Kathmandu – Kathmandu Metropolitan City organized the Kathmandu Film Festival Heritage Run on Kartik 8 to promote cultural heritage and encourage participation in athletics.
The 10-kilometre race started and finished at Basantapur Durbar Square. A total of 704 runners registered for the event, including 152 women and 552 men. Of them, 550 runners who registered within the designated deadline competed for official rankings, while the remaining 124 participants were allowed to take part without being included in the competition.
Australian Paralympic athlete Katrina Webb participated to motivate the runners. Webb has won gold, silver, and bronze medals across three consecutive Paralympic Games. She is also an international speaker, leadership and personal development consultant, wellbeing and resilience coach, and physiotherapist. Nepali athletes Santoshi Shrestha and Hari Bahadur Rokaya also encouraged participants.
The race route covered 13 wards of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, passing through areas including Indra Chowk, Asan, Jamal, Durbarmarg, Naxal, Hadigaun, Kalopul, Sifal, Gaushala, Maitidevi, Dilli Bazaar, Exhibition Road, Bhadrakali, Shahid Gate, Dharahara, New Road, and returning to Basantapur.
Winners in both the men’s and women’s categories will receive cash prizes of Rs 50,000 for first place, Rs 30,000 for second place, and Rs 20,000 for third place. Every runner who completes the race will receive a medal.
The Heritage Run was organized ahead of the Kathmandu Film Festival, scheduled for Kartik 13, 14, and 15. The festival will screen 40 films, short films, and documentaries under the Youth Challenge, Nepal Panorama, and International Panorama categories. Other activities will include a red-carpet event, master classes, panel discussions, and an award distribution ceremony.
