Fergus Crawley has made quite the name for himself as a gifted endurance athlete in a short time. Once exclusively a powerlifter, the Scotsmen is a hybrid athlete specializing in feats of both strength and endurance. His latest hybrid challenge is another to behold as a distance runner and powerlifter.
On Dec. 12, 2021, Crawley posted on Instagram that he has finished “600Sixty” — a 600-kilogram raw powerlifting total followed by a sub-six-hour 60-kilometer ultramarathon.
Here is what Crawley logged as part of his 600Sixty challenge:
600Sixty Challenge
- Squat — 220 kilograms (485 pounds)
- Bench Press — 140 kilograms (308.6 pounds)
- Deadlift — 240 kilograms (529.1 pounds)
- Total — 600 kilograms (1,322.7 pounds)
Note: Crawley performed the lifts raw, wearing a singlet and a lifting belt.
[Related: Endurance Athlete Michael Miraglia Performed 19 CrossFit Girl WODs In a Row]
Crawley’s official time for the 60-kilometer (37.28 miles) ultramarathon — defined as any run over 26.2 miles — was five hours, 56 minutes, and 58 seconds. That translates to a pace of nine minutes and 34 seconds per mile.
As a frame of reference, a study done in collaboration with the International Association of Runners points to the average ultramarathon pace under 50 miles for a person being about 16 minutes and 47 seconds per mile (as of September 2021). Given that Crawley maintained such a relatively blistering pace while enduring a sizable round of powerlifting is a testament to his endurance.
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Crawley called his finishing of the “600Sixty” Challenge the final piece of a “holy trinity” of same-day challenges he has completed over the last 16 months.
Roughly five months ago, he finished the “1200Twleve” — a 1,200-pound raw powerlifting total while doing an Ironman Triathlon on the same day. He recorded 546 kilograms (1,203.7-pounds) and an 11 hour, 53 minute, and 38-second finish in the respective triathlon. About 16 months ago, he recorded both a sub-five minute mile and at least a 501-pound back squat as part of the “500Five” Challenge. As a bonus, he ran a marathon after that challenge.
About Fergus Crawley
Crawley was an accomplished powerlifter, winning four gold medals and only ever missing the podium three times, according to Open Powerlifting, but became a hybrid athlete to raise awareness about men’s mental health issues and suicide prevention. Crawley himself has dealt with severe depression, surviving a suicide attempt in May 2016.
More recently, Crawley announced that he raised a total of £100,225 ($132,511) for The Movember Foundation, which raises awareness for various men’s health issues — such as prostate and testicular cancer and men’s suicide. This large sum is the result of three years of work, with Crawley completing various challenges and projects to raise money through the years.
If his latest accomplishment as a hybrid athlete pushing it to the absolute limit and more is any additional indication, Crawley is well on his way toward achieving another lofty goal.
Fergus Crawley on the BarBend Podcast
On Sept. 29, 2020, Crawley joined BarBend‘s CEO and Co-Founder David Tao, for a conversation on BarBend‘s podcast. You can listen to the full episode below.
Featured Image: @ferguscrawley on Instagram
