Helm Hill runner Claire Kennedy has completed the 23 Before Tea challenge from Elterwater Hostel in a brilliant time of 8 hours and five minutes.
The run puts her in 12th place overall on the leader board, and third woman, for the 47k challenge which takes in 23 Wainwright summits in nearly 10,000ft of climbing, starting and finishing at the gate of Elterwater Independent Hostel.
Claire followed the now established route of 23 summits, though in reverse order to the usual way, as she explains: “A last minute change of plan so I didn’t hit Fairfield at the same time as the Rydal Round race meant I did a loop in the opposite direction to most.”
Claire said she was suffering from “serious FOMO after watching everyone do incredible summer challenges, I thought it was time to test myself and head out on a 23 before tea round. An absolutely amazing, brutal, brilliant, soul-testing day out. My legs are officially done, but I’m proud of this one. Furthest I’ve ever run full stop, let alone with 23 mountains thrown in for good measure.”
But she hit a problem doing the challenge in mid-summer: “I followed a gpx from someone who did it in November. Rookie error, the head height July bracken is no joke.”
The 39 year old mother of two from Kendal, Claire said: “I’ve dabbled with a bit of fell running for years but truly got into about three years ago. Inspired by some incredible female fell runners I know, I decided it was time to challenge myself way beyond my comfort zone and decided to give 23 before tea a go. It was the furthest I’ve ever done in a day so definitely pushed me but I loved every minute.”
She added: “Its such a great challenge…hard but doable for a regular person (not like these superhumans who get round a BG!). Definitely one I’ll spread the word about so thanks for having the challenge.”
Claire’s run took in 23 Wainwrights along with a few lower tops:
- Loughrigg Fell (335 m)
- Low Pike (508 m)
- High Pike (657 m)
- Dove Crag (792 m)
- Hart Crag (823 m)
- Fairfield (873 m)
- Great Rigg (766 m)
- Stone Arthur (504 m)
- Heron Pike North Top (621 m)
- Heron Pike (Rydal) (612 m)
- Nab Scar (450 m)
- Butharlyp Howe (105 m)
- Helm Crag (405 m)
- Gibson Knott (420 m)
- Calf Crag (537 m)
- Tarn Crag (Easedale) (549 m)
- Codale Head (732 m)
- Sergeant Man (736 m)
- High Raise (763 m)
- Thunacar Knotts (723m)
- Pike of Stickle (708 m)
- Loft Crag (682 m)
- Harrison Stickle (735 m)
- Pavey Ark (702 m)
- Blea Rigg (542 m)
- Little Castle How (482 m)
- Swinescar Pike (411 m)
- Silver How (394 m)
The hostel owner’s son Adrian Thomas, who established the challenge along with the late Little Dave Cumins, said: “We are delighted that 23 Before Tea is still inspiring runners and Claire’s is an impressive achievement. We hope that others will take it up, maybe walking the route over a couple of days. As Claire says, the challenge is designed to be doable by us mortals, for whom the Bob Graham is out of reach! There’s always that cup of tea at the hostel when you finish.”
He added: “Everyone here was so saddened by the death of Little Dave. He and James Harris set about creating an initial route with immense enthusiasm, and we know that he inspired so many people who love the Lakeland fells.”
