Everest Marathon 2007
Fun and Terror in the Forest
Kath Turner / 18.11.2007
We left the hotel at 6.30am for the 1hr drive to the top of the Royal Forest for a 6-7 mile run back down. All great in theory, but in practice one of the most terrifying bus journeys of my life - correction, terrifying journeys of my life.
But first I'll rewind a little: We arrived in Kathamandu on Friday afternoon, after narrowly avoiding most of our luggage being loaded into a very old 'Yeti tours' van. All very well meaning, but not our van! Friday and Saturday was designed for us to get to know each other better through a series of briefings, medical checks, kit checks, and more briefings.
I still can't remember many more than 3 or 4 names but I can remember the impressive athletic CV's. The participants are made up of endurance athletes, fell runners, tri-athletes etc. There aren't many sports that aren't covered in fact.
After the polite introductions the main topic of conversation being "have I got too much kit", "I don't think I've got enough kit", "how cold will it be"? and "what are you wearing on Sunday"?
Diana's 5.20am wake-up call was a nasty shock, particularly to those of us that had only been asleep an hour due to the jet lag. Nevertheless, I donned my last minute fancy dress purchase, Greg grabbed his camera, and we wandered downstairs to meet the other for coffee.
Now, it's not often that you come across a clown, leprechaun, and Robin Hood chatting over coffee, or Superman lying across a chair posing for a photograph. Or for that matter several kilted, redhaired, tam o'shanter wearing Scots lacing up their trail shoes - never mind the fact that this was 6.15am in Kathamndu … on second thoughts?!
We all trooped out to our awaiting buses, taking with us Father Christmas and his missus from Kendal, and a herd of cows from New Zealand. We weren't paying much attention to our vehicles at that time, why should we, as far as we were concerned we were being driven to the top of a very steep hill, let loose and running back down again. If we had been paying attention, those huge & slightly deflated tractor tyres should have sent warning messages.
Twenty minutes later we arrived at the Royal Forest, and after much discussion, chin rubbing, inspection of tyres, and money changing hands the guards opened the gates and let us in.
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