Cumbrian ultra-runner Sabrina Verjee has completed her latest challenge.
The record-breaking British ultra-runner completed the 3 Peak Challenge in St Lucia by running up three of its highest iconic peaks consecutively in just five hours 16 minutes on March 3. The run sets a new best time for a female runner and was just four minutes off the time set by a Saint Lucian male runner. It marks an incredible achievement for a UK woman doing the challenge for the first time.
Sabrina smashed previous times for running up two of the mountains – Gros Piton, 2,618.9 ft, and Mount Gimie, 3,117 ft. Petit Piton at 2,438 ft proved to be a more technical and difficult endeavour requiring ropes to climb certain sections. The current record is held by Julian Toussaint, a massage therapist at Cap Maison Hotel who completed all three peaks in a combined climbing time of five hours 12 minutes.
Sabrina was invited to take on the challenge by Cap Maison Hotel and Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, who hope that Sabrina’s achievement and the island’s incredible scenery will inspire others to visit for active and adventure holidays.
The conditions were a far cry from Sabrina’s normal training ground – the fells and mountains of Cumbria where she holds the overall record for the 325-mile circuit of the Wainwrights taking five days, 23 hours and 49 minutes. The gradients of the Pitons are extreme, and the dense tropical vegetation make it a tough climb.
Sabrina who is from Ambleside, says: “Petit Piton was the most challenging for me because of the ropes and the exposure. I was challenged in a different way physically with upper body strength required to haul myself up those ropes and also mentally to get over the fear as the climb is really exposed. Petit Piton has the best view so it’s worth conquering one’s fears to get up there.
“Gros Piton was my favourite for the terrain – it was all runnable and I think my time up and down there was pretty good. This one is the easiest for hikers – you get a good workout and there isn’t anything too technical or exposed plus there are handrails to hold onto.
“Mount Gimie – I think this was my favourite for adventure. This one is deep in the rainforest so you get to hear all those amazing jungle sounds and naturally its quite wet there. The tropical rain is really pleasant and cooling. The ground is muddy and full of tree roots which makes it feel like an adventure. It’s a little slippery and slidey, but something I am used to from the UK.”
Patricia Charlery-Leon from the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority says: “We hope that Sabrina will inspire others to come to St Lucia for an active holiday. The tropical scenery and dramatic topography of the island make it perfect for an adventure.”
Ross Stevenson, General Manager at the luxury, boutique hotel Cap Maison added: “Our guests come to Saint Lucia to enjoy the sun and beaches but also to find adventure. This challenge came about from the hotel’s personal trainer and massage therapist Julian Toussaint who retains his record for the Three Peaks.”
