Virtual Everesting - Leith Hill, Zwift (Physical Challenge #4)

For some time I've wanted to do an 'Everesting'. The challenge really appealed to me from the moment I first heard about it. I wouldn't say that I'm a natural climber when it comes to cycling but I've been trying to make it into a strength by doing as much as possible and I figured this was another part of the journey towards that. Ticking this goal off didn't come easily. It's reputation as being 'fiendishly simple, yet brutally hard' is well and truly earnt! In hindsight it was probably the most physically demanding challenge I've ever done.

Until a few months ago I didn't even think it would be possible given my knees sometimes have the tendency to inflame something terrible due to auto immune issues. A few months before this attempt I twice had to get more than 200 my of fluid removed from one of them and that put on hold any immediate plans for any extreme cycling climbing challenges! However I found ways of managing it and given me and my partner had both bought smart trainers a few months before and were utilising them effectively with Zwift as a training tool, there was the possibility to test things under controlled conditions by doing a Virtual Challenge instead.

I first did the shorter 'Virtual Basecamp' challenge as a stepping stone and it went rather well without any inflammatory flare ups. On the strength of that I realised a full 'Virtual Everesting' was definately on the cards. I chose the same KOM segment on Zwift as I did with the earlier challenge (Leith Hill KOM on the London map) due to its shallower incline which suited my knees, gear ratios and th smart trainer I was using which is a wheels on variety.

I wrote down some checkpoints I planned to use along the way by writing on a piece of paper a list of smaller elevation goals. Being someone who used to have an interest in mountaineering, these took the form of some well known mountains and also the elevation of the most frequently used Everest camps on the South East Route. I added on 150 meters to each of the figures as that was the elevation I had to ride just to get to the start of Leith Hill and that would not count towards the Everesting challenge itself.

I felt comfortable during the ride up to the elevation of Basecamp (5,364 m) but as I was approaching 6,000 m I started to fatigue massively. With 3,000 m still to go I had to dig pretty deep. By the time I got to 8,000 m it was a real struggle but from 8,500 m I knew I was close to the end and that was all the motivation I needed. In the end I did a few extra repeats to ensure I was beyond the the required amount for the attempt to be ratified by 'Hells 500'. The white striped 'cloud' jersey that those who successfully complete an Everesting was now there for the taking and I'll wear it with great pride.

My vEveresting on Strava:
https://www.strava.com/activities/3809595552

My vEveresting in the Hells 500 Hall of Fame:
https://everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/#/hill/3809595552

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