British woman sets record in 320-km run from Everest

Tuesday, 22 November 2011 18:13

LONDON: A British woman has set a new record for completing a 320-kilometer trail run from the Mount Everest base camp to Nepal’s capital Kathmandu.

Elizabeth Hawker, who is also known as Lizzy, completed the journey in two days, 23 hours and 25 minutes.

Lizzy said she was happy to set the record, but added that she had not aimed for it when she arrived in Kathmandu.

She said she planned to run the Himalayan trail.

However, she had to return to Kathmandu after facing difficulties in the Himalayan trail.

"I lost my permits in some remote areas between Mt. Kanchhenjunga and Mt. Makalu. After coming to Kathmandu, I decided to take the Everest Base camp-Ktm run where I was invited.It was more like an opportunity since I had no plan of setting the record," Lizzy is quoted as saying.

She said the inclement weather condition forced her to halt her journey by eight hours in Bupsa village just below Lukla for shelter due to rain and freezing cold.

Hawker had completed the run in 2007 in three days, two hours and 39 minutes with partner Stephen Pyke.

“After reaching her hotel, she ate, showered, and crashed in bed,” said Roger Henke, general manager of Hotel Summit, where she was staying.

Lizzie didn´t sleep throughout the run and made the journey even while nursing a chest infection that she developed while participating in a nine-day Everest Sky Race.
“The first night, I had planned to run straight through,” she said. “But it started raining, and was very cold. I had to take shelter for eight hours in Bupsa village to keep from getting soaked and getting sick,” she said.

She aims to make people realize the significance of environment and the responsibility to protect it.

"I dream to encourage people to realize the inspiration of nature, the mountains, of our world, and to realize the richness of our environment and our responsibility to protect it," Lizzy further said.