An accountant from Risca is returning from the top of the world after finishing the gruelling Mount Everest Marathon – recognised as one of the harshest of its kind.
Gary Parker, 60, is Managing Director of Parker and Co in Newport and is an experienced climber.
He said: “There is simply no marathon on earth like the Mount Everest Marathon, which took place on May 29 starting from Everest Base Camp at 5,400 metres above sea level, temperature a mere -25 Celsius.”
The event is held in Nepal every year to commemorate the first ascent of Everest in 1953.
Gary added: “It takes two weeks just to walk up to the base camp and to acclimatise to the altitude, in cold and sometimes uncomfortable conditions.
“The race started at 7am from base camp just below Mount Everest with the temperature at -25 degrees.
“When the sun hit the runners it went to plus 20 degrees then more mist followed by snow and then rain. We really had it all.
“The first two kilometres were on a glacier and difficult, the descents were steep. You cannot run – it was lethal.”
There were some 150 runners from all over the world taking part in the event.
Gary said: “Amazingly there were only two injuries and one person had to be evacuated by helicopter. I was so flipping elated to finish, quite emotional really.”