Everest Marathon - The Highest Marathon in the World

TREK-FIT

Endurance based Courses and Services

Trek-Fit is a provider of endurance based training advice and instruction run by Jim Day, an experienced long-distance walker and runner who completed the Everest Marathon in 2007.

The Stables,
Halfpenny Green Vineyard,
Tom Lane,
Bobbington,
South Staffordshire
DY7 5EP


Tel: 01384 221714
or 07961 502707


email: info@trek-fit.co.uk
www.trek-fit.co.uk

United Kingdom

SleepMonsters is run by Everest Marathon Fund trustee Rob Howard, and covers adventure racing around the world through a network of international sites. It’s the world’s No 1 adventure racing site with a comprehensive calendar, hundreds of race reports, thousands of pictures, news, forums, race profiles, advice and tips. www.sleepmonsters.com

The Fell Runners Association. A complete calendar of events in the UK for the current year and a useful ‘links’ page to other events worldwide. www.fellrunner.org.uk

Scottish Hill Runners.  Membership benefits include a regular newsletter, an annual journal and a Race Calendar which includes all hill races in Scotland.  Up-to-date information on all aspects of hill racing, training, long distance challenges, and non-competitive hill running in Scotland.
www.shr.uk.com

The Original Mountain Marathon (formerly the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon). Held in October, a challenging two day mountain event (the Elite course being 2 sequential marathon lengths) where a team of two navigate their way around a 2 day mountainous course in a new location each year, carrying food/stove/tent/equipment for an overnight camp. www.theomm.com

Wildoutdoors, a company based in Scotland, offers running, walking, cycling and ecology/wildlife holidays. www.wildoutdoors.info

Saunders Lakeland Moutain Marathon. Held in July each year in the English Lake District. A two-day fell running and mountain navigation event open to teams of two. www.slmm.org.uk

Europe

Lapland Ultra. 100 km run and walk in Swedish Lapland held in June in the light of the Midnight Sun. It is also possible to complete just some of the stages at 38/42/64/81 km. www.laplandultra.nu

The Spartathlon is an historic ultra-distance foot race that takes place in September each year in Greece from Athens to Sparta. It is one of the most difficult and satisfying ultra distance races in the world because of the unique history and background. www.spartathlon.gr

North Pole Marathon. The most northerly marathon in the world:  this marathon is not run on land - it is run 'on' frozen water, in the high Arctic Ocean. www.npmarathon.com

Swiss Alpine Marathon Davos. 11/22/31/42/78 km races held at the end of July. Beautiful classic runs for various abilities. www.swissalpine.ch

Jungfrau Marathon. September, Interlaken, Switzerland. 42 km with 1829m ascent: 50% on road and 50% on trails in full view of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. www.jungfrau-marathon.ch

Marathon des Châteaux du Medoc, Pauillac, France in September. The only road race in this list but a real 'must do' - if you can obtain one of the 8,000 places! The web site says it all. "The Medoc Marathon is a real giant party. The day before the race almost fifteen hundred people will gather in one of the Medoc-Chateaux for the famous Thousand-Pasta-Dinner. The race itself starts with a fancy show and goes on with entertainment, music, thousands of disguised runners, 52 music bands, 22 catering stops, 21 wine-tasting stops and those where regional specialities are offered, like oysters, grilled beef, cheese and a Medoc speciality of pork-butchers delicatessen. The winner and the last runner to cross the finish line receive instead of a cash prize, their weight worth in great wines." www.marathondumedoc.com

Africa

The Marathon des Sables is a 6 day, 151 mile (243 km) endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco, normally held end of March or the beginning of April. Daily stages of 25/34/38/82/42/ 22 km. www.darbaroud.com Applicants from UK, Eire and Israel can register through www.saharamarathon.co.uk

Comrades Marathon. The most famous of South Africa’s ultras: 89 km in KwaZulu Natal in May/June. 2009 is the down route (Pietermaritzburg – Durban) and 2010 the up route ( Durban – Pietermaritzburg). On the down route you start in the basalt peaks of the Drakensburg, and run through the rolling grass hills of the Midlands to the lush coast at Durban. www.comrades.com

Two Oceans Marathon, Cape Town, South Africa on Easter Saturday. 56 and 21 km through the Cape peninsular. www.twooceansmarathon.org.za

Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon. Experience the challenge of South Africa with this 250km self-sufficiency run in the Great Kalahari. The Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon is usually held in October: six legs in seven days with set distances for each day, from 25km to 75km. Participants must carry all their supplies, clothes and compulsory safety/survival equipment for the duration of the event. Overnight shelter in camps, and water, which is strictly controlled and distributed during the race, is supplied. www.extrememarathons.com

La Grand Raid de la Réunion. La Diagonale des Fous - The Fools' Race - 148 km from the southerly point of the island (Cap Méchant) to Saint-Denis on the north coast, with 8,000m of ascent crossing 5 crests (ca 2,000m high) and bypassing the island's active volcano. Held at the end of October each year. There is also a one day Semi-Raid of 65 km from Cilaos to Saint-Denis. www.grandraid-reunion.com

Sahara Marathon. Difficult course on sand roads in a harsh and unforgiving environment. In aid of the Western Sahara Refugee Camps, Tindouf, Algeria. February. www.saharamarathon.org

Safaricom Marathon. 26 mile course on dirt roads around Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya at 5,500 feet. Over-looked by Mount Kenya to the south, stunning views towards Samburu and Mount Ol Lolokwe in the north and a vast assortment of game. June. www.lewa.org/lewa_marathon.php

Asia

Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset in July is an annual event that allows runners to experience some of the most spectacular and pristine trail running in the world. Whether you come to challenge the Mongolian champions over the 100 km distance, or to challenge yourself on your first 42 km marathon, Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset offers you a week of discovery and exploration. www.ultramongolia.org

Himalayan 100 mile stage race. 5 day, 100 mile stage race in the Darjeeling area ( India) held early November. Daily stages of 24/20/26/13/17 miles. www.himalayan.com

Great Wall Marathon. 26 miles on the Great Wall of China held in May. 3,700 steps on the Wall and flatter tarmac/gravel roads through farmland and picturesque villages. 5/10/21 km races also held. www.great-wall-marathon.com

Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon. Sabah is the northernmost tip of Borneo and South East Asia’s highest peak (4095m) is situated in the Kinabalu national park. The race is from the park’s exhibition hall to the peak and down again. www.sabahtourism.com and click on Activities and Events, then search for Climbathon.

The Americas

The All American Trail Running Association web site has a calendar of North American races and some international events. www.trailrunner.com

The Pikes Peak Marathon ( Manitou Springs, Colorado) is hailed as one of the most gruelling in the world with a vertical ascent of 7,815 feet. The 26.3 mile course is held in August. www.pikespeakmarathon.org

Badwater Ultramarathon 135 mile, invitational race in California from Badwater in Death Valley (280 feet below sea level) to Whitney Portals on Mt. Whitney ( 8360 feet) held in July. www.badwaterultra.com

Andes Adventures. This American company is currently offering various running holidays in South America, including the Atacama marathon and the Macchu Picchu marathon. In 2010 the latter can be extended to 100 miles for the Chasqui Challenge. www.andesadventures.com/runadv.htm

Jungle Marathon. 200 km in 6 stages (7 days) or 100 km in 4 stages (5 days) on tracks and trails through the Amazon jungle in Brazil in September or October. Each runner is required to carry all their own food and gear for the duration of the race; bottled water provided. At the end of each stage, runners will share occupancy on pre-erected Amazonian style campsites with hammocks. www.junglemarathon.com

Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon. Anchorage, Alaska, in June. Bike trails, gravel and rocky paved roads from the foothills of the Chugach Mountains to the steely waters of Cook Inlet. 5/13/26 miles. www.mayorsmarathon.com

New Zealand

Kepler Challenge. A 60 km endurance race held in December in the Fiordland National Park, Te Anau, South Island, New Zealand. Serious mountains, serious weather! In 2011 there will be a prize for the fastest joint times for the Kepler 2010 and Everest 2011. www.keplerchallenge.co.nz.   Cathy Lewsley from Te Anau will be organising travel arrangements for New Zealanders who participate in the 2011 Everest Marathon and can be contacted on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kepler Challenge

The Seventh Continent

Antarctica Marathon. Held in February on King George Island. Package includes flights from Buenos Aires and 10 nights on board ship.13 and 26 miles.  www.marathontour.com/antarctica

Antarctica Ice Marathon, Half Marathon and 100km Ultra Race. . 8 day package in December  including flights from Punta Arenas to Patriot Hills. www.www.icemarathon.com