Everest Marathon: Highest Marathon in the World

The Marathon, as astonishing as it sounds, certainly lives up to its name. Running along the foothills of the glorious Everest Himalayas, the marathon is one of Earth's most extended and most challenging marathons! This marathon was initiated to commemorate the first successful ascent of Mt. Everest (8848m) by the late Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. The Everest Marathon is the ultimate race track for those daring enough to run amid the harsh Himalayan environment. Following the trail through some of the most esteemed destinations in the entire Everest Region, the Everest Marathon guarantees entanglement with the mesmerizing Himalayas and local Sherpa culture.

Everest base camp

The Everest Marathon is the Highest Marathon competition in the world. It is always held on May 29th in the Everest Region, starts running from the Everest Base Camp (Full-Marathon), and Ultra Marathon, and ends in Namche Bazaar. However, a Half-Marathone begins in Dingboche and ends in Namche.

History of the Everest Marathon

Jan Turner and Tony Hunt 1985 first introduced the idea of creating a Marathon in the Himalayas. The first organized event was started in 2003 by Himalayan Expeditions, a Nepali trip operator, with the approval of the Government of Nepal and the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). The first Everest Marathon featured a 42-kilometer-long track which Uttar Kumar Rai won. Since then, the marathon has been organized annually and has gained the attention of the runners aspiring for the thrill of the highest order.

Key Features of the Everest Marathon

Everest Run

The marathon begins from the Everest Base Camp and takes the runners through the trails endowed by the diverse flora and fauna within the Sagarmatha National Park. Similarly, during the Length of the Everest Marathon, the Himalayas like Mt. Everest (8848m), Ama Dablam (6856m), Kangtega (6685m), and Nuptse (7861m) keep the enticing company of the trekkers. Furthermore, the trails also cross paths with numerous Sherpa villages like Lobuche, Dingboche, Pangboche, Tengboche, and Namche Bazaar along the way. The runners will have to navigate through trails that are steep and snowy. Although descending on most occasions, there are a few ascents and high passes along the route.

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Start and Finish Line of Marathon

The Everest Marathon starts from the Everest Base Camp at 5,364 meters and ends at Namche Bazaar at 3,440 meters. This trail covers rocky moraines, meadows, forests, and bridges that go up and down. The runners make a gradual decline in altitude as the marathon progresses. The race trails consist of more downhill than uphill, so this run is very demanding! Thus, it requires strength, endurance, and stamina. This event's pure adrenaline rush attracts Marathon Runners from all over the world.

Categories of Marathon

Everest Marathon has three different categories. Runners can take part in their desired categories according to their physical capabilities. The three categories are 60 km Extreme ultra, 42 km Full Marathon, and 21 km Half Marathon. The 21 km Half Marathon begins from Dingboche (4,410 m) and ends at Namche Bazaar. However, the 60 km Extreme Ultra and 42 km Full Marathon begin at the Everest Base Camp and take you to Namche Bazaar. While the 42 km Full Marathon follows the classic Everest Base Camp Trek trail, the 60 km Extreme Ultra heads north to Nha La from Phortse and rejoins the route of the other two marathons at Mong La. The 60 km Extreme Ultra also ends at Namche Bazaar.

Dates for 2024

As the marathon is celebrated in honor of the first successful ascent of Mt. Everest (8848m), the Marathon is organized on May 29 every year. In 2024 too, The edition of the Everest Marathon is set to be organized on May 29.

Application Process for Everest Marathon

The Everest Marathon is open to enthusiasts all over the world. The runners must trek to the Everest Base Camp following the classic route as the Marathon begins from the Everest Base Camp. Upon arrival at the base camp, the runners will participate in the marathon on May 29. Since the runners will have to trek to the base camp and run to Namche Bazaar, we recommend that only seasoned athletes and runners participate in the marathon. However, anyone hungry to participate in this adventure can apply for the Everest Marathon.

Adventure Everest Treks:

In Conclusion

With May just around the corner, we are nearing the date of the Everest Marathon. You should sign up for this adrenaline-filled race if you are a runner. For any candidate who believes he/she has the potential to participate in this event, get the running shoes and start training. It is your time to conquer the Himalayas!