The situation
Nine aid stations. Six where you’re allowed to help. Nine crew members, three of them called Mikey, one of them in charge of beer. One man who will tell you he’s fine.
The situation
01 · The training
Every run since he restarted on 2 June, after the doctor told him to stop. Pulled straight from Strava on 4 Nov.
Weekly volume · June → November
From 11 km weeks to a 76 km peak, plus a week in September he won’t explain.
02 · Chance of success
28,966 m since June. Honestly decent. Do not tell him this, it’ll go straight to his head and then his knee.
One 60, one 41, a few 25–30s. Mathematically that adds up to 100. Emotionally it does not.
Knee in ’25, ankle in March, doctor-ordered rest in April. The body has filed three complaints and been ignored three times.
Built from 11 km weeks in July to 76 km in October. Then took a full week off in September for reasons that remain classified.
Most weeknight runs go up the mountain after dark. Either it’s dedication or he hates the sun. Useful from Newlands onwards.
Never tested over 19 hours. He sweats like a cold drink on a hot day. Mikey L is the variable.
03 · The route
These contour lines are the real mountain, every 20 m, built from elevation data, with the official 2026 GPX on top. Hover over a section to see what he’s going through. Orange dots are stations where you’re allowed to help. Grey dots aren’t, and helping there costs him 30 minutes.
Elevation · hover to scrub
04 · Your homework