He came to Everest as porter. He’s now pulling off high-altitude running feats

Arjun Kulung Rai started off as an Everest Marathon runner at 18, with worn-out shoes.

Arjun Kulung Rai stepped onto the course of the 2013 Everest Marathon with worn-out shoes and socks. Rai, then 18, had no professional training or prior experience on the race track. He was working as a full-time porter around the Everest Base Camp. Before the race, his first ever, he was a nobody for other racers at the marathon—just another face in the crowd.