EVERESTING, verb: To repeatedly ride up and down the same hill without sleep until you reach an elevation gain of 8,848 metres (the height of Mt Everest).
Many of us have considered Everesting but few of us ever dare to try. Fewer still would even entertain the idea of Double Everesting. But Alex McCormack is not like most people. Already the winner of both Atlas Mountain Race and Hellenic Mountain Race this year, Alex decided his CV was still strong enough and so set out to Crowcombe Combe in Somerset – with his Dad and Uncle in support – to take on a Double Everest attempt.
Just 21 hours and 11 minutes later, Alex had not only completed the challenge but set a new World Record in the process. The numbers speak for themselves…
Elevation – 17,732m
Distance – 214.6km
Time – 21h 11m 40s
Gradient – 17.7% (average)
“The repetition of this one began to wear on me - a relentless rhythm that tested more than just the legs. The climb was hard-won, the descent touched 99km/h, but it was the mental battle that truly took centre stage.
I set out with a strange kind of focus; just five songs on repeat, looping like the effort itself.
“I wanted to see what the body could do when fully supported, but I underestimated the mental toll. Still, after learning some hard lessons last time out, I'm proud to have turned it around in just over a week. There's a quiet symmetry to it, my first big endurance effort was an Everest in Morzine in 2019. Feels like full circle. I'm stoked to see how far I've come.”
For the record, Alex relied on his Exposure Toro handlebar light and TraceR rear light.
Photo credit: Lloyd Wright