KATHMANDU - Most participants of the fifth edition of the Tenzing-Hillary Everest (Qomolangma) Marathon, the world's highest-altitude marathon, came back to Kathmandu on Thursday.

It usually takes two days to return to the capital from the marathon destination. Because of the poor condition of communication, the first thing for some participants, especially foreigners to manage in Kathmandu is making international calls.

Tuesday's Marathon was participated by a total of 130 runners from 14 countries and regions. Among them, a visually impaired Irishman and 66-year-old elderly Japanese touched the finishing line without any major mishaps.

Defending champion Deepak Rai from Nepal retained his title in the 42.195 km race which has the starting point at the Mt. Qomolangma base camp (5,364m in altitude). The 25-year-old local farmer from Solukhumbu finished the race in 3 hours, 59 minutes and 24 seconds.

The marathon which holds the Gunnies Book of World Records follows the traditional route to the world's highest peak from Namche (3,446 m), some 200 km northeast of Kathmandu, pioneered by Late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary while climbing the world's highest peak back in 1953.

This year the foreigner's category was won by Antoine Bonfics, French photographer with Le Point magazine who finished the race in 4 hours 51 minutes and 10 seconds while 19-year-old Yangdi Sherpa finished first in women's category in 5:27:41.

Following the race, the triumphant Frenchman told the media that it was almost impossible to beat Nepalis in the event as "they seem to fly on the stones." "We can not beat Nepalis as they know exactly where to put their feet on the stones in the slippery glaciers," he added.

Meanwhile, Japanese elderly duo Yoshiaki Ishihara aged 62 and Toshio Ohmori, the oldest participant of the event at the age of 66 also completed the race clocking 8:26:05 and 8:39:11 respectively.

The star of the event, Mark Pollock, the visually impaired 31-year-old Irishman set the record by completing the marathon which passes through life-threatening tracks where one has to jump over the stones and ice at the world's highest glaciers.

Talking to local media after crossing the finishing line around midnight taking 16:27:39 to complete the race, visually impaired Pollack who had recently co-authored the book "Making It Happen" said, "Proud to be here."

"The race was very slow and tough. The first 10 km took more than five hours and it was always going to be late," Pollack said.

Prior to this, Pollack ran six marathons in one week in China's Gobi Desert in 2003. He also completed the North Pole marathon in 2004.

With his success in the Everest (Qomolangma) Marathon he has completed the rare feat of doing both the lowest marathon on earth as well as the highest as he completed the 50-km Dead Sea Ultra Marathon, 400 meters below sea level in Jordan in April.

"The event has been a great success. Every year there are a few minor glitches but these things happen in such a big event," said managing director of organizing Himalayan Expedition Bikrum Pandey who promised to improve on every sector in next year's event.

"We started airlifting facility for emergency from this year and it must have come as a huge relief for the family of those participating in the event," Pandey added.

Chief guest of the event German Ambassador to Nepal Franz Ring, Pakistani Ambassador Sohil Amin and Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Madhav Prasad Ghimire awarded the winners of the various category of the event.