Everest Marathon to kick off on Oct 5

Nepal Now, latest news updates

The government may have cancelled all Everest expeditions for this year following the devastation caused by the April 25 quake in the Everest region. But this may not deter adventurers and extreme sports enthusiasts from taking part in the Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon, billed as one of the world’s most difficult high-altitude marathon events, in Solukhumbu on October 5. The 13th edition of Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon (THEM) hosted by Himalaya Expeditions Nepal will begin from Everest Base Camp ( 5364m) and will end at Namche Bazar (3446 meters), covering a distance of 42.195 km.

The organisers said that this marathon will be a ‘big publicity campaign’ for the International Tourism Market for the promotion and revival of Nepalese Tourism. Shikhar Pandey, event manager of THEM, said that the marathon is being organized with an aim to help recover Nepal’s tourism sector hit hard by the recent earthquakes. He said that the marathon, usually held on May 29th every year, was rescheduled for October 5 because of April 25 and May 12 earthquakes that devastated some parts of the country including the Khumbu region where Mt Everest is located.

Altogether 30 foreign participants from countries like Germany, Britain, Israel, the US China, among others, have registered their names for the event dominated by local sherpas who are well accustomed with the conditions and the difficult terrain. The participants compete in open marathon, open marathon for foreigners, open for female and half marathon. The top three finishers of all categories will be awarded with cash prizes of Rs 100,000, Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000, said the organizers. Stating that the safety of the runners is crucial for the organisers, the organizers said check points where water supply and medical facilities are available are set at every 5-7 kilometres for the main event.

The marathon, which started in 2003, is annually organized on May 29 to commemorate the day Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary scaled the world’s highest peak, Mt Everest, for the first time on May 29, 1953. The organisers said Robert Celinski from Poland will be a top challenger to the top Nepali runners this year. Celinski had finished the marthon in 4:39:39 last year. He has the fastest time for foreigner runners.

Similarly, Danilo Testa and Vincenzo Perrone, two deaf runners from Italy, are also running the Everest marathon to support a deaf foundation in Italy. The organisers said they are also giving continuation to Clean Everest Campaign this year. Runners can voluntarily collect trashes from Base Camp while running down to the End Point of the Marathon to show the world their commitment to Save Mount Everest for their future Generation.

Mostly all participants are running for the cause of raising funds for the earthquake victims, the organisers said. This year, the event organisers are also organizing a free medical camp in Khundi hospital for the earthquake affected people of Namche. The medical camp will be focused on bones, joints and nerve problems.