Airedale Hospital consultant anaesthetist and ultrarunner Tom Hollins. Photo: Bob Smith Photography
Ultrarunner Tom Hollins has abandoned his attempt to complete a Lakeland Round of 330 peaks.
The athlete cited bad blisters and nausea for his decision to give up the challenge after summiting 53 tops.
He set himself the goal of running to the summit of all 214 mountains described in Alfred Wainwright’s series of Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells, plus 116 of the minor peaks detailed by the author in his Outlying Fells book. He set off from Keswick on Tuesday morning.
The consultant anaesthetist, who works at Airedale Hospital in Keighley, set up a JustGiving page to raise cash through his challenge for the Airedale Hospital and Community Charity’s emergency department appeal. A total of 105 donors had pledged more than £3,700 at the time of writing.
Explaining his decision to halt his run in the early hours of Thursday, Hollins said: “I’ve never felt nauseous for more than an hour on a run. Eating well is my strength.
“I’ve never got bad blisters within the first 24 hours on a run. That was Monday. Since yesterday neither of those things are true.
“I’ve had to call time on my attempt on the Lakeland round. Success deferred. There will be another day. It’s a shame after all the prep. And a shame that the weather conditions couldn’t have been any better.
“And a shame my body didn’t agree.
“Thank you to everyone who sponsored me to support the paediatric and bereavement facilities in Airedale ED. I’ve let you down. It was a great cause on Monday and it’s still a great cause today.”
A spokesperson for the charity said: “We are really sad to let you know that Tom has had to end his Lakeland Round Challenge.
“He is OK and we know you will join us in sending him your best wishes.”
Hollins has previously completed two continuous rounds of the Wainwrights, one of which as the first ever self-supported round in winter, accomplished in less than 8½ days in 2025.
In 2017 he won the Winter Spine Race, running the full 268-mile length of the Pennine Way and has completed a ‘vertical marathon’, summiting Pendle Hill in Lancashire 223 times, completing the equivalent of 26 miles of ascent.
