45-year-old smashes record for continuous round of Scotland’s 283 mountains
By ANISunday, June 6, 2010
Edinburgh (Scotland), June 6(ANI): A 45-year-old Scottish fell-runner, Stephen Pyke, has beaten the record for the fastest continuous circuit of the country’s 283 Munros, or mountains over 3,000fts.
Pyke, also known as Spyke, beat the last record, set by Glasgow postman Charlie Campbell ten years ago, when he touched the trig pillar on Ben Hope in Sutherland on Thursday.
The 45-year-old managed to run up every one of Scotland’s 283 Munros in 39 days, nine hours and six minutes, beating Campbell’s record by nine days and two hours.
“This seemed like a good excuse to spend 40 days in the mountains, and I’m really pleased to have broken the record. I’ve enjoyed every day of the journey,” The Scotsman quoted Pyke, as saying.
Starting on 25 April with Ben More on Mull, Pyke finished his arduous journey on Thursday by climbing Scotland’s most northerly Munro, Ben Hope.
His journey involved the equivalent of a marathon and a 10,000ft climb every day for more than five weeks.
Meanwhile, talking about the achievement, John Hutchison, Chairman of the John Muir Trust, which owns and protects several Scottish mountain areas, including Ben Nevis, said: “Spyke’s achievement is an awe inspiring example of the kind of challenge wild land has to offer.”
“We are extremely proud to count Spyke as one of our members, and I am delighted that he chose to use this challenge to raise money and awareness for our work,” Hutchison added. (ANI)
