Imogen Boddy is not a name that springs instantly to mind as an elite endurance athlete but the 24-year-old from Malton, North Yorkshire, has just broken a record that had lasted for 45 years.

The personal trainer was inspired to tackle the legendary Three Peaks Challenge by the exploits of long-distance race walker Ann Sayer, who died in 2020. Sayer had completed the summits of Ben Nevis, Scotland; Scafell Pike, Lake District, England and Snowdon, Wales – plus running between each of Britain's highest peaks – in a record of 7 days 31 minutes in 1979.

The fastest known time (FKT) for the classic test of human endurance is held by Arthur Eddleston who ran the Three Peaks Challenge in five days, 23 hours, and 37 minutes in 1980. Imogen (known as Imo) completed her astonishing effort at 12:43pm on Tuesday 21 May 2024 in six days, five hours, and 43 minutes, lopping a massive 18 hours off the female FKT for the Three Peaks Challenge.

Boddy is no stranger to ultra endurance challenges. The Sedburgh School alumnus completed a 10K swim in Lake Windermere; ran the Windermere Marathon, then cycled 30 miles back to Sedburgh as a Year 13 student in 2017, giving rise to the annual Boddy Challenge that is still attempted only by the toughest of Sedburghians today!

In 2022, Imo became the youngest person ever to run the fabled John o'Groats to Land's End top to tail route which she completed in 22 days – one day for each of her 22 years at the time.

During the Three Peaks Challenge, which started at 7:00am on 15 May 2024 with a hand in the sea in Scotland, Imo ran 682 kilometres and climbed 10,499 metres, existing on short naps taken in the support van driven by her parents. She averaged more than 100K a day, including the climbs of Ben Nevis (1,345m), Scafell Pike (978m), and Snowdon (1,085m).

Unsurprisingly, her immediate comment on completing the task was related to her urgent need for a kip: “Get me to bed; I’ve never been so excited for a nap!"

Imo Boddy undertook her latest challenge in support of Young Minds UK, a mental health charity for young people.

Photo courtesy Imo Boddy on Facebook