Trish Patterson, 41, has set a new record for the National Three Peaks Challenge by foot.
She completed the 425-mile run with a total ascent of more than 7700m in five days and 21 hours. She was more than eight hours quicker than the previous female record and also claimed the second fastest time for the route.
Trish averaged four to five miles per hour and survived on less than 90 minutes of sleep each night.
Her feat is raising money for mental health charity Mind Over Mountains in memory of a close friend, Dave Cumins, known as “Little Dave”, who recently died.
Trish, who is a mum of twins, set off on the challenge to reach the summit of the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales – and running in between – at 8am on Monday June 29.
She started in Fort William, Scottish Highlands, where she the ascended Ben Nevis to the 1345m summit.
She then ran south to tackle Scafell Pike, which rises to 978m, in England’s Lake District, at 7am on Thursday July 2.
This was followed by Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) at 1085m on Saturday night before finishing in Caernarfon in Wales in the early hours of Sunday July 5. A staggering 425-miles and a total of 7,700 metres of climbing.
Trish is an accomplished endurance runner and a member of Hadley Runners in the New Forest. She has previously completed the National Three Peaks on foot as part of a staged race in eight days.
She is the only person to have completed the notoriously tough Dragon’s Back route in Wales in winter, setting a new Fastest Known Time.
Trish decried the National Three Peaks Challenge by foot as “by far the hardest thing I have ever done”.
She added: “The drive of getting that record in the honour of my friend is what kept me pushing forward one step after the other.
“There was never an option to quit, never an option to stop, only the question of how long will it take?
“When I couldn’t physically move on the last morning, I honestly questioned myself how on earth I was going to get through the last day.
“I couldn’t even get up off the floor of the van. But it’s incredible what some caffeine, food, an amazing crew of people and a whole bucket of will power can do.
“Nothing was going to stop me from getting to that finish line.”
History of the 3 Peaks Challenge by Foot
Record times:
1979: Ann Sayer in 7 days, 0 hours, 31 minutes
1980: Arthur Eddleston in 5:23:37
2024: Imo Boddy 6:05:43 – read my report
2024: Dan Lawson in 4:23:46
2026: Trish Patterson in 5:21:00.
Trish’s charity motivation
She also spoke about the motivation to raise money for Mind over Mountains. She said:“Recently, I, along with many others, lost a good friend, Little Dave. He was the kind of person who lit up every room with his infectious smile, boundless enthusiasm and generous spirit.
“He dedicated his life to helping others, and his kindness left a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to know him.
“Most of us will face mental health challenges at some point in our lives. If we don’t experience them ourselves, someone we love almost certainly will.
“Taking on my record attempt, I wanted to honour his memory by making a positive difference. My hope was not only to challenge myself, but also to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and encourage people to seek support when they need it.
“Whether it’s checking in on a friend, reaching out for help, or starting a conversation that might not otherwise happen, every conversation helps break down the stigma surrounding mental health and reminds people that they are not alone.
“Mind Over Mountains is an ambitious and innovative mental health charity that combines walking in nature, mindfulness and professional coaching and counselling to support those facing mental health challenges.
“Thank you for your support, whether through donating, sharing this page, or simply taking a moment to reach out to someone you care about.
“Every pound raised and every conversation started helps continue the work he cared so deeply about: helping others and saving lives.”
Ian Boyd, CEO of Mind Over Mountains, said: “Massive congratulations to Trish and all her support team. This is a huge achievement, not only to complete this epic route but also to set a new world record.
“She is an inspiration to us all and we are extremely grateful that she is raising money for Mind Over Mountains.”
Mind Over Mountains is the leading UK charity that combines walking in nature with professional therapy to support mental health and wellbeing. Founded in 2020, the charity has since supported more than 1000 people.
To donate and support Trish see her Just Giving page.