Running with my friend Phanden Sherpa in 2013 we had a great day in good conditions and crossed the finishing line in the middle of the rankings in 8 hrs. 41mins. But you know how it is, these things niggle away at you and you begin to wonder whether, if for example you had done some running as well as high altitude trekking training you might have shaved a minute or two from the time.

In January of this year I was helping my friends at Himalayan Expeditions, the Kathmandu based organisers of this 11 year old event. They were exhibiting at the Adventure Travel Show in Olympia London. They said that if I could help with the 2014 event and be a sort of “Goodwill Ambassador” they’d sign me up again to give it another go. OK.

So, on 18th May 2014 ,after a 40 minute flight from Kathmandu , I began the 11 day trek from the tiny airstrip at Lukla at 2800m to Everest Base Camp at 5300m. I was looking after a group of 19 runners from Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and the USA. Usually in the late spring the trails are packed with descending yaks, local expedition crews and foreign climbers as the annual climbing of Everest season comes to end . Sadly this year the trails were empty as all expeditions had abandoned their attempts following the avalanche tragedy that killed 16 Sherpas in the Khumbu Icefall early in the season.

There were a total of 131 marathon runners, 18 for the Ultra, 6 for the half marathon and a number of supporting trekkers, divided into groups either camping or staying in lodges and spread across several days to avoid congestion.

The weather was fairly good until day eight at the settlement of Lobuche at about 4900m. I woke in the night in my tent to the silence that I had learned over many expeditions to realise meant bad news. I got dressed and out and started digging out all the other tents from under a thick suffocating blanket of snow. Not only will the weight of snow collapse the tents but before that it will seal off all the ventilation.

Over the next two days we trekked via Gorak Shep, making the traditional ascent (without a view ) of Kalar Pattar and onwards trek to Everest Base Camp in continuous snowfall. The final descent from the moraines to the ice of the Khumbu glacier takes a diagonal trail under hanging loose rocks. It’s always a stone fall risk but with the snow an avalanche risk too.

This year Phanden was not running but was responsible for building the Base Camp,a tent city of dozens of yellow dome tents ,dining tents, kitchens and toilets all perched on the jagged surface of the Khumbu Glacier. The snow continued as the full race population arrived.

One unusual task at the base camp for me was to arrange ,if not quite a wedding ,a blessing for 2 German people in the group. On request I had carried the traditional Sherpa/Sherpani clothing up with me and arranged for a lama (monk) to give a blessing and Amrit our cook had baked a cake. The only person who was none the wiser to the preparations was the potential bride! Fortunately Carola seemed delighted at the idea of marrying Frank!

Again I woke in the night. It was quite obvious that not only was running on deep snow over fractured invisible ice dangerous, the more the snow fell the greater was the risk of avalanche and rock fall. There was not even a safe period when it froze in the night. There was no choice we had to evacuate the Base Camp asap.

As soon as we could the whole group prepared to depart back to the lodges at Gorak Shep. What had been a reasonable walk the day before was now deep with snow. My friend Kunga Sherpa and I broke trail in frequently waist deep snow back to safety, trailing 100+ people behind. Many runners of course had never experienced such mountain conditions .They were either blind to the conditions and for example would take a breather directly in line of potentially tumbling rocks or were on the edge of panic anticipating being engulfed at any moment. Despite all of this we all eventually arrived safely back at Gorak Shep.

Meanwhile, Pasang ,the in the field  organiser and  one of the few Nepalese UIAGM guides ,in additional to helping with the evacuation had also coordinated with all the Himalayan Expedition staff across the race route and back in Kathmandu and had rearranged the Marathon and Ultra starting at Gorak Shep, the following day. The race traditionally takes place on the same day the 29th May, the date of the first ascent of Everest and 2014 was no exception.

The weather on the 29th was beautiful with blue skies forming the backdrop to snow covered mountains on all sides. The snow meant however that as soon as you stepped off the narrow trail you sank knee deep in it. This combined with the fact that the first hour involves crossing a moraine and boulder covered glacier meant that there was little chance to overtake others.The first long steep descent is a zig zag path that begins at a small plain where the memorials for those lost on Everest commands a panoramic view across the peaks of Tamserku and Kangtega, miles away and towering above our final destination Namche Bazaar.

The snowline was at about 4300m at the village of Dingboche. Unfortunately at the same point as the route takes an uphill turn back into the snow towards the impressive south face of Lhotse to complete a loop to create the correct distance. Few people can run on the uphill section especially at its high point of nearly 4700m.On completion of the loop back at Dingboche there was one of many food and drink points and an electronic wrist tag recorder, but best of all friends and other trekkers to cheer us on. It marked the half way point.

Following this a long descent takes you to the village of  Pangboche and beyond that a dramatic river crossing. For about a decade a rigid metal bridge gave a solid and safe crossing. Unfortunately during the 2013 monsoon and without any people or animals on it,it collapsed into the river. The new temporary wooden bridge further upstream requires a crossing under very unstable cliffs. As I approached a huge slough of rocks tumbled down some 20 metres ahead of me. As soon as it stopped I sprinted for safety.

In 2013 the hardest section for both Phanden and I was the ascent of the hill up to the famous monastery at Thengboche. This year it was made worse as it began to rain. Nonetheless I began to realise as I checked the time that I was going well and ,better than shaving a few minutes off might do quite a bit better than that.

Running now with an Australian runner we scuttled down the forest clad  hill on the other side of Thengboche to the lowest point on the route at Phuki Tenga ,a bridge over the Dudh Kosi river at 3250m.Ahead I could see two of the runners from my group. They we just beginning the climb up the hill on the other side. The hill from Phunki Tenga to Kangjuma is the last major ascent, but it is long and dusty. Walking as fast as I could I gained ground and passed many people including my friends from our group.

Glancing at my watch I calculated that I might just be able to cover the ground from Kangjuma to Namche bazaar in an hour. It would mean that I would complete the race in 8 hours, more than 40 minutes faster than last year. As I passed one of the Tea shops in Kangjuma the owner called out “One half hours to Namche, but for you Tom Dai, 45 minutes because you are a runner!”

The trail into Namche is snake like, winding in and out and up and down across the hill side. I pushed on. At the final corner there is a large stupa and some supporters had gathered. “Come on, you can do it “one of them encouraged. I wasn’t sure, but it nearly made me burst into tears anyway.

Then the finish appeared. The banners, the tents, the people were all buzzing about. I couldn’t see my watch without glasses but didn’t dare to even slow down to look. It didn’t matter that there were many runners ahead of me, already wearing their medals and track suits exchanging stories with each other. Neither did it matter that there were a similar number probably behind and in some cases many hours behind. I pushed on.

As I crossed the finishing line there was a wall of cameras clicking and friends giving hugs of congratulations. I could hardly speak .Still holding back the tears, I donned my tracksuit and collected my medal and certificate. The judge said 8hours and 5 minutes Mr Thomas Sir. That would do me just fine I replied. I was 36 minutes faster and was 57th out of 131 runners.  

The first place was Mr Sudip Kulung from Nepal in a time of 3hrs 52 09 and the last that arrived that day Mr Hee Ja Moon from South Korea did a time of 14hrs and 5 minutes.

Already I can’t decide. Next year when I’m  60,I could have a go at the 60 Km but I’m sure I could get to below the 8 hour mark on the marathon……?

>> Find out more about this holiday