Sabrina Verjee heads to Ard Crags in heavy rain on Monday. Photo: Steve Ashworth

Endurance runner Sabrina Verjee has had to contend with weather described by one observer as ‘brutal’ on the fourth day of her challenge to summit all the Wainwright fells.

The Cumbria-based athlete faced blizzards and high winds on the felltops during her run over the Derwent Fells on Monday, with heavy rain at lower heights.

Despite that, she remains well ahead of her planned schedule and on course for a new record for traversing all 214 fells described by the late author Alfred Wainwright in his Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells.

As daylight began to fade on the bank holiday Monday, she was more than nine hours ahead of her times, with 140 summits under her belt.

Her husband Ben Turner, who is acting as a support runner, said he has had to reschedule runners to accompany her because she is so far ahead of her planned times. Among those who have supported Verjee on her challenge are current record holder Paul Tierney and Steve Birkinshaw, who had set the previous fastest time for the 525km (326-mile) route, which involves 36,000m (118,110ft) of ascent.

Verjee completed the Wainwrights round in 2020, but was hampered by leg problems in the latter stages, leading to her receiving assistance in some descents.

As night fell, she was approaching Keswick, which was her start and finish point last year, but this year she began her run in Great Langdale, and hopes to reach the end of the route on Thursday.

During the coronavirus outbreak, she is asking members of the public to not join her at any time on the fells or at the finish. Her progress can be followed online via the Open Tracking website.

• Steve Ashworth and Summit Fever Media have released a video of Monday’s run, giving an idea of conditions on the tops