Icelandic duo climbs Everest's height on Mount Esja in 24-hour challenge

Egill Trausti Ómarsson and Hrólfur Vilhjálmsson pushed their limits by completing a 100-kilometer challenge on Mount Esja, an achievement that saw them gain an elevation of 8,889 meters – just shy of Mount Everest's height.

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Damn, that was fun.

The grueling feat took over 24 hours, concluding in the early morning hours. Ómarsson shared his experience, noting that while he felt surprisingly good afterward, the initial recovery involved some stiffness. He admitted that during the most demanding moments, around the 80-kilometer mark, he questioned his decision.

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The goal was originally to go 100 kilometers on Esja. For ordinary people, this sounds like a very stupid and silly idea, but for us friends, it was just good.

"I feel bad, I'm tired, I just want to go home and hug my wife," he recalled thinking. "But then you wake up the next day, sore everywhere, and start thinking. Damn, that was fun. It's those moments you kind of seek, those difficult moments."

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I feel bad, I'm tired, I just want to go home and hug my wife. But then you wake up the next day, sore everywhere, and start thinking. Damn, that was fun. It's those moments you kind of seek, those difficult moments.

The original plan was a different 100-kilometer race, but it was canceled, leading to the Esja challenge. Despite the immense physical and mental toll, neither man considered quitting. They followed the well-known path up Esja, running when possible and hiking when necessary. The event was bolstered by the support of around a hundred friends, family, and fellow runners who came to cheer them on, creating a "great atmosphere."

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We have neither of us given up or quit a competition before, and this was just on our own, so it's easier to quit when there's no competition. But we had just set this goal for ourselves, to do it. It was just never an option to quit.