An ultra-runner has broken one of the most coveted endurance records in the Lake District, settling unfinished business after an aborted attempt last year.
Bristol-based John Kelly broke the record for a continuous round of the Wainwrights, established by Sabrina Verjee in June last year, with a provisional time of 5 days, 12 hours, 14 minutes, and 42 seconds, meaning he breaks the record by roughly 11 hours.
The La Sportiva team member had attempted the record - all 214 Lakeland peaks chronicled by Alfred Wainwright, taking in 515km and 36,000ft of ascent - last year but was hindered by extreme temperatures and problems with his feet.
The 27-year-old set off from the Moot Hall in Keswick on Monday, May 2, the round going relatively smoothly, and Kelly had fine weather throughout the week, managing to get ahead of foot problems before they became an issue.
He also made small changes to the standard route in order to achieve some marginal gains.
Over recent years the ultra-running specialist has broken the record for running the 260-mile Pennine Way twice, completed the Grand Round (the Paddy Buckley Round in Wales, the Bob Graham Round in the Lake District, and the Ramsay Round in the Highlands) continuously, linking them by bike, and winning the Montane Spine Race in 2020.
Kelly is also one of the small number of finishers of the infamous Barkley Marathons in the USA.
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