The Challenge

The Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon

Billed as the highest and hardest marathon in the world the start line is at Everest Base Camp 17,593ft a staggering 5,277ft higher than the summit of NZ's highest peak Mt Cook (12,316ft). The event is hardly one you can just throw a pair of shoes on and enter; Competitors take 10 days to trek up to the start line on foot where oxygen levels are around half that of what we are used to at sea level.

Dominated by the locals used to the harsh conditions and lack of oxygen the winning time in the latest event was 3hrs59mins with the first non Nepali runner coming in just under an hour later. As an indication as to just how hard this event is even for those fit enough and crazy enough to compete, the average non Nepali finishing time was just over 9hrs 30mins.

I only caught the trail running bug in recent years and competed in the Kepler Challenge in 2007. While training for the Kepler I heard about the Everest Marathon & tucked it away in the back of my mind as one of those “must do one day” events. When Sir Ed died earlier this year I made the commitment to head to Nepal and, in the famous words of the great mountaineer himself - “knock the bastard off”.

Preparation for the event is going to be intensive. I've already lined up the Sydney Marathon in Sept, Auckland Marathon in October & the Kepler Challenge in December. Along the way I will also be competing in the Xterra trail running events each month.

Even with all this lined up there is a monotony to all the training so if there is an event you think I should do or any training tips please let me know & I'll try and knock that off as well.

http://www.everestmarathon.com/