One down and one to go! With the Dead Sea Ultra Marathon in Jordan a success for Mark and John, the pair are well under way making preparations for the second part of their challenge, Everest. The challenge, fuelled by Powerade, is to complete the lowest marathon on earth shortly followed by the highest.
The pair aim to raise money through this site and otherwise for both the UK and Irish Guide Dog charities.
Pictured above is a recent photo taken from Everest with Mt Kantega and Mt Thamserku in the backdrop. Local man Krishna Basnet is depicted using a measuring wheel to gauge the distance of the proposed Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon track at Thukla, Solukhumbu. The 42.195 Km Everest marathon which runs through Everest Base Camp to Namche Bazar is the world's highest altitude Marathon and the measurement is in preparation for this year's Marathon which will take place on May 29th. The field for this years' event is made up of 100 Nepali and 50 foreign competitors including blind adventurer Mark Pollock and his team mate John O'Regan. The pair have recently returned from a 25th place finish in the Dead Sea Ultra Marathon which finished 400 Metres below sea level in the Syrian - African Rift valley at the southern end of Jordan making it the world's lowest marathon.
It is anticipated that the second of their challenges will be the more gruelling. They will face high altitude coupled with a 15 day uphill trek to the Khumbu icefall above Everest base camp even before the marathon is run on the sixteenth day. The race itself which is held on the anniversary of the first successful ascent of Mount Everest passes through the highest elevation in the world crisscrossing Sherpa village trails and follows the historical route to Everest pioneered by the Late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary while climbing Everest in 1953. The team is sponsored by Powerade and The Great Outdoors and during the events will be testing expedition and racing clothing by companies such as The North Face, Lowe Alpine and Salomon to provide feedback for The Great Outdoors. For further information please visit: www.markpollock.com
