The Wainwrights are a collection of 214 fells in the Lake District, described in Alfred Wainwright's pictorial guides. A self-supported FKT means completing the entire route as quickly as possible, carrying all necessary supplies and equipment, and without external assistance beyond what is publicly available to all challengers. To set a self-supported time, runners can use pre arranged supply drops and public facilities, but cannot have a support crew. This endeavour demands exceptional physical and mental resilience, as well as meticulous planning and navigation skills, especially in the unpredictable conditions of a British winter.

We asked Tom to talk us through the planning that went into the attempt, what challenges he faced along the way, and what's next on his list of remarkable adventures...

The Journey Begins:

The first time I tackled the summer Wainwrights, and during my initial winter attempt in 2021, I invested considerable time in scouting the route and identifying the optimal lines. Following the setback of my supported winter attempt, my focus shifted to the Spine Race for subsequent winters. As the winter of 2024/25 approached, I began preliminary plans for a self-supported round, but nothing concrete as I was primarily concentrating on the Spine Sprint. After completing the Sprint, I felt remarkably fresh and concluded that the primary obstacle to a Wainwrights completion would be the unpredictable weather windows, rather than my fitness. Consequently, I booked annual leave for the last week of February, resolving to proceed if the weather forecast appeared favourable the week prior. Planning accommodation along the route proved time-consuming, and I conducted a couple of reconnaissance trips to explore new route options. However, I largely relied on my 2021 knowledge and the fitness gained from my Spine training.

Battling the Elements:

The most significant challenge I faced was the gale-force winds and torrential rain that persisted for the initial 48 to 72 hours. This weather system had been upgraded from mild to moderate winds and rain just 24 hours before my start, a stark reminder of the impossibility of accurately predicting winter weather in the UK. Having pre-booked stays in bed and breakfasts, I was forced to halt the round twice to seek shelter due to the severe conditions, necessitating adjustments to my onward logistics. Fortunately, the February half-term holiday had concluded by that point, and the establishments were able to accommodate my changes. As for the intervals between stops, food, and kit requirements, everything proceeded flawlessly. The only other major difficulty was navigating at night. The prevalence of mist and clag meant I was reliant on my 2021 knowledge. I became disoriented on several occasions, twice completely losing my bearings and retracing my steps. However, on both instances, I recognised my error within half a mile, thanks to the familiar terrain underfoot.

Looking Ahead:

My next major race is the Tor des Géants in September. In the interim, I am diligently working on (and thoroughly enjoying) enhancing my navigation skills. I will be participating in the Scarpa Great Lakeland 3-Day in May and the Saunders Mountain Marathon in July. Next winter, I will need to determine if the Spine Sprint North will be a new event, in order to maintain my record across all their winter events. I might also attempt an unsupported winter round of the Dales Mountains 30 (a loop of the 30 mountains in the Yorkshire Dales), a sort of mini Yorkshire Wainwrights. Perhaps I should have tackled that one first!