Tom Hollins is a seasoned endurance runner. Photo: Bob Smith/grough
It’s hard to avoid the bus analogy: you wait ages for a winter Wainwrights attempt and then two come along on the same day.
Athletes James Gibson and Tom Hollins have both set off in their quest to complete a run over all 214 Lakeland peaks during the winter season.
The first day of December marks the beginning of meteorological winter.
Hollins already has a Wainwrights round under his belt, having completed the 512km (318-mile) run with 36,000m of ascent, in May this year. His time of 6 days 21hrs 33mins 8secs was set during unseasonably brutal weather. This time he posted a brief note on social media saying: “Have lots of good friends around me and weather looks like it will be fun. Looking forward to seeing you all out there.”
His challenge began at the Moot Hall in Keswick at 6am on Wednesday.
An hour later, James Gibson began his attempt on the Wainwrights from the same place. The Lakeland Mountain Guides member aims to complete his winter round in little over seven days. “Limited daylight hours, cooler temperatures, and hopefully some winter conditions will all make this an arduous, yet oddly appealing task,” he said.
Sabrina Verjee holds the record for a solo continuous Wainwrights round, with a time of 5 days 23hrs 49mins 12secs, set in June. Long-distance expert John Kelly abandoned his attempt on the record the following month.
The challenge involves completing all the peaks described by Alfred Wainwright in his Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells.
James Gibson said: “As it stands no one has yet to compete a continuous round of the Wainwrights in winter. However, a mention needs to go to Mingma Tshering Sherpa who completed all 214 Wainwrights over a period of 14 days during winter months, solo.”
At the time of writing, Hollins had summited 12 fells and was on target for his schedule, while Gibson had ticked off 11 summits, having taken in Latrigg as his first fell.
Hollins’s progress can be followed on the Open Tracking site while Gibson’s route can also be followed on the same site.
Charles
01 December 2021Here we go again. More attempts a glory and recognition.
Hey everybody, I'm the first or the fastest, I'm over here, yes me
R P
01 December 2021I can only speak on a personal basis, but I once did the 3 peaks within 24hrs for Charity. Whilst an achievement, I look back on that time and hate it! Why? The mountains were just there as an object, a means to an end; just like a treadmill.
I had no time to enjoy them, to savour the vistas, or to feel the atmosphere that ultimately enhance our well being. I felt they deserved more than that. I vowed I would never use the mountains like that again.
I understand why people do these record breaking challenges and applaud them, but eventually only one name will appear in the record books and the rest (including that one) will eventually be forgotten. I would rather do it my way.
Pork Pie
01 December 2021Charles - I can't speak about Tom as I don't know him, but I do know James and I'm afraid I have to disappoint you by letting you know you couldn't be more wrong about him.
He is running this as it is a personal goal of his and he is doing it in a style that fires him up. He's got such an impressive running CV already, all of which he has undertaken off of his own back, many of which in the Autumn or Winter months. He was the first person to complete a Winter Steve Parr Round, a very prestigious circuit here in the Lakes. But yet, you've probably never heard of him? Sound like someone who is doing this for recognition?
Ironically, your desire to post a comment in the way you have is probably more of an attention seeking move than what James is doing.
Mange Tout
01 December 2021Pull the other one!
Scragg
02 December 2021These are a pair of consumer monkeys in comparison to what SpeedoMick is doing. Perhaps Grough could do a feature on n his progress on his 2500 mile endeavour to raise money for charity dressed in only a pair of speedos. He is in Cumbria this week.
All Sorts
02 December 2021I really don't understand the negativity about people pursuing individual personal challenges in the hills. As far as I'm concerned it's just another way of enjoying the open spaces and simply one end of a spectrum of ways of connecting with the outdoors. I think for the vast majority people who enjoy endurance challenges it's being out there that's more important than winning (which is not on the cards for most people), and measuring yourself against your own goals. It's no more egotistical or unwelcome than running the London Marathon or appearing on Bake Off. As far as coverage on Grough is concerned I think it's about right and wouldn't be aware of many of these if it wasn't for the relatively few news items. I agree that Speedo Mick is pretty impressive though!
Anne Waldren
02 December 2021I agree with the people who are sick of hearing about these stupid challenges.
If you want to do it then that's fine but don't tell everyone and then say it's not for the attention.
Mike
02 December 2021I disagree with the sentiment that these folks are bigging themselves up or hunting glory. They are just doing something slightly less ordinary that Grough (and other sites) feel is newsworthy. I'm sure they are equally happy and content with their ordinary non-reported walks and runs (as am I with mine).
But what I really don't like is the recent'ish trend on Grough comments towards acidic and sarcastic troll-like responses. Simply no need. If you're not interested in this sort of thing then just ignore, don't read, move on. No need to get het up and pass negative comment; instead take a breath, smile, find a hill and go for a walk.
Richard Jackson
03 December 2021Respect to both athletes
Best of luck
..... why didn't you run it together? or is that against the rules?
Vicky
03 December 2021So what you're saying #Mike, is that people who disagree with something should not say so because only positive comments are welcome.
Stopping people from saying something negative a very bad road to start going down.
Mike
06 December 2021#Vicky. Not at all, by all means disagree but I personally would just like to keep the vitriol down on this site in general. All too easily and quickly it becomes acidic and personal and I'm sure that puts other people off from engaging themselves, which is a shame.
#Gemma
09 December 2021Seems like a lot of bitter people who have never set a personal goal or tried to achieve anything