By Bishnu Luitel, Pennsylvania

Among the many sports events held in the United States, marathons are some of the most widely participated in. The 2024 Chicago Marathon, held on October 13, saw around 52,000 runners from over 100 countries, drawing an estimated 1.5 million spectators. Three members of the Bhutanese Lhotshampa community were among the participants: Sudarshan Luitel and Neelhari Bhandari from Pennsylvania, and Charan Subedi from Ohio.
For Charan Subedi, this was his fourth marathon, but his first time facing such a challenging course. He completed the full 26.2mile (42.2-kilometer) marathon in an impressive time of three hours and 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, Sudarshan Luitel and Neelhari Bhandari were running their first marathon. Their goal was to complete the race injury free, which they successfully achieved. Both runners are part of a community that faced immense hardship after being displaced from Bhutan and spending two decades in refugee camps in Nepal. During their time in the camps, refugees were prohibited from participating in formal sports, literature, arts, or music outside of camp activities.
The difficult history of displacement and refugee life remains a dark chapter for the Bhutanese community.

However, after resettling into eight different countries, many have found opportunities to showcase their talents and achieve success in various fields. For the Bhutanese community, marathon running represents a chance to demonstrate physical and mental discipline, as well as perseverance. Running such a grueling distance of 26.2 miles requires consistent training, physical fitness, mental resilience, and strong willpower.

Fifteen years after being resettled in the United States, it is a source of pride that members of the Bhutanese community have begun to participate in and complete national and international sporting events. While their participation remains small, the runners are hopeful that their numbers will grow in the future. They believe that more young Bhutanese will take part in marathons and other sporting activities in the coming years.

Participation in such sports teaches valuable lessons in discipline, especially for young people. It opens doors to success and helps unlock potential. The achievements of these young athletes serve as an inspiration for others in the community.
Sudarshan Luitel, an excellent student, balances his academic responsibilities with regular exercise and outdoor activities. He has already set his sights on his next challenge: the Harrisburg Marathon.
Neelhari Bhandari, in addition to being an avid runner, is the founder of a nonprofit organization called “Inspired to Explore.” The organization promotes outdoor activities, encouraging communities to participate in hiking, picnics, and other group outings.

Bhandari himself has successfully climbed notable peaks, including Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, Mount Washington, and Mount Denali in the U.S., as well as Africa’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. His future goals include climbing Vinson Massif in Antarctica and Aconcagua in South America. Through his organization, Bhandari aims to foster camaraderie and connection among people from all walks of life by exploring the outdoors.

Another accomplished runner from the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese community is Govinda Subedi, who has completed nine marathons but did not participate this year. An inspiration to Bhutanese runners, Subedi, who ran at the 2012 Chicago Marathon is known for running barefoot, an extraordinary feat considering the challenges of running long distances on paved roads without shoes.
In addition to the Bhutanese runners, other participants in the Chicago Marathon included Nigma Sherpa, Khop Gurung, Pravin Gurung, and Sushant Gurung from Nepal, as well as Rinchan Peldan from Bhutan, all of whom successfully completed the race.
The participation of these runners in the marathon not only highlights their personal achievements but also offers hope for greater involvement and representation from the Bhutanese community in future sporting events.

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