An Ambleside vet says her attempts at breaking the record for the fastest known continuous round of the Wainwrights nearly cost her her life.
Sabrina Verjee, one of the UK’s leading ultra runners, finished outside her home in Langdale on June 17, after completing her round in five days, 23 hours and 49 minutes, more than six hours faster than the previous fastest known time, which was set by Paul Tierney in 2019.
The latest attempt was the fourth that the 40-year-old has attempted in the last two years.
But it was the penultimate attempt that was the most difficult.
“I was going through the leg at Robinson and Hindscarth and it was the only time I had been on the floor and I was a little concerned that I might not make it home,” said Sabrina.
“I don’t think the support team quite appreciated the severity of my asthma. It was like being strangled, I couldn’t breathe.
“I really really wanted to keep going, my legs didn’t hurt and I was running really well.
“I wasn’t worried about getting the record at that point, I was more bothered about surviving.
“I carried on but the next leg was very slow and I was very cold and very wet.
“I was moving too slow for everyone to keep warm.”
“It just got colder and colder,” said Sabrina.
“There was snow and frozen ground and it set off my asthma. It became harder and harder to breathe. My shoes were frozen and I couldn’t untie my laces.
“On Monday I felt really poorly. I was told it was too dangerous. I was close to being admitted to hospital, so I had to sack it off.
“I thought, why does it keep happening?
“I always thought my asthma could flare up but I didn’t think it would stop me from finishing.”
To read more about the third attempt, click here.
First and second attempts
Sabrina set off on her first attempt at the beginning of June last year but was forced to call it off due to confusion surrounding coronavirus restrictions.
She was 24 hours into the challenge when the Assistant Chief Constable of Cumbria Constabulary got in touch with her team telling her that the challenge was not legal. The restrictions at the time required people to be at home overnight.
Sabrina had to battle with her frustrations with the first three attempts before she attempted the challenge for the fourth time.
“I was just frustrated,” she said. “I knew I could do it, this is why I did this.
“It was going to be my last go this year.”
She completed the challenge on June 17.
“It is nice to break the record but what I wanted to do was get under six days. Under six days is what I wanted to do. The record comes and goes but my challenge was to get it in under six days,” said Sabrina.
“I was relieved that I didn’t have to through all this again.”
She has now set her heart on mapping out and completing her own route of the Birketts, which are hills within the boundary of the Lake District National Park which are more than 1,000 feet in height.
Sabrina played tribute to her support team who helped her throughout.
