Nicky Spinks has run herself into the record books. Photo: Nicky Spinks
Top fellrunner and ultrarunner Nicky Spinks will give the annual Wainwright Society lecture this year.
The announcement came as she ran herself into the record books with another long-distance first.
The Yorkshire farmer has a list of record-breaking achievements, including double completions of the Bob Graham Round in the Lake District and the Charlie Ramsay Round in Scotland.
And the 51-year old has just bagged another record with the first double Paddy Buckley Round in Snowdonia.
She is also the first person to have completed double rounds of the three challenge runs.
Spinks, an inov-8 brand ambassador, has survived breast cancer, having been diagnosed in 2006. She went on to complete sub-24-hour completions of the three classic rounds, post a double Bob Graham Round, then a double Charlie Ramsay Round.
She began her attempt on the double Paddy Buckley Round, 122 miles in length with 56,000ft of ascent, on Friday. She completed the challenge at Capel Curig on Sunday evening.
The Wainwright Society, which promotes the values of the late guidebook author and illustrator Alfred Wainwright, said the ultrarunner will deliver its memorial lecture in October.
It said she shares with Alfred Wainwright a love for the high places and just being out in the mountains.
Society secretary Derek Cockell said: “Nicky has been running since her teenage years but started running competitively in 2001.
“In 2004 she learnt about the Bob Graham Round in the Lake District and it became an ambition to complete the round of 42 fells within 24 hours. After a few visits to the Lakes, where she learnt more about hillwalking craft than about fellrunning, she attempted the run in June 2005 and completed in 23.35 hours.
“In 2006, she learned she had breast cancer but continued running and in 2016 looked for a way to celebrate surviving ten years, choosing the double Bob Graham as her challenge.
“Although her winter training was often interrupted by poor weather conditions, she completed the run in May 2016 in a time of 45.3 hours raising £8,000 for the cancer charity Odyssey.”
Nicky Spinks said: “When I first learnt of the Bob Graham round in 2004, I asked for a set of Wainwright books for Christmas.
“Although I haven’t read them cover to cover, I love the books and feel I have a lot in common with Alfred Wainwright. His love of the lesser peaks and the wild fells resonates with me.
“I also feel happier roaming the fells alone with my dogs than in mass company. I love discovering a small peak and feeling that I have made its day by stopping and admiring the view. I have a passion for open access and encouraging everyone to make full use of the right that we have in this country.”
The lecture will take place on Saturday 5 October at Rheged near Penrith.
