I can’t remember now how Manikala Rai got into running, but it has changed her life. I remember her running on the 2011 Sky Race organised by the French group Les Chevaliers du Vent, pioneers in mountain running in Nepal who’ve always invited one or two girls to join their multistage races. On the first day she was a bit red faced and embarrassed, and towards the finish said something like, “I’m sorry, I don’t know much about this kind of thing.” It was not easy – everybody carried their own equipment, including helmet and crampons to cross a snowy pass some days later. By day 7, running over the 5500m Cho La and into Lobuche, she was a dot in the distance, uncatchable, by me at least. Right now she is spending time in France with her partner while running races and enjoying life there.
Her website is www.manikalarai.com
Running CV
| 2015 2-Aug |  | Courchevel X Trail 54km 4400D+ | 1st |
| 2015 25-Jul | | 6000D 64km 4000D+ | 3rd |
| 2015 19-Jul | | French Championship Vertical Kilometer 5km 1000D+ | 3rd |
| 2015 21-Jun | | Samoens Trail Tour 18km 1000D+ | 2nd |
| 2015 14/06/2015 | | Trail des Crêtes du Chablais 64km 4900D+ | 1st |
| 2015 07-Jun | | Allingeoise 18.6km 680D+ | 1st |
| 2015 30-May | | Maxi Race IAU World Championship 85km 5200D+ | 31th |
| 2015 17-May |  | Zegama Skyrunning european Championship 42km 2700 D+ | 15th |
| 2015 10-May | | Les Crètes du Salève 20km 1100D+ | 2nd |
| 2015 04-Apr |  | Trail des 3 Vallées 350km 19000D+ | 1st |
| 2015 15-Mar | | Trail du petit Ballon 50km 2000D+ | 4th |
| 2015 21-Feb | | Foullée blanche des Brasses 13km 200D+ | 5th |
| 2015 15-Feb | | Belledone Gelon Trail 26km 1200D+ | 3rd |
| 2014 Nov | | Course de la colinne | 2nd |
| 2014 Nov | | Course des Hermones | 4th |
| 2014 28-Spet | | CHampionnat de France | 7th |
| 2014 21-Spet | | Ecotrail Sommand 20km 1300D | 1st |
| 2014 14-Sept | | Serre Che Trail Salomon 48km 4000D | 2nd |
| 2014 6-Sept | | La ventre à Terre 13.5km 1100D | 2nd |
| 2014 16-Aug | | Trail des Hauts Forts 43km | 1st |
| 2014 3-Aug | | Courchevel X Trail 54km 4400D | 2nd |
| 2014 13_Juil | | Ice Trail Tarantaise 65km 5000D | 7th |
| 2014 24-May | | Le petit Savoyard 23km 1300D | 3rd |
| 2014 11-May | | Trail du Saleve 37km 2200D | 1st |
| 2014 3-May | | Ultra Trail de L'Ardechois 98 km 4800D | 2nd |
| 2014 19-Apr | | Les Princes enfoulee 28km 1200D | 1st |
| 2014 5-Apr | | Trail de Glaisins29km 1600 D | 3rd |
| 2014 9-Mar |  | Derby Des Bois 9,2km | 3rd |
| 2014 1-Mar | | Annapurna 100km 4670D | 1st |
| 2014 11-Jan | | Kathmandu Ultra 50km | 2nd |
| 2013 15-Dec |  | TNF Hong Kong 100 - 100km 6330D | 1st 15:37:08 |
| 2013 6-Nov | | Solukhumbu trail 223 km 14000D | 1st |
| 2013 13-Oct | | Trail du massif des brasses 28km 1600D | 1st |
| 2013 21-Sep | | Humanitrail 50k3200D | 1st |
| 2013 17-Aug | | Trail du Barlatay 50k2700D | 1st |
| 2013 29-Jul | | Trail des aiguilles rouges 50 k 400D | 3rd |
| 2013 29-May | | Everest Tenzing Hilary Marathon 42km | 2nd |
| 2013 20-Apr | | Annapurna Mandala trail 190 km-10000D | 1st |
| 2013 19-Mar | | Trail des 3 Vallée 353km-18780m D | 1st |
| 2013 24-Mar | | Hong Kong Lantau 51km-2700m D | 2nd |
| 2013 9-Mar | | Annapurna race 50km- 2400m + D | 1st |
| 2013 19-Jan | | Hong Kong Vibram 100km 4500 D | 4th |
| 2012 6-Apr | | Annapurna Mandala trail 201 km-10550mD | 1st |
| 2012 | | Annapurna 100 | 1st 6:15:10 |