Nepal man wins world's highest marathon on Everest

30 May 2016

Runners, clad in warm clothing and hiking boots, run over rocky terrain, surrounded by ice, as they compete in the world's highest marathon, on 29 May. Photo released by organisers Himex. — Image caption,
Runners appeared to enjoy themselves despite the tough terrain

A Nepali soldier has won the world's highest marathon on Mount Everest.

Bed Bahadur Sunuwar was one of more than 150 local and foreign runners in the race, which began at Nepal's base camp.

The annual run marks the anniversary of the first summit of the peak by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary in 1953.

The winner completed the race, which ended about 2,000 metres further down the slopes, in four hours and 10 seconds.

"The route is very challenging but amazing too. I feel proud to be the winner," the 29-year-old man said.

A large crowd of runners, including one man in a kilt, setting off near the start of the race. 29 May 2016.

AFP

Runners started the race at 07:00 local time, ending it in the town of Namche Bazaar several hours later

Runners dash over snowy, uneven terrain during the race, led by a Nepalese man in a vest and shorts, immediately followed by a foreign man in leggings and a warm coat and hat. 29 May 2016. Handout photo.

AFP

People took differing approaches to dress, variously choosing thick coats, light shorts, a cowboy hat and a kilt

Large group of runners gathered on the slopes of Everest on 29 May 2016.

AFP

The air at Base Camp has only about half the oxygen as that at sea level so runners were gasping for breath

Around 30 local runners were joined by about 130 from around the world, including the UK, US, China and Australia. A Nepali man was also the winner in 2015.

This is the first climbing season on Everest after two seasons hit by disasters - an avalanche that killed 16 mountain guides in 2014, and a fatal earthquake in 2015.

The 2016 season has not been without tragedy though, with several deaths from altitude sickness during a particularly busy period on the peak. On Friday, officials announced they had found the body of an Indian climber on the upper slopes, taking the season's death toll to four.

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