The Everest Marathon
Last News Before The Race
Diana Penny Sherpani (Race Organiser) / 23.11.2003
Namche Bazaar – Fri. 21stI had to come down from Deboche on Tuesday with Fiona grove and Colin Ardron. Fiona had to go back to the U.K. early, as did Colin, who was called back urgently because his wife is seriously ill. He got a flight back to the UK on Friday. So, I was a bit out of touch with news from the higher parts of the course until this afternoon when doctors and marshals came back to Namche Bazaar in readiness for the race.
The weather has been absolutely superb, with only one short snow shower last. Otherwise, it has been sunny but a bit windy and the nights have been cold, well below freezing as one would expect. The last two days have been glorious so I hope it stays the same for the race.
There were a few headaches going up the Gokyo valley but no-one had serious altitude problems, and no-one is suffering from AMS at the moment. Unfortunately, Colin Solomon (Aus) has had to be brought down suffering from a severe chest infection. He spent last night at Deboche and brought up a 12 inch plug of mucus from his lungs, felt much better and wanted to go up again.
He wasn’t allowed to of course, and will now be helping at the aid station at the Tengboche Monastery. He will run a half marathon on the lower part of the course from there when the front pack has passed. My money had been on him to be the fastest Western runner. Dr John (Howarth) said he had only seen such a mucus excretion in corpses, people who had died from pulmonary infections! Everyone else is apparently fit and well, and there have been no changes to the plans.
Dr Jo. Grove and trek leader Wish Gdula will be the back up team on race day, sweeping the course and encouraging those at the back to make the race cut-off points. They will have a porter carrying medical supplies with them, and will expect to complete the full course. Dr. Steve Lumb will spend tonight at Lobuche in case of any night time evacuations and will then race down to Dughla before the race starts.
Elsewhere everyone is in position, with medical staff, volunteers and sherpas placed down the course. We’ve got help from the doctors at the Himalayan Rescue Association at Pheriche, and from the Khunde Hospital, and I’ll be at the finish to see everyone across the line.
Only, yesterday afternoon I signed up 3 Sherpas who are all possible winners. Sumba and his brother Pemba Sherpa from Tragsindo (who are also brothers to Dachiri) came 1st and 4th in the French stage race, which ended in Lukla on Wednesday, and I’m told Sumba goes like the wind. I expect Hari \'s record to be broken by quite a large margin. We\'ll know soon enough.See All Event Posts
