The Everest Marathon, the world's highest marathon,was started in 1985 by Jan Turner and Tony Hunt on a trek to and from Everest Base Camp. Jan Turner pioneered the course in 12 hours without aid stations and a full back pack. On their return to Namche Bazaar they set up an impromptu half marathon. On return to the UK, Jan Turner advertised for competitors and got a trekking agent, Bufo Ventures to organise logistics. After The Daily Telegraph condemned the idea and warned people would die, the race took off and was held in full in November 1987, since when it has been run every two years. In 2003 an alternative race, The Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon, was started which is held every year on 29 May to commemorate the first successful 1953 Everest expedition by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
The Everest Marathon (1987 - present) starts at Gorak Shep at 5,212 m (17,100 ft), the site of the 1953 Everest Base Camp, and finishes in Namche Bazaar, with a 6 mile "Thamo loop" at the end to make the full marathon distance. The Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon (2003 - present) starts at the current Everest Base Camp below the Khumbu ice fall and finishes in Namche Bazaar.
The original Everest Marathon, organised by a British trekking agency, has a UK charity fund (number 1005422) called the Everest Marathon Fund; participants have raised over half a million pounds to benefit health and educational projects in rural Nepal. The Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon is organised by a Kathmandu trekking agency with support from the Nepal Tourism Board.
2010 saw the first ultra marathon (Everest Ultra) to be held from Gorak Shep to Lukla with a distance of 65 km.
TENZING-HILLARY EVEREST MARATHON - NEPAL
THE WORLD’S HIGHEST MARATHON TRAIL RUN
▪ The world’s highest marathon
▪ 26.2 mile trail run starting at 17,500 ft.
▪ Optional hike to the top of Kala Pattar
▪ Rich Buddhist culture
▪ Fully supported lodge trek & marathon race
Overview
Starting at Mount Everest Base Camp (17,500 feet) the Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon is the World's highest marathon and one of the most adventurous trail runs in the world. The upcoming race on October 5th, 2015 will be the 12th edition of this annual race held since 2003. This marathon is an international event with runners from over 20 countries competing each year.
From Everest Base Camp the marathon route goes downhill most of the way along rocky tracks and trails, traversing Nepal’s Sherpa country and ends at the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar (11,200ft). Mr. Deepak Rai, a Nepali runner, holds the course record of 3 hrs 28 min 27 seconds set in 2006 and Mr. Antoine Bonfils from France holds the fastest time for a non-Nepali runner in 4 hours 50 min and 10 seconds.
Due to the high elevation of the race, all participants are requested to be in Nepal three weeks prior to the race for acclimatizing to the high altitude. This three-week adventure combines sightseeing tour in the capital, Kathmandu, a 10-day trek to the marathon starting point, an ascent of Kala Patthar (5545m/18200ft) for the best views of Everest. Although the course of the Everest Marathon is basically downhill, there are two steep uphill sections. There may be snow and ice on the upper part and considerable exposure along much of the marathon route. Experience of rough terrain is essential.
Need To Know
The marathon starts from the Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft) and finishes at Namche Bazaar (3446m/11306ft). The measured distance of the course is 42.195 km (26.2 miles) over rough mountain trails. More specifically, the course from Basecamp runs down through the Khumbu Valley through Lobuche, Dingboche, Pangboche, Tengboche, Khumjung, and finishes in Namche Bazaar.
Runner Notes
The Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon is a very challenging and demanding course despite being a mostly downhill run. It is suitable for persons who are physically fit and can train regularly to meet the demands of running a high altitude marathon. Any sort of physical activity above 13,000 feet places a great demand on the body and this event will be very challenging even for the fittest runners.
On race day, there will be official marshals, timekeepers and attendants at all checkpoints and water stations at regular intervals along the route with arrangements for medical and emergency assistance and evacuation if required.
Description
This epic journey begins with a sweeping scenic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, and then a trek through Sherpa villages with beautiful views of the world's highest snowcapped peaks. The highest spot of this trip is Kalapatthar at 5545m/18200 ft, from the summit of which we can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of Himalayan peaks, ranges and glaciers including Mt Everest a stone's throw away.
Next, the trek heads to Everest Base Camp - the starting point for the Marathon. Along the way you'll pass through the Everest National Park and Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital town. You'll also visit the Buddhist monasteries of Pangboche (one of the oldest in the area) and Thyangboche (the biggest in the whole Himalayas) which was rebuilt after being burnt to the ground years ago (apparently the old monk wanted to douse the electric heater by banging it on the floor).
This is the only trip, apart from mountaineering expeditions, that has overnight camping right at the base of towering Mt Everest near the notorious Khumbu Icefall.
It is indeed a great pleasure for Himalaya Expeditions Private Limited to welcome you all to Namche Bazaar for the 10th edition of the Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon (THEM). This amazing event is conducted to commemorate the first successful ascent of Everest by Late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Late Sir Edmund Hillary on 29th May, 1953. We consider the marathon a most fitting tribute to these two great men-icons of adventurous souls in the annals of human history and civilization.
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