CONCORD, Mass. — A Massachusetts native has made history on the world’s tallest peak.
On Wednesday, May 27, Concord’s Tyler Andrews set out to become the fastest person to climb Mount Everest. He did just that, breaking a 23-year-old record in dramatic fashion.
Andrews reached the summit in 9 hours and 55 minutes, beating the previous record of 10 hours and 56 minutes by a full hour.
“It’s my job to run up mountains really quickly. It’s a privilege, and I love doing it,” Andrews told Boston 25 Morning News. “When you’re running up mountains for your job, Everest is the natural pinnacle of that.”
He says the feat marked a breakthrough on his third attempt at Everest.
After two previous attempts on the Himalayan peak, Andrews says he returned with a new approach: a data-driven training strategy designed to maximize his performance at extreme altitude.
Before leaving for Nepal, Andrews underwent extensive testing at the Human Powered Health Performance Lab in Wellesley. There, specialists evaluated his aerobic capacity, endurance thresholds, strength and balance, and metabolic efficiency.
“They are one of the top sports labs in the country and were really able to look at my physiology and my mechanics, kind of what makes me tick as an athlete,” Andrews explained. “A lot of literal blood, sweat, and tears went into this one.”
Using those metrics, Andrews says he fine-tuned his training in a way he had never done before, despite his long, elite athletic career.
Andrews says his parents were the first people he called upon reaching Everest’s peak.
Prove it. Irish, when did you change your name to Tyler Andrew’s?
ReplyDeleteBorn to Die.
ReplyDeleteThe median price to climb Mt Everest is $61,000. That does not include air fare, lodging, meals, or equipment.
ReplyDeleteThis being his third attempt, I say he has very good sponsorship.
I think 'because it is there' is insuffficient reason to spend that kind of dough.
As an aside, I wonder how one runs uphill in deep snow and ice fields.
Anyway, congratulations to him for the amazing feat. That has to be at the upper limit of human performance. I wonder what, if any, permanent effects from that effort.
While flying with another pilot at 25,000' I removed my nasal cannula (supplemental O²).
In less than seven minutes the pulse oximeter showed my saturation had dropped to 92%. I was feeling hypoxic, mildly confused. Test complete, cannula back in place I recovered quickly.
I was only sitting, not exerting myself. And Everest is another four thousand feet higher. I can hardly imagine prolonged exertion at that altitude. I suppose the climbers to have died on the climb died feeling happy (effect of hypoxia).
Even breathing supplemental at those altitudes may not be enough.
I'm guessing he had good service from up there
ReplyDeleteHe did and could could easily "See Seven States"!
DeleteBut can he defend himself and his family from 7th century goat rapers? Can he shoot straight? Is he prepared for the coming storm?
ReplyDeleteOf course he's ready for the Apocalypse. Just think how hard and far he can run at sea level. ;-)
DeleteVia Phil
ReplyDeletePhil commented on "the wrong post" : )
4 mins ago
Let me put this into perspective for you. These days I am thrilled to be able to walk across the street to the mailbox and back without collapsing...