An ultra distance runner has overcome challenging weather conditions in an extraordinary feat of endurance to set a new self-supported record for completing
the Wainwrights in winter.
Montane athlete Tom Hollins completed the round of 214 Lake District peaks and over 320 miles (500 kilometres) of rugged and unforgiving terrain in eight days, nine hours and 44 minutes.
It is the fastest known time for a self-supported round — faster even than the current self-supported summer Wainwrights record of 14 days, 11 hours, held by James Forrest.
Despite the challenging conditions, he maintained an extraordinary pace, completing the full challenge with no external support.
Tom, who lives at Ilkley, has been a dominant figure in the world of ultra-distance running for over a decade.
His career highlights include victories at renowned events such as the Montane Spine Race and the 10 Peaks Lakes.
Known for his exceptional endurance and ability to tackle some of the UK’s toughest races, Hollins’ success in the winter Wainwrights challenge further cements his reputation as one of the leading athletes in his field.
The winter variation of the challenge, which involves 118,000ft of climbing, must be completed between December 1 and February 28.
Hollins embarked on the challenge from Keswick’s Moot Hall on February 20.
Over the course of the eight days, he faced difficult weather conditions, navigated treacherous paths, and demonstrated incredible physical and mental resilience. His ability to set new records in both the winter and summer records in a single attempt is a testament to his endurance and determination.
