TRAIL RUNNING
Tengboche Monastery , one of the most famous Sherpa monasteries , at an altitude of 3800 metres of 3800 metres , about a two-hour hike uphill from Namche . It was built in 1916 , subsequently destroyed by an earthquake , but rebuilt . One of the charities that our event was raising money for included some restoration work of the monastery . ( As a post-script , the monastery was partially destroyed for a second time in 1989 , by a fire , and then rebuilt with the help of volunteers and international assistance in 1993 ).
This monastery is in a magnificent setting , draped with panoramic views of Everest , Nupste , Lhotse , Thamserku , Tawache , and the most majestic of all ,
Ama Dablam , which means ‘ mother ’ s necklace .’ The long ridges on each side of the peak resemble the arms of a mother ( ama ) protecting her child , and a hanging glacier is considered the dablam , a traditional double-pendant containing pictures of the gods , as worn by Sherpa women .
Majestic Race Venue
Above 4000 metres , the evenings became noticeably very much colder , and the thin air made one feel a little light-headed at times . When the sun disappeared behind any of the mountains , the surrounded by several stunning mountains up to 6500 metres . Being the main town in the region , over the centuries it had become the centre of trade with the surrounding peoples , including many from across the border in Tibet . Now , it accumulated its wealth from the many trekkers , climbers and visitors who frequent the region in the pre- and post- monsoon seasons . We had two days of rest there , and took the opportunity to hike a little bit further uphill to catch our very first views of the summit of Everest ( 8848 metres ), which appeared behind a ridge that led to the summit of Lhotse , also an 8000-metre peak that adjoins Everest . Stunning views , indeed !
What was even more stunning was our subsequent continuation of our route after our two rest days . We visited the Tengboche Monastery in the village of Khumjung , one of the most famous Tibetan style monasteries of the Sherpa community , at an altitude
The Races on Everest
There are actually two marathons run on the slopes of Everest . The first was conceptualised by Jan Turner and Tony Hunt in 1985 , and run for the first time in 1987 . It was originally organised by UK-based Bufo Ventures , with Jan Turner as Race Director , and was run biannually , usually near the end of the year . In 2003 , a rival event was organised under the management of Nepal-based Himalayan Expeditions and promoted by the Nepal Tourism Board . The first edition of this newer marathon , known as the Golden Jubilee Everest Marathon , was held on 19 May 2003 , the 50th anniversary of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary summiting Everest for the first time .
Since 2004 , the newer race has been known as the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon , while the first race was later renamed The Original Everest Marathon , due to confusion between the two events . The two races also use very similar routes , further contributing to confusion between them . The ‘ Original ’ starts at Gorak Shep at 5212m , the site of the 1953 Everest expedition base camp , and finishes in Namche Bazaar . The ‘ Tenzing Hillary ’ starts at the current Everest Base Camp ( 5364m ) and finishes in Namche Bazaar . Therefore , while the Original Everest Marathon has always been known as the world ’ s highest marathon , the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon is actually higher .
Interestingly , due to an earthquake in Nepal in 2015 , Mount Everest is now slightly taller than before , with the official height now measured at 8848.86 metres . Therefore , the 20th edition of the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon in May 2023 will be known as the New Higher Mount Everest Marathon , to celebrate this increase in height . Meanwhile , the Original Everest Marathon was last run in 2019 , and it is not yet clear if the organisers will continue with it , so UK-based event organiser Keith MacIntosh is busy setting up a pilot run of a replacement in November , called the Sherpa Everest Marathon .
Gorak Shep , starting point of the inaugural Everest Marathon , is a frozen lakebed covered with sand at 5164m
Looking up at the Nuptse face from the start at Gorak Shep
For more information on these races , go to :
Original Everest Marathon – www . originaleverestmarathon . com Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon – www . everestmarathon . com ( Planned Sherpa Everest Marathon – mail keith @ nomadical-coaching . com )
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