The first edition of their marathon was held on 19 May 2003 organised on the occasion of 50th anniversary of climbing of Everest by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary by the Ministry of Tourism of Nepal under the management of a Nepal-based travel company Himalayan Expeditions[2] headed by tourism professional Bikram Pandey.

[3] Everest Marathon[4] is world highest running race organized in Khumbu region of Nepal every year.

The destinations to cover during this race are: Everest Base Camp, Gorekh Shep, Lobuche, Tengboche and Namche Bazaar.

As it ends at Namche Bazaar starting from Everest Base Camp, it covers total distance of 42km (26.2 mile).

A medical checkup certificate from authorized health professionals that certifies the runner's ability to withstand high altitude conditions is mandatory while submitting the application form.

The starting point for the full marathon and the extreme ultra-marathon category is the Khumbu Icefall, which lies at an altitude 5356m above sea level.

The longest route in the event is the extreme ultra marathon, which moves through the following route: Khumbu Icefall (0km-5356m) → Gorakhshep (4.6km-5170m) → Lobuche (9.6km-4940m) → Thukla (12.3km-4612m) → Dingboche (17.3km-4395m) → Pangboche (23.3km-4012m) → Phortse (29.3km-3904m) → Nha la (39.3km-4381m) → Machhermo (41.4km-4413m) → Phortse Tenga (45.9km-4059m) → Mongla (50.4km-3980) → Kyanjuma (55.4km-3650m) → Namche (60km-3550m) The most popular category in the event is the full marathon, which moves through the following routeKhumbu Icefall (0km-5356m) → Gorakhshep (4.6km-5170m) → Lobuche (9.6km-4940m) → Thukla (12.3km-4612m) → Dingboche (17.3km-4395m) → Bibre Loop(21.5km-4349m) → Pangboche (27.5km-4012m) → Tengboche (32.6km-3868m) → Laubisasa (36.1km-3439m) → Kyanjuma (37.6km-3650m) → Namche (42.195km-3550m) The half-marathon even is an event exclusive only for non-Nepali nationals, which moves through the following routeDingboche (0km-4395m) → Pangboche (7km-4012m) → Tengboche (11.5km-3868m) → Laubisasa (15km-3439m) → Kyanjuma (16.5km-3650m) → Namche (21-km-3550m)The Everest Marathon is a high-altitude race held in a region with low atmospheric pressure and oxygen levels, with some parts covered by snow all year round.

Thus, to avoid health risks like altitude sickness, snow blindness and cold allergy, runners often require some days for acclimatization in the race.

To protect the fragile natural ecosystem around the Everest region lying within the borders of the Sagarmatha National Park, the number of participants are capped so as to prevent environmental problems arising from overcrowding.