From Sea Level to the Stratosphere: Ex-Marine’s Triathlon Triumph on Top of the World

Ex-Royal Marine Mitch Hutchcraft has done what everyone believed to be impossible: finishing the world's longest triathlon by reaching the top of Mount Everest after an incredible 8,000-mile journey across three continents and almost every form of endurance activity conceivable.

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Project Limitless, as the feat is called, took Hutchcraft 240 days to accomplish and started last September in Dover, England, with a water ordeal swimming the English Channel-an experience he called the most challenging day of his life.

From the French shore, he pedaled close to 12,000 kilometers (approximately 7,500 miles) in 19 nations, traversing Europe and Asia all the way to Digha, India. His golden retriever companion, Buddy, rode with him for portions of the trip, sometimes running, sometimes riding in a bike carrier.

Following arrival in India, Hutchcraft cycled approximately 900 kilometers (560 miles) to Kathmandu, Nepal, then trekked a further 360 kilometers (223 miles) to Everest Base Camp. 

Hutchcraft's journey reached its climax on Sunday, May 11, when the 31-year-old arrived at 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) high Mount Everest summit at 7:30 am local time, accompanied by experienced Nepali climber Gelje Sherpa.

The triathlon is thought to be a record-breaking longest sea-level-to-summit ascent of Everest, which unites swimming, cycling, running, and mountaineering into one continuous expedition.

Hutchcraft was dedicating the challenge to his deceased father-whose death motivated him to join the Royal Marines-and to SAVSIM, a wildlife conservation and veterans' mental health charity.

The whole experience was filmed by a production team and is likely to be made into a documentary, with the hope of encouraging others to challenge themselves and follow their wildest ambitions.

After being informed following extensive knee surgery that he may never serve in the military, never mind undertake such an extreme challenge, Hutchcraft spent six years in the Royal Marines and has already rowed the Atlantic and cycled across North America.

For himself, in his own words, when he climbed to the top, Hutchcraft described the experience as more magical than he ever imagined, contemplating years of training, the physical and mental costs, and how he hopes it inspires others to have faith in their own abilities.

Sources: VICE, BBC News, The Independent, The Telegraph, Yahoo News, Tri247