Everest Marathon 2009

It is coming to the crunch now, as the Everest Marathon 2009 is rapidly approaching!

I am running this race, in my opinion the 'fell' race of all fell races, on 4 December this year.

It is going to be a toughy, starting at Gorak Shep, old Everest Basecamp, at 5200 metres, running 26.2 miles of mainly downhill with a couple of sharp ascents, on rocky, narrow trails to Namche Bazar... Temperatures at the start can be as low as -20 centigrade!

And what is that 'crunch' I can see you wonder? As I know that I am not the first forum member to run this race? Well the crunch is that I am running this race to raise awareness for a friend's environmental charity called the Glacier Trust.
Communities living at high altitudes in the Himalayas frequently face disaster as a result of climate change. The Glacier Trust provides financial support and expertise for grassroots Non Governmental Organisations working in these high environments, enabling communities to adapt and share their solutions.

Please visit the website for information and the option to donate to this valid charity: http://www.theglaciertrust.org/

The people who organise Everest Marathon donate all the surplus money after the race to their own Everest Marathon Fund. Another charity that supports small scale organisations that work with the people and environment of Nepal. I have set up a justgiving page for them: http://www.justgiving.com/HannekerunsEverest/

So there we are: please support me in my endeavours to raise awareness and funds to these valid organisations!

Thank you :)

Hi Hanneke,
Wow, amazing for you to be running this marathon. It is the most fantastic place in the world. I went trekking in Nepal and Tibet in 2003 for one month and spent 3 nights at base camp (north side).
It was my holiday of a lifetime made extra special by all the wonderful people and sherpas of Nepal. I would love to go back one day, I totally fell in love with the place.
I'm sure you will have a fantastic time and it would be great to see some pictures on your return. I am totally jealous!
Just popping off to your just giving site now....it is such a good cause, well done!
All the best for your trip x

Thank you so much for your generosity MG :) :)

I am very excited to be going. I have been to the Himalayas once before, in the Spiti Valley... and am very excited to have the opportunity to run this race and have the trip to Nepal that goes with it!

I shall be posting a race/trip report and lots of photo's when I come back!

Look forward to photos Hann - amazing place I bet and even more amazing what you are doing :eek:

I will tootle off and donate now :cool:

Thanks so much One Hill Wonder :)

And Happy Birthday :)

I'll see you in the Helwith Bridge Inn and make a non electronic donation next Sunday ;)
I loved Nepal, should be a cracking trip.

BOING!

Time to bump this up again me thinks...

Leaving for Nepal this Sunday and getting excited and apprehensive at the same time. Running prep has been going well, one last run on Saturday, aiming for a little over 5 hours of running/bog hopping :D

Currently testing my new sleeping bag by sitting in it and keeping the heating off... verdict: it is too warm! But I am sure I won't think that when trying to sleep at Everest Basecamp...

I am hoping you will all take a look at the Glacier Trust website and my justgiving page and will feel generous enough to donate a small amount to my charities.

I don't usually run for charity, but on this occasion I decided to use this very special race to raise awareness of the situation in Nepal and am hoping to be able to help a little. I hope you will help me to help :)

I'm in! Best of luck, having seen your determination on Tour Des Galles this should be a doddle for you!

Good luck. Sounds amazing!

Thank you guys! Very generous Boy Wonder, MUCH appreciated :)

Great part of the world. I'm so jealous
I know that route so well after my base camp trek in 2008. Intend going back there v soon ! (would love to do Everest marathon but unfortunately can't get the time off work for it !!

Best of luck on your Everest adventure.

** Update **

Having dropped the intrepid explorer off at Newport train station they were last heard of turning off their phone prior to boarding an Air India plane to Dehli and then on to Katmandu. :)

Best of Luck Hann, av a good un Orange Pony;)

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Originally Posted by merrylegs

Best of Luck Hann, av a good un Orange Pony;)

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Have a wonderful trip Han and looking forward to some special haiku!!!!! :):D:)

Races starts in a few hours according to www.mudsweatandtears.co.uk Best of luck Hann!! :cool:

Was wondering when she was running - best of luck

whey...good luck

Good luck to Hanneke, and while we're sending our thoughts in that direction then let's all keep a few kind ones for John Doyle of Lonsdale Fellrunners. He's trekked in and gone through all the prep but there's some risk that the medics won't let him run because of high blood pressure. That would be a total bummer given all the training he's done.:(

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Originally Posted by tinyman

Good luck to Hanneke, and while we're sending our thoughts in that direction then let's all keep a few kind ones for John Doyle of Lonsdale Fellrunners. He's trekked in and gone through all the prep but there's some risk that the medics won't let him run because of high blood pressure. That would be a total bummer given all the training he's done.:(

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Bummer indeed:(. Fingers crossed.

Spot the forumite amongst the pre race fancy dress run......

Last I heard was from Namche Bazar, which is the last place of any significance on the way up to Gorak Shep,

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Originally Posted by hanneke on 21 November

In Namche at the moment, with a light spot of altitude sickness, so taking it easy today. Tomorrow we are supposed to be running 6 miles, but I have been advised by the doc not to do it and just to walk as far as I feel I can. Bit of a bummer that, but it doesn't necessarily mean I feel worse when we go up higher tomorrow, fingers crossed!

Did you get the textx I sent you in Kathmandu? Apparently, they went out but we could not receive replies. Diana assured me there was no point in taking a phone with me on the trek so I left it in Kathmandu... Only to find that there is signal up here and probably even higher up... GRRRRRRR... anyways, I will send another e-mail as soon as I have an oportunity, but this may not be until after the race.

Hope life in the UK isn't too boring? We are having a fantastic time here, the mountaisn are spectacular and the Nepali people brilliant... Seen Everest from the distance and it was actually rather moving...

The travelling in a group is actually remarkably good. We have plenty of scope for doing your own thing and going at your own pace or socialise with the others. Everyone is actually really nice and/or interesting... Of course because we are all doing something quite remarkable, so it takes a certain type.

You will be pleased to hear that the sleeping bag is toasty and the old one would not have been warm enough as we go higher...

I best go now, as the connection is erratic and tends to cut out and I don't want to lose this message!

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Originally Posted by Ady In Accy

Spot the forumite amongst the pre race fancy dress run......

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She has her Tour Des Galles cycle jersey on... brilliant .... Go Han!!!

Anna Frost has taken 25 minutes of Angela Mudges course record!

http://www.mudsweatandtears.co.uk/20...verest-record/

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Originally Posted by dominion

Anna Frost has taken 25 minutes of Angela Mudges course record!

http://www.mudsweatandtears.co.uk/20...verest-record/

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any news on Han Dom?

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Originally Posted by Amex

any news on Han Dom?

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Not yet, There are supposed to be updates on sleepmonsters, but there's not been anything yet.

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Originally Posted by dominion

Not yet, There are supposed to be updates on sleepmonsters, but there's not been anything yet.

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thanks pal, oh if you get chance pls read XOTF

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Originally Posted by Amex

thanks pal, oh if you get chance pls read XOTF

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Already read! :)

I had a look on the 'monsters too but couldn't find anything. Hope she got round, err down! :)

Quality run from Ms Frost :cool:

oos didn't see this, just put another thread up. Stunning run.

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Originally Posted by Derby Tup

I had a look on the 'monsters too but couldn't find anything. Hope she got round, err down! :)

Quality run from Ms Frost :cool:

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Yes nice one. I remember she beat me at the Wincle Trout race a few years back to finish something like 5th out of 300. Clearly very talented.

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Originally Posted by noel

Yes nice one. I remember she beat me at the Wincle Trout race a few years back to finish something like 5th out of 300. Clearly very talented.

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I like the way you compare Wincle Trout to the everest marathon!

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Originally Posted by novice

I like the way you compare Wincle Trout to the everest marathon!

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Made me smile too! :)

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Originally Posted by novice

I like the way you compare Wincle Trout to the everest marathon!

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Anna was one place lower in the Everest Marathon, so I guess you could argue it's a very little bit harder than Wincle Trout.

But then, did she win a fish in the Everest Marathon? I rest my case.

I was of course commenting on Anna's running ability, not saying that doing well at Wincle would stand her in good stead in the Everest marathon.

News from Namche Bazar is that Han finished in about 9 hours. :)

More to follow.

leggy Dutch lady
strides down Himalayan slopes
well done Hanneke!

:D

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Originally Posted by dominion

News from Namche Bazar is that Han finished in about 9 hours. :)

More to follow.

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Well done Han back next year to beat your PB;)

Full results up now at www.sleepmonsters.com :)

Cheers DT.

Latest news update is that due to "civil unrest" they are confined to their hotel in Katmandu! :eek: