Bhutanese ultramarathon runner Jigme Tenzin completed the legendary 268km Snowman Trek in just five days and is now preparing for the UTMB World Series Finals in France.
In recent years, hiking and trail running have become increasingly popular outdoor pursuits among Bhutanese, with more people exploring the country’s mountains and forests for recreation and fitness.
For 39-year-old Jigme Tenzin, however, running is far more than a pastime; it is a lifelong passion.
Popularly known among his friends as the ‘Mountain Man’, Jigme has run virtually every major trail across Bhutan. He has turned the country’s rugged landscapes into his training ground and earned a reputation as one of Bhutan’s most accomplished trail runners.
He recently completed the legendary Snowman Trek in just five days, covering 268.04 kilometres across some of Bhutan’s highest and most gruelling mountain trails. The trek normally takes between 25 and 30 days to complete.
Jigme is now preparing to compete in the Courmayeur–Champex–Chamonix, one of the flagship races of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc World Series Finals, on 28 August.
The 100-kilometre course crosses the Alps, beginning in Italy, passing through Switzerland and finishing in France. Jigme will be the only Bhutanese athlete participating in the race.
He qualified in December 2025 following an outstanding performance at the UTMB World Series Major in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Competing against 1,600 runners from nearly 90 countries, Jigme finished 41st overall and 11th in his age category. He completed the gruelling 100-kilometre course in 12 hours and 55 minutes.Jigme Tenzin is a Bhutanese ultramarathon runner who works as a flight dispatcher with Drukair, Bhutan’s national airline.
He completed his education from pre-primary through Class 10 at Gomtu Higher Secondary School in Samtse, southern Bhutan, where he spent his childhood in the border town of Gomtu.
Jigme later pursued his higher secondary education at Yangchenphug Higher Secondary School in Thimphu, graduating in 2008. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Gedu College of Business Studies in 2012.
His hometown is Ugyentse in Samtse. He comes from a family of nine and is the third-youngest among his siblings.
