[An article about my recent record can be found at: Pete smashes the 23 before Tea record! - Elterwater Hostel | The Lake District]
Having spent approx 12months doing recces of the route/area, I made my first attempt at the 23 Before Tea fell running challenge on Sept 14th 2022: my 42nd Birthday. It was a hot day following a dry spell, and ultimately the time I lost sourcing and filtering water meant that my attempt (of 12hrs 33min) fell just short of the existing record, which stood at 12hrs 18minutes (set in June 2022 by Richard Bolton). It did highlight some obvious improvements that I could make to the route though, so, determined to not only beat the record but to be the first person to achieve the original target of completing the 23 Wainwright round in sub-12hrs, I regrouped and set out again on the morning of 8th Oct 2022.
The preceding week had seen awful weather in the Lake District, with biblical rainfall and extremely high winds, so I knew conditions weren't perfect, but I wanted to get an attempt in before Winter really set in. Ground conditions underfoot were extremely slippery - both in the areas of exposed rock and also the grassy descents, and with intermittent rain and strong wind throughout, it was a very changeable day.
I ran solo, unsupported: Carrying everything from start to finish, with the exception of water which I took from natural sources - it was plentiful this time around which made life considerably easier!
I concentrated on streamlining everything - from small route/line alterations to swapping out the Wainwrights of Black Crag and Lingmoor for Grey Friars and High Raise (which reduced the total distance by 2.4miles and 800ft of ascent/descent). The changes, along with my increased knowledge of the route from my last attempt made a big difference, and despite the tricky conditions I returned to the gate of the Elterwater Hostel after 11hrs 23min 37sec, having covered 37.37miles and 14,797ft.
Being greeted with a homemade flapjack and a cup of Tea was the perfect reward for such a tough day in the fells!