Everest Marathon

The Everest Marathon was founded in 1987, during the golden age of mass-participation running. Now 39 years old, it has established itself as a beloved fixture in Gorak Shep, growing from its early editions into a race with genuine character and loyal following.

With 2245m of elevation gain, the Everest Marathon is not a course for the faint-hearted. The climbs are where races are won and lost — where the gap between training and undertrained reveals itself without mercy. Locals say the course doesn't beat you; it just waits for you to beat yourself.

Racing in temperatures that hover around -5°C demands respect. The Everest Marathon tests not just fitness but preparation — the wrong clothing choice or insufficient warm-up routine can turn a good race into a survival exercise within the first few kilometers.

The Everest Marathon carries an "extreme" difficulty rating for good reason. The combination of terrain, conditions, and distance creates an event where finishing is a genuine achievement. Drop-out rates are high, preparation requirements are serious, and the line between adventure and misadventure is thin.