He Did What?! Alaska Teen Runs 26,000 Vert Feet…In 10 Hours

SnowBrains |
Competing at Skyrunning Youth World Championships, Connelly would win Bronze | Courtesy photo

Michael ‘Mikey’ Connelly of Eagle River, Alaska set a staggering Alyeska Climbathon record Saturday.

The 17 yr-old born and raised mountain runner, logged sub-40-minute lap times to become the first person to complete 13 laps in under 10 hours on Alyeska Resort‘s 2000 vertical foot North Face trail. The win, unofficially timed at 9 hours, 38 minutes was Connelly’s third straight in the event.

Mikey Connelly at rest atop Alyeska Tram | Courtesy photo

Climbathon course connects Hotel Alyeska and Alyeska Tram top station, a sharply pitched ascent meant to be climbed as many times as possible over a 10 hour period. Connelly was among 322 fellow racers grinding out laps at the 12th annual fundraiser.

Organizers of Climbathon said this year’s race was on pace to raise more than $90,000 dollars, of which 75 percent goes to the “Let Every Woman Know” nonprofit and 25 percent goes to the local Girdwood Health Clinic.

Alyeska Climbathon Leaders Board:


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