Everest Marathon

The Everest Marathon, the world's highest marathon,[1] 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),[1] 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 well over half a million pounds to benefit health and educational projects in rural Nepal. As of 2017, Bufo Ventures reliquished the race organisation role and Ali Bramall decided to take on the challenge of organising this original Everest Marathon. One of her first tasks was to rename the event the Original Everest Marathon(OEM) which will hold its first event in November 2019. This OEM event maintains most of the original characteristics of the founding marathon. It includes a vital 15 day Acclimatisation Trek which is fully supported with extensive and experience medical teams, team leaders and Nepali Nak teams as well as the 26 mile/42 km measured marathon following the same route from Gorak Shep to Namche Bazaar via Thamo. The aim is still to raise money as a charity for development projects in Nepal. One difference, however, that the charity being supported is Community Action Nepal (CAN) which is Doug Scott's charity (UK based: Registered as a Charity number: 1067772).

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, this was again conceived by Jan Turner and organised by Ramesh Bhattachan an ex British Gurkha.

Everest Marathon Race Results – 28th November 2017

Position Name M/F Age Nationality Time Comments
1 Suman Kulung M 26 Nepal 3.48.16 First
2 Pasang Sonam M 20 Nepal 4.01.05 Second
3 Nawang Tenzing Sherpa M 24 Nepal 4.14.28 Third
Everest Marathon Female Race Results – 28th November 2017
Position Name M/F Age Nationality Time Comments
10 Nirkala Rai F 26 Nepal 5.29.02 1st Lady
11 Mingma Lama Sherpa F 28 Nepal 5.30.56 2nd Lady
12 Purnima Rai F 20 Nepal 5.37.20 3rd Lady

Significant Everest Marathon Non Nepali Race Results – 28th November 2017

Position Name M/F Age Nationality Time Comments
13 Franck Lasfargues M 41 France 5.49.29 1st Men’s Vet
14 Anatoly Bazylevsky M 48 Russia 5.56.15
15 Ang Dami Sherpa F 49 Nepal 6.15.05 1st Lady Vet
16 Rich Walklate M 32 GB 6.15.17
17 Alastair Payne M 51 GB 6.23.09
18 Chris Gillman M 33 Guernsey 6.28.01
19 Tomaž Ergavec M 33 Slovenia 6.43.49
20 Lachlan Philipson M 23 N Z 6.55.55
21 Fiona Smith F 31 GB 6.56.51

2016 Tenzing Hillary

Full Marathon

Place[2] Name Nationality Time
1 Bed Bahadur Sumuwar Nepal 4 hr 0 min 10 sec
2 Bhim Bahadur Gurung Nepal 4 hr 3 min 24 sec
3 Suman Kulung Nepal 4 hr 11 min 52 sec

Half Marathon

Place[2] Name Nationality Time
1 Tenzing Dolmans Netherlands 3 hr 30 min 13 sec
2 Domainique Hopkins Australia 3 hr 32 min 14 sec
3 Roshani Rai India 4 hr 02 min 08 sec

References

  1. 1 2 Highest marathon, Guinness World Book of Records, Retrieved 9 October 2015
  2. 1 2 "Worlds Highest Trail Running Event, Everest Marathon".


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