She did it! Cumbria’s running granny Angela White completed the gruelling 160-mile Spine Challenger North non-stop race along the Pennine Way.
Managing on just four hours sleep Angela took 103 hours and 34 minutes to complete the challenge which began in Hardraw in North Yorkshire and concluded at Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders.
Runners have a time limit of just 108 hours to get to the finish line.
“I’ve never done anything like this – the ground conditions were the real challenge,” Angela told Cumbria Crack.
“I know in Iceland they have multiple terms for weather and I think there are equally as many for mud! Moving through thick, gloopy soup that was a foot deep in places was hard. It takes a toll on knees and ankles.”
Her achievement is all the more remarkable because she began the race just months after undergoing knee surgery.
The retired surgeon who lives near Kendal promotes keeping fit for later life and has raised over £1,000 for Headway South Cumbria.
“Every donation helps, not only the charity but also to ease the discomfort of some of the consequences I’m suffering after completing this adventure,” Angela said.
To recover from the event Angela is concentrating on easy movement such as yoga, swimming and walking.
It may not be long though before she will be looking for another challenge.
