My earlier post 40+ days of isolation / lock down introduces the challenge and contains links to the detail so I thought it prudent to explain my own approach to completing it.

With social-distancing in mind, I’m lucky to have access to a number of staircases that I can climb. The benefit being that I have some variation in both location / scenery and temperature (it’s getting seriously hot where I am now).

People have asked me how I can do it? Isn’t it boring and one-dimensional?

Well for me, and bearing in mind I’m only 20% through the 30 days programme, not whatsoever!

I trekked to Everest Base Camp in November 2017 and as I follow this virtual route in April 2020, I can picture the places, the people, and the incredible surroundings in my minds eye – it’s a wonderfully nostalgic experience.

I will follow the group programme devised by Nelly and adjust it, where necessary, to replicate the journey I took back in 2017.

When I post a picture on Instagram or Facebook of me climbing the stairs that day, I will then follow up with a picture that I took on my trek in 2017. This will continue until I reach Everest Base Camp, thereafter I personally reach previously uncharted territory!

I will vary the stairs to try and retain my sanity, I will take pictures and vary my clothing in some way to keep me honest!

I’ve measured each step on the various locations I have available to me and have calculated the total height of each flight of stairs by multiplying the number of steps by the average height of the step rise.

The stairwells I use vary between number of steps and rise of steps but in total are between 2.9 and 3.0 meters per ascent. Then I take the total altitude required to climb in each day and divide it by the height of the flight and that tells me how many repetitions I have to complete, for example:

20 steps @ 15cm average rise = 300cm / 3m

For a total daily climb of 300m, I would therefore have to climb that particular flight of stairs 100 times.

I’ve really enjoyed it so far – I speed up or slow down based on aiming to keep my heart rate around 150-160 Beats Per Minute. The most difficult thing has been keeping count!

If ever I forget the number of repetitions I’ve done, I round down to the last number I can remember.

I found it easier to do sets for example, 10, 20, 20 and then break for a drink and celebrate having completed 50 ascents before starting again. Somehow this make it more manageable and less daunting.

Everest 2020 here we come – all the way from home! #everestfromhome