A BREAST cancer survivor secured the record women's time in an epic Lake District challenge on her 50th birthday.

The inspirational Nicky Spinks ran around the Joss Naylor Challenge in a remarkable 11 hours and two minutes, knocking more than an hour off the previous women's record.

“It was an unforgettable day – a fantastic way to spend my 50th birthday," said Ms Spinks, an ambassador for sports brand Inov-8.

The challenge, created by fell running legend Joss Naylor in 1990, is a fundraising challenge for the over 50s. Ms Spinks has so far raised £14,355.

It involves climbing 30 tops, crossing some 48 miles of mountain terrain and ascending nearly 17,000 feet.

The route starts at Pooley Bridge, Ullswater, and finishes at Greendale Bridge, Wasdale.

Mr Naylor met Ms Spinks at the end of the run, presenting her with a card that said she was his 'hero'.

"She's a great person," Mr Naylor said. "We could do with a few more Nicky Spinks in the fells. She's a great lady.

"I just congratulated her and I really meant it. She's a nice woman. She's a farmer as well and has a lot of work to do.

"She's at the top of her game."

Nicky was determined to complete the challenge in under 12 hours and set a schedule that she thought would see her finish in 11 hours and 59 minutes.

On the day, she said that it was her strict diet, support team and dog, Wisp, by her side that got her through the challenge.

“I always secretly wanted to do it in under the men’s 12 hour limit (for 50-54 year olds)," she said. "I’m not saying all women should aim to go sub-12, not at all, and part of the beauty of the Joss Naylor Challenge is that the time limit gets extended as you get older, but I was really pleased to show (just as Jasmin Paris has done in the world of really fast ladies) that women can compete with the men and run similar times.

"The big thing though was to enjoy it – and that’s exactly what I did. My support team pulled everything out of the bag and more to create a birthday I’ll never forget."

The previous fastest time for women was 12 hours and 17 minutes, held by Jane Meeks and recorded in June 2011.

"Joss was there to meet us at the finish – though his wife was cross with him because he nearly missed us," Ms Spinks said. "He’d been elsewhere in the Lake District that day watching the Anniversary Waltz Fell Race and just made it back in time for me finishing.

"It was brilliant to see him there. He’s been a fell running hero of mine for many, many years. So when he gave me a card in which he’d written that I was his hero, I was totally shocked."

Last year Nicky, who lives in Yorkshire, made fell running history by becoming the fastest person to run a double Bob Graham Round