A SOUTH Lakes teenager has completed a mammoth six-month running challenge which he began during lockdown.

James Johnson, who lives in Kendal, set himself the ambitious task of running an average of 5k a day for half a year in order to raise funds for NHS Charities Together.

He even completed the challenge in style by running his first ever half marathon on a hilly course over the fells around Kendal in a time of one hour 42 minutes on the final day.

James has so far raised £1,000 for the charity and has run over 600 miles (more than 50 times the length of Windermere) and climbed over 70,000 feet (the equivalent of climbing Scafell Pike 22 times) during the six-month feat.

On completing the challenge, James said: “I am delighted that I managed to keep on going for the entire six months.

"It was difficult at times but I was determined to reach my goal.”

Despite managing to keep injury free throughout, it was an eventful time in many other ways for James – a period in which he turned 16 years old.

He received some excellent GCSE results and changed schools, achieving a place at Lancaster Royal Grammar School.

lIf you would like to donate to James’ fundraiser visit www.justgiving.com/jameskj