Fancy a challenge? 51-year-old ultra-runner Tom Hollins just smashed the self-supported record for the gruelling Wainwrights challenge.The British athlete trekked over 300 miles / 482.3km and climbed all 214 Lake District peaks in 8 days, 9 hours, and 44 minutes.
He demolished the previous record in freezing winter conditions over snow-covered, rocky terrain.So, how on earth does someone prepare for such an arduous physical feat? And what gear could possibly be good enough? I caught up with the Yorkshire native to find out.TrainingTom Hollins donned Scarpa and Montane gear for the challenge (Image credit: Summit Fever Media)Instead of following a tailored program, Tom continued his normal routine of long distance running.
"I'm going to have to give a truthful answer and say I didn't do any training at all, but I need to put that in some serious context," he jokes. "My normal running is up and down hills with poles. All the stuff I do normally is essentially training for the Wainwrights.
"As an experienced ultra-runner, Tom is constantly scampering up and down hills with the support of his trekking poles, which spread your exerted force and improve stability on the trails.In January, Tom came second in the gruelling Winter Spine Sprint race, a 46-mile slog through the iconic Pennine way, one of Britain's toughest trail running routes. He completed the race in 10 hours and 17 minutes and credits it for keeping his fitness up before the Wainwrights.
"I did the spine sprint in Janua.
