, and the race entry fee for the event runners choose to participate in.
Upcoming races for 2020 include the Bhutan National Marathon and the Bhutan Coronation Marathon. In the former, runners wind through rice paddy fields, remote villages, and cross the longest suspension bridge in the country before coming to the finish line at the entrance of the dramatic Punakha Dzong fortress.
Gensits says the races are exceptionally well organized and offer a non-traditional finish compared to American marathons (sorry, no podium moments here). Instead, marathon winners in Bhutan are recognized in ornate award ceremonies that often include dinner and a cultural show with traditional dancing and music.
‘You do the running. We do the planning’
Gensits recommends spending at least 3 full days in Bhutan to recover from jet lag and travel before a race. He says the typical stay for runners is around one week, which allows for enough time to see the major sites in the western part of the country and participate in a race.
“Some people stay much longer as they want to travel further to the central and even the eastern regions, which is really time intensive since driving through the Himalayas is not fast,” Gensits said, while noting the views more than make up for the slowness. He said driving the country is an attraction in and of itself.
Bhutan Marathon Tours also caters to non-runners, working directly with local companies to offer a variety of additional services and tour options. They can include nature tours, trekking, cultural, and cycling tours.
Gensits says it’s all about facilitating the ideal travel experience for those who are truly looking to venture off the beaten path and experience the beauty of one of the world’s most secret countries.
Morning Call reporter Stephanie Sigafoos can be reached at 610-820-6612 or ssigafoos@mcall.com.