The World’s Highest Marathon began on 10/2 at an altitude of 6,893 m on Ojos del Salado in Chile, the world’s highest volcano. Only half of the initial athletes completed the record-breaking journey, including Sibusiso Vilane, the South African mountaineer and first black African to conquer Mount Everest.

Five athletes competing in the World’s Highest Marathon on 10/2. *Photo: World's Highest Marathon*

The initial list of competitors included ten people, but after 12 hours of night climbing to the summit, only five were fit enough to stand at the starting line. At an altitude of nearly 7,000 m, approximately 2,000 m higher than Mont Blanc, oxygen levels were only 44%, making respiration a major challenge. Athletes faced temperatures of -12 degrees Celsius, a wind chill of -30 degrees Celsius, and wind gusts up to 100 km/h.

Vilane took 18 hours to complete the 42,2 km downhill course. Including the climb to the summit, his total foot travel time extended for about 30 hours, with almost no food or sleep for over 48 hours.

"The World’s Highest Marathon affirms what I have always believed", Vilane said. "We have no limits other than those we set for ourselves. We can go much further than we think."

He called this the most extreme physical and mental challenge he had ever experienced, despite having previously completed the "Seven Summits" challenge, conquering the highest peak on each continent.

Sibusiso Vilane celebrates after completing the World's Highest Marathon.

Vilane climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 1999, conquered Everest via the south ridge in 2003 and the north ridge in 2005, becoming the first black African to summit the world's highest peak twice via two different routes. In 2006, he successively conquered Aconcagua, Mount Elbrus, Carstensz Pyramid, and Vinson Massif, completing Denali in 2008.

To maintain his physical condition, Vilane regularly participates in marathons and ultramarathons, including the Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon.

Besides Vilane, British adventurer and television personality Aldo Kane, world record-holding cyclist Mark Beaumont, and CEO Paul Gurney completed the journey in 16 hours 34 minutes. British ultramarathon athlete Sara Storey finished 90 minutes after Vilane.

The organizers stated that the World’s Highest Marathon is awaiting official confirmation from Guinness World Records for the title of the world's highest altitude marathon.

Hong Duy (according to Canadian Running Magazine)