More than 200 athletes including 155 foreigners would participate in the marathon. The athletes will compete in 42.195-km marathon, 60-km ultra marathon and 21-km half marathon, said founder of the Himalaya Expedition, Bikram Pandekaji.
This marathon has been developed as an attractive and adventurous game in the world, he added. Winner, first runner-up and second runner-up under male category of full marathon would receive Rs 200,000, Rs 100,000 and Rs 75,000 respectively while first, second and third winner under women category would bag Rs 100,000, Rs 75,000 and RS 50,000 respectively.
In the competition among foreigners, top three winners will get Rs 50,000, Rs 35,000 and Rs 25,000. In ultra-marathon, winner will receive Rs 100,000, first runner-up Rs 75,000 and second runner-up Rs 50,000.
Likewise, in half-marathon, the winner gets Rs 50,000, first runner-up Rs 35,000 and second runner-up Rs 25,000. The participants will head to the Everest base camp for the competition today itself, said Abhishek Pande of the organiser, Himalayan Expeditions, adding that the competition will be participated by athletes from 30 countries including Nepal. RSS