A valiant attempt.
If the record has stood since 1989 that must say something about Mike Hartley who set the record. What did he have that no one else has since?
Mike was pretty fast runner,around 2.30 for the marathon and also a GB international at 100km.
More info here,courtesy of Mike Hartley.
https://www.fetcheveryone.com/viewtopic.php?id=39808&page=392Macc Harriers Article
Apologies for the delay in putting this together. I’m not really sure what to write so I thought I would start with how it began, then a quick list of what I’ve achieved, to where I am now. I suppose it’s a bit of a tedious catalogue really but it has made me dig up all my times and it’s certainly brought back a few memories.
I started rock-climbing in 1965 at age 13 and long distance walking in 1978 at age 26. By 1981 I got sucked into the ”marathon boom“ then spent the next 20 years running and stopped rock climbing. The long distance walking and the marathon running soon combined to become ultra hill running.
I thought I’d break it down into 3 parts. 1. Up to 1988. 2. 1989 the year I did the Pennine Way. 3. 1990 to present time.
1. Up to the end of 1988
Umpteen circuits of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, with a pb of 3hr 23min.
4 crossings of the Welsh 3000s, pb 6hr 59min with full snow cover.
7 Fellsman Hikes, with a win in 1987, 11hr 02min.
14 marathons, pb 2hr 37min
6 Karrimors, 2 with my wife Gill.
2 LDWA 100s, Snowdonia 21hr 35min, 1st equal with Mike Cudahy. White Peak, 17hr 58 min 1st.
2 Bob Graham Rounds, 21hr 44min and 20hr 50min.
Bullock Smithy Hike
West Highland Way Race, solo, self supported, 18hr 47 min.
Colne to Rowsley, winter crossing
Southern Upland Way, 212miles 55hr 55min, record.
Tan Hill to Cat and Fiddle 34hr 34 min.
2 . 1989 Pennine Way Year
This was the year I would make an attempt on the Pennine Way record. I knew that the training, the preparation and the attempt itself would be difficult and time consuming, I would probably only make one attempt, so I wanted to get it right. My achievements over the last few years told me I was fit enough and experienced enough, but I wasn’t sure if I was really tough enough. Being able to eat and digest properly without too much nausea, deal with blisters, injuries and sleep deprivation would all be crucial to success. The Southern Upland Way told me I could go through 2 nights without sleep, it also told me I would be unlikely to break Mike Cudahy’s record of 2 days 21 hours 54 mins. The Southern Upland Way is quite a bit shorter than the Pennine Way, but I suffered badly with blisters and muscle stiffness. A small support crew of 3 just wasn’t enough, they all worked very hard but at the end we were all exhausted. I knew I would have to raise my game; I’d have to be very fit, very tough and very well organized. I decided to give my training and preparation everything I’d got over the first 3 months of the year and just hope I didn’t over do it!
At the end of March I would cut down a bit, but bring in some really long runs, culminating in, hopefully a long fast run at the end of June then make the attempt at the end of July. Training peaked at the end of each 3 week period reaching 170 miles on the highest week. Many weekends and much time was spent checking the route and working out a schedule. I assembled a support team of pacers and supporters whose knowledge and experience was second to none!
4/3/89 Dalesway 80 miles, 13hrs 34min, record, soon to be improved upon by Dennis Berrisford, 12hrs 44min.
8/4/89 Staffordshire Way, 16hrs 10min, record.
23/4/89 Solihull 100km, 7hr 46min, 1st, Qualifier for Great Britain ultra Squad.
13/5/89 Fellsman Hike, 1st, 10hrs 32min.
May 89 Brecon Beacons LDWA 100, DNS due to injury.
24/6/89 West Highland Way Race, 2nd, 15hrs 32min.
25/7/89 The Pennine Way 2days 17hrs 20min. record.
1990 Onwards
29/4/90 3 Peaks Race, 3hrs 36min
12/5/90 Fellsman Hike, 1st, 11hrs 19min.
25/5/90 Bob Graham Round, solo, 20hrs 05min.
13/16/ July 90 The Three Rounds, 3days 14hrs 20min.
27/10/90 KIMM
11/5/91 Fellsman Hike, 2nd, 10hrs 19min.
25/27 May 91 Lancastrian 100, 1st, 18hrs 48min.
29/6/91 South Downs 80, 1st, 9hrs 49min,
19/20 July 91 Wainwright Coast to Coast, 39hrs 36min, record.
1/12/91 St Albans Marathon, 2hrs 35min 42sec
1/3/92 Barry 40 Track Race, 1st, 4hrs 04mins 01sec .
26/4/92 Telford Marathon, 2hrs 34min 42sec, PB.
28/5/92 Western States 100, 20th, 21hrs 43min.
26/7/92 Lincs 100km, 1st, 7hrs 26min 55sec
11/9/92 European 100km Champs, 6hrs 54min 59min, GB vest.
5/10/92 London to Brighton, 3rd, 6hrs 08min 15sec.
1/11/92 Harrow Marathon, 2hrs 37min 54sec
7/3/93 Barry 40 track Race, 1st, 4hrs 00min 20sec
7/8/93 100km World Challenge, 7hrs 22min 06sec. GB vest
18/9/93 100km European Champs, 4th, 6hrs 37min 45sec. GB vest
6/3/94 Barry 40 track race, 2nd, 4hrs 10min 6sec
16/9/95 100km World Challenge, 7hrs 13min 25sec. GB vest
July 1998 Started climbing again
Oct 1998 Snowdonia Marathon, 2hrs 58min 59sec
Dec 2002 Finished work
July 2002 Cycled Lands End to John o Groats/ walked the British 3 peaks, sub 8 days
Sept 2004 Started sea kayaking
2014 Started caving
Oct 2014 Finished the Munros