Sabrina Verjee is in the latter stages of her third attempt at setting a fastest known time for completing a continuous round of the of the 214 Wainwrights.
When bad weather and asthma forced Sabrina to abandon last month’s round, she rested, recovered and waited for a favourable weather window. It became clear that June was likely to provide that and a support team was ready and willing to join her on the fells.
At short notice, Sabrina decided to start another round, following the same route (and a similar schedule) to her previous run.
She set off from outside her home in Langdale early on Friday morning and, at the time of writing this, she has been on the fells for more than five days.
Earlier today, she reached the summit of Scafell Pike and has 21 more Wainwrights to tick off.
Sabrina is on schedule to complete her round in around six days and will hopefully set a new Fastest Known Time. Her progress can be followed here.
The Wainwrights record
The first recorded continuous round of the Wainwrights was completed by Alan Heaton in 1985, in nine days and 16 hours. Two years later, fell running legend Joss Naylor set a new record of seven days, one hour and 25 minutes.
That stood for 27 years, until Steve Birkinshaw knocked almost 12 hours off the time in 2014, when he completed his run in six days and 13 hours.
In the summer of 2019, Paul Tierney, from Windermere, lowered the record to six days and six hours.
This is Sabrina Verjee’s third attempt. In 2020, she completed her run in under seven days, but a knee injury slowed her down and forced her to accept physical assistance during some technical descents.
Last month, Sabrina was on target to set a fastest known time until bad weather and asthma intervened.
Support for Sabrina’s Wainwrights FKT bid
Along with her husband Ben and a large group of willing friends and fellow runners, Sabrina is being supported by sponsors to whom she is very grateful: Berghaus, La Sportiva, Petzl, Dexshell, Supernatural Fuel, Gingerbakers and Mountain Fuel.
Sabrina’s attempt in May was filmed and photographed by Steve Ashworth and Summit Fever Media, supported by La Sportiva, Berghaus and Right Lines Communications, and the team hopes to complete the story this time.
Day 2 & 4 video clips
Credit: Chris Lines/Berghaus
Credit: Chris Lines/Berghaus