Record heartbreak but proud to be selfish - my everesting group record experience.

This one is a tough one. We had one goal, 55 completed Everesting's in a single event. 100 entered and 17 hours to finish. Could we smash the current record and get a new world record?

Peaslows - A dead straight 11% average climb in the peak district, home to the 1963 national hill climb championship and sitting at number 37 in the top 100 climbs by Simon Warren, this climb is no joke and the fact it is steep and straight makes it the perfect Everesting climb. But would it be the perfect happy medium for more than 55 people to finish the brutal solo challenge?

June 4th - I headed out to the peak district to partake in a once in a lifetime chance to have a Guinness world record on my wall and despite saying I was never doing another one after my solo one in April 2022, I was entered and on the start list for this leg destroying event.

The current record, held by hells500 the creators of the Everesting concept, is 54 people completing an Everesting in one event. Climbing up and down the same climb, point to point, without a break until the equivalent elevation to Mount Everest is achieved, 8848m. For us it was going to be 67 reps of the section of Peaslows that we had surveyed to ensure it was all official and set ahead of submitting for the record - If we had 55 or more people finish. Organised by Chris Gambs and Rich at Velo 21 Events - the climb was set, the road was closed, the feed zones were erected and stocked up and ready to roll. Alarms set for 2:30am and a 10 Minute ride to the climb from the hotel, it was time for a early night to be set for potentially a history making day.

4am - and the first riders were off. It was time to head down the hill and turn for the first ascent. The first of many.

This sort of event means there isn't much to share because it is simple - ride up and down until you're finished. I started well, staying in my tempo zone - Low threshold zone. I knew personally I would be able to maintain this for the 7-8 Minutes it was taking to climb, and I stuck to them numbers like it was a strict plan.

There was comments and remarks from a few people as I passed them of "He's gone out way to hard" and to them I ignored them because I have done this before, all be it on a shallower climb, but I was confident in my pacing and knowing what I could do for the allotted time. Sitting around 300 watts I stuck to this for a good 50 reps.

Keeping the Styrkr products going into the body, fuelling and hydration was going to be the key thing that meant I saw the finish line, and this was on point for me. Its normally something I fall short on, and then hit a wall, but I managed to avoid that hard hitting wall all day and stayed fuelled all day without feeling like a bonk was on route.

The generous helpers and supporters of the event were on hand with bananas, coffee, water and some high5 products ( That I didn't use because they are vile!) supported every rider all day and a huge thank you to them, but for me it was about finishing. The record idea went out my head from about rep 10 when I heard we only had 77 start. It was about me doing my bit and finishing this event and raising money for ELF.

18 Reps to go, I knew I was doing okay time wise, the fact that I was on 18 to go and so many other were on high 20's or 30's to go. This was one of the great things on this event compared to my solo one, the other people around, meaning there was always someone to see or talk to, even though we were all at different stages of the Everesting. The surprising thing for me was people saying hello by addressing me by my Instagram username not my real name - I guess all the hours of social media I put in is paying off.

It was at this stage that my left knee was starting to play up, just like it did on the 24 hour ride. Some ice placed on the knee and some paracetamol later, and I just had to crack on and push through. The next 10 Reps were painful, power was down to 270 watts and the steeper section I was out the saddle to try stretch the knee a bit.

I was joined by Darren ( who I did Lejog with in 2022 ) and Steve on 8 to go, and we did the next 7 together and these reps were the ones all day that went the fastest, just chatting and laughing about non everesting things really made the time go by, and also it stopped me thinking about the knee pain.

Darren then stopped to fuel as he still had 18 Reps to do and me and Steve headed back down the hill for the final rep and to cross the line for the last time. I wanted to give the last rep a good go and push to empty the tank. Steve saying the cramp was coming and to crack on if I wanted to do an effort and this I did.

Crossing the line was the greatest moment, Jeff and Darren there to cheer me on and it was going to be the last time and I was glad it was. I was even more stoked when I looked at the timing screen and it said I was 3rd place! 13.5 hours of riding and I finished in 3rd! Mega stoked and proud. Made it worth putting in that effort on the last rep, because I would have been gutted to take it easy and then to come 4th.

It was a bit of an emotional day, £300 raised for ELF, seeing people drop out and go home made me even more determined to finish, having Jeff come up for the weekend and take some great photos meant a lot and was nice not to be alone. I met some great people, all of which crazy enough to take on this challenge, and yes we didn't get the record but it was a day of great accomplishments and a lot of people finishing an everesting - 44 finishers in fact.

Is that it ? Yes - for now. I think I have done the Everesting challenge enough, maybe if they decide to try for the record again I may be tempted, but with 2 now completed and this one being done 10 hours faster than last years, I think I can end this challenge here and be proud of them. With some big goals for next year, its time to move on and focus on them.

But, 9th June 2024 is another attempt at the record. So we will see.