British endurance athlete Imo Boddy has smashed the 45-year-old world record for the female fastest known time (FKT) to complete the UK Three Peaks.
At exactly 7am on May 15, the 24-year-old Boddy put her hand in the sea in Scotland and at 12:43pm on May 21, after covering more than 680k and over 10,000m of elevation, she felt the chilly waters of the Welsh ocean.
Her time of 6 days 5 hours and 43 minutes comfortably broke the long-standing female world record of 7 days and 31 minutes, set by Ann Sayer back in 1979.
A year later, Arthur Eddleston followed in Sayer’s footsteps, setting the men’s FKT of 5 days, 23 hours and 37 minutes.
I don’t think I’ve ever dug so deep so many times in my life.
Imo Boddy
‘I’ve never been so excited for a nap’
To put into context Imo’s incredible achievement, she has run a minimum of 100k per day, trudging along the unforgiving asphalt between each of the UK’s highest peaks.
Sleep has come in the form of short naps, which she took in the support van driven by her parents.
“Get me to bed; I’ve never been so excited for a nap,” she said after completing day five.
Ice cold frappes and running legends
Warm weather is a blessing and a hindrance on challenges like this. To keep Boddy cool, she’s often been seen sipping on strawberries & cream frappuccinos, while running, as well as the odd ice pack during quick pit stops.
Boddy was joined by many friends, family and supporters during her epic challenge across the Three Peaks, and on day five, Ironman endurance legend Sean Conway took up the road beside her for a few miles, as she made her way to Snowdon.
As we approach the finish line, excitement mounts, but so does the toll on the body. Every step Imo takes is a challenge, with the physical and mental battles intensifying. Yet she remains undeterred.
Imo Boddy Instagram diary, Day 5.
This is Boddy’s second world record. In 2022, she became the youngest female to run the length of Britain: 1340k from John o’Groats to Land’s End, in 22 days, covering 60k a day.
