Fell runner tops gruelling record last set in 1983

TL;DR

Kim Collison has broken a 43-year-old fell running record by completing a 103-mile route in the Lake District in 18 hours, 50 minutes, and 34 seconds. The previous record was held by Joss Naylor, who set it in 1983.

Key points

Kim Collison broke a 43-year-old fell running record
The record was for a 103-mile route in the Lake District
Collison's time was 18 hours, 50 minutes, and 34 seconds
Joss Naylor set the previous record in 1983
Naylor's record time was 19 hours and 14 minutes

Mentioned in this story

Lake District

Kim CollisonJoss Naylor

Kim Collison smashed a record that went unbeaten for 43 years [Kim Collison]

A fell runner has said he is "incredibly proud" to break the record of a 103-mile (167km) route previously set by the "legendary" Joss Naylor.

Kim Collison, 45, linked up a "phenomenal run" involving 26 lakes, meres and waters and more than 6,500m (21,325ft) of ascent in the Lake District on Monday, finishing in a time of 18 hours, 50 minutes and 34 seconds.

Veteran fell runner Naylor, known as 'King of the Fells', set the route's previously unbeaten record of 19 hours and 14 minutes in 1983.

Collison, who lives in the Lake District, said he went from a "pain cave" to "pure elation", and passing Naylor's house was a "real high point".

Known as the Lakes, Meres and Waters route, the round involves the runner touching all 26 bodies of water in the national park.

Runners can pick their own route, which Collison said was "part of the joy of it".

"I pieced together what I think Joss did," he said, adding he enjoyed "recceing and learning what what the best route to take to try and match his splits".