The last time we featured Ryan Sandes, he had just done something remarkable.

He had finally won the Western States Endurance Race, a gruelling 160 kilometre cross-country race, and that feat warranted a closer look at the work that went on behind the scenes.

This time around – well, of course he’s gone and done something else that again defies logic. Together with Ryno Griesel, the pair set a new fastest-known time along the 1 406 kilometre Great Himalayan Trail.

The duo finished the route a full four days faster than the previous 28-day record, set by fellow South African Andrew Porter, and clocked an incredible time of 24 days‚ 14 hours and 47 minutes.

That’s around 57 kilometres per full day, or an ultramarathon at altitudes that make breathing tough, whilst battling “life-threatening chest spasms and frostbite”.

With his name once again up in lights, CNN did an interview with one of Hout Bay’s finest:

Who knows, maybe you’ll run a half marathon and realise you’re some kind of endurance freak.

Here’s more on the Great Himalayan Trail feat via Times LIVE:

On Monday‚ the team made the risky decision to keep running into the night after Griesel had rested for a few hours at a village tea house‚ recovering from chest spasms‚ hyperventilation and a temperature…

Sandes said of his partner: “He had a high heart rate and a fever. I literally thought he was going to drop dead on the trail‚ but he kept going.”

“My body just didn’t want to move‚” said Griesel‚ an experienced mountaineer who knows the dangers of altitude. Despite this he set off at 9pm with Sandes‚ running 40km to the next town‚ Patan‚ and catnapping along the trail.

The pair supported each other during the feat which “felt like an eternity”‚ finishing the traverse as friends…

Sandes struggled with stomach problems and Griesel with sore and sensitive hands over the past week. Griesel also suffered a painful leg injury along the way.

The two ran through remote regions such as Dolpa and crossed touristy areas like Annapurna and Manaslu on their traverse…

Sandes said: “If people think that this attempt is just about beating a record‚ they have clearly missed the point entirely. This attempt is more about the experience and the amazing adventure that we have had. This is a once-in-a-lifetime type experience‚ not just a record attempt.”

I suppose on a run like that you either become mates or you end up killing each other, and thankfully it was the former.

Superb work, gents.

[sources:cnn&timeslive]