Turkey to take part in Everest marathon for first time

ANKARA

Turkey will for the first time participate in the Mount Everest Marathon on May 29, Sports for Everyone Federation head Yasin Bölükbaşı said on May 8, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.      
  
Ece Vahapoğlu, a Turkish author and journalist, will represent the country.        

“Our athlete will stay in Nepal for 21 days from May 14 to June 3. She has to stay on Mount Everest to get used to high altitude, low oxygen and low air pressure, and to reach that height by uphill walking,” Bölükbaşı said in a written statement.       

He said the Turkish female athlete will participate in the half marathon category that will last six to seven hours along the 21-kilometer (13-mile) long course.        

“Around 100 sports fans, 30 of whom are women, participate in the organization every year. In this year’s marathon, 160 athletes from 34 countries will participate out of which only nine people will participate in the half marathon category,” he said.      
  
Vahapoğlu said she will represent the Turkish flag in the best possible way she can.       
 
“The increased running performance and inner belief in the last years made me feel ready for the race this year. I then signed up with the title of the first Turkish participant in the Everest Marathon, which has been running for 14 years,” she said.