DHAKA: Clad in trekking boots and snow goggles, more than 150 runners took part in the world's highest marathon in the foothills of Mount Everest on Thursday, passing yaks and monasteries along the snow-covered trail.

The annual Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon, which kicked off in 2003, is meant to mark the anniversary of the first summit of Mount Everest by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary on May 29, 1953.

Runners set off as soon as the clock struck 8.48am, a start time meant to coincide with the height of the 8,848m peak, as local farmers gave them a rousing send-off.

‘The marathon trail began from Gorakshep at 5,160m and ended at Namche Bazaar,’ 1,600m below, said Satish Neupane, one of the organisers of the event, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 2030 HRS, MAY 29, 2014