Ultra-runner Damian Hall has set a new fastest known time on the South Wales Traverse; a 72-mile route that covers 31 summits and 18,000ft of ascent over the Brecon Beacons. The previous record-holder was Dan Doherty who ran a time of 14 hours and 18 minutes. Damian beat the record by just 5 minutes.
© Open Tracking
Damian was supported at road crossings and on some sections with a pacer, which contextualises Dan Doherty's self-supported 2017 effort.
Setting off at 7am, Damian set a blistering pace which some pacers struggled with, although fell marginally behind his schedule by about 7 hours in. By 6pm, with 24 of the 31 summits in the bag, he was on schedule but the finish was going to nerve-wracking one. The final descent from Pen y Garn was in the dark.
Damian has had an extraordinary year, taking the record for the winter Paddy Buckley in January and then the Pennine Way record in July. His exploits on the Pennine Way were captured on film and are due to be released under the title 'Totally FKT.'
Comments
Mildly disappointed - thought from the title that this was going to be about Damian running through the antipodean springtime from Sydney to Melbourne... but well done anyway, great effort Damian!
That would be the New New Shouth Wales Traverse Record.