Sabrina Verjee has set a new fastest known time (FKT) for a continuous round of the 214 Wainwrights, becoming the first runner to break the 24-hour barrier.
The 40-year-old Cumbrian took just over six hours off the previous FKT which had been set by Paul Tierney in 2019, completing the round in five days, 23 hours and 49 minutes.
It was Verjee’s fourth attempt at completing a Wainwrights round over the last two years. The most recent was just last month when a combination of bad weather and asthma forced her to abandon the attempt.
But after resting and recovering it became clear that June would provide favourable weather conditions and as her support team was available at short notice, she decided to start another round.
‘I am very tired and very happy,’ said Verjee after finishing her round outside her home in Langdale.
‘This time, my body held out better than I expected and I was able to maintain a good pace throughout. The Wainwrights have become an obsession and I felt that I could and should complete a round in under six days, so I am over the moon to have proved myself right.’
