Spotted: Mount Everest, Run Rabbit Run & Koi Carp

From Mount Everest to Run Rabbit Run by way of Koi carp on the streets of London, there was plenty to look out for on Strava this week.

Here on Spotted, we often talk about athletes being 'on top of the world'. Admittedly, we're usually speaking in metaphors. Today, however, we're taking a more literal approach. Because Mathis Dumas not only stood on the top of Mount Everest recently (29,031.69 feet / 8,848.86 meters), but also tracked his climb on Strava. Mathis guided French influencer inoxtag to the summit. Inoxtag had wanted to complete this challenge to encourage his 5.7m followers to get off their phones and chase their goals and dreams

Heading back down to earth, one man who has been realizing his dreams this year is Tadej Pogacar. The remarkable Slovenian continued to do what he does best: winning the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal on Sunday - his 22nd victory of 2024 (on his 54th day of racing). Meanwhile, back in Europe Lorena Wiebes came through a bunch sprint with the support of her team to win the European championships.

'Going in hoping for a finish, coming out setting a new CR' is the definition of a good day at the office. Emilie Mann not only finished the Run Rabbit Run 100-mile trail race, America's richest trail event, but became the first woman to go sub-20 hours on the course. Richard Lockwood took his second victory in the men's race, his 17:24 the third fastest time recorded on the course.

Staying on two feet, it was a big weekend in running around the world. The Sydney Marathon is one of the first big Autumn marathons (Spring, if you're an Aussie), with thousands of runners like Tommy Newell taking to the streets of one of the world's most picturesque cities. Meanwhile, over in the US Klaire Rhodes edged Jazmine Lowther in an enthralling women's race at The Rut 50K. And in France, the 23rd World Masters Mountain Running Championships brought some of the world's fastest mountain runners to the Pyrennes. It was a particularly impressive weekend for Italy's Camilla Magliano, who won the uphill, the long distance and the classic (basically, everything) over the weekend.

And, finally, Strava Artist Nicolas Georgiou produced this masterful recreation of Koi Carp on the streets of London. Georgiou, who drew the fish as part of a piece for the London Design Festival, chose the Koi for their embodiment of the timeless lessons of resilience.