Stretching across a staggering 630 miles, the SWCP stands as the longest national trail in England. From its starting point in Poole Harbour, Dorset, to its final destination in Minehead, Somerset, the path’s undulating terrain and a collective ascent of approximately 115,000ft present a formidable challenge.
That’s four times the height of Mount Everest.
Sarah Perry, an INOV8 athlete, has left an indelible mark in the record books with a feat that speaks volumes about her resilience and determination. She conquered the SWCP in a remarkable 13 days 11 hours, and 31 minutes, setting a new women’s record and the fastest overall self-supported completion. Her endurance and unwavering spirit are truly awe-inspiring.
The previous women’s record was held by Julie Gardener (14 days, 14 hours and 44 mins), while the self-supported was held by David Myers at 13 days, 13 hours and 43 mins.
Dave Phillips still holds the overall record (10 days, 8 hours, and 24 minutes) set in 2022.
Sarah Perry told INOV8: “After a failed attempt last year, I was itching to get back on the coastal path and have another go.
“Originally, I was set to go in May, but earlier in the year I found out that my usual support team would no longer be able to help me, so I set about planning a self-supported attempt for the Easter holidays in April.
“I literally poured hours of time into the schedule and in the run-up, I thought of nothing else. In all honesty I was scared, there was so much that could go wrong and so many things to think about, but I knew I could do it and was willing to take the risk either way.
“After a day of travelling, I started on Monday, April 1st at 3.30 pm. Over the next couple of weeks, I battled the elements, trudged through the worst mud I’ve ever experienced, did all-nighters and caught more ferries than I’d ever taken in my entire life.”
“I touched the end in Minehead at 03.01 am on Monday, April 13th. I still feel totally overwhelmed and haven’t processed the whole experience yet but am content with the knowledge that I couldn’t have done any more.”