A WOMAN has set a new record for scaling all of Scotland’s Munros in a single epic journey, without the use of an engine or motor.
Ultra-runner Jamie Aarons, 43, finished in 31 days 10 hours and 27 minutes, smashing the previous record for a self-propelled challenge by more than 12 hours.
In 2020, former marine Donnie Campbell, from Skye, completed the journey in 31 days, 23 hours and 2 minutes.
The victory saw Aarons – who is originally from California but moved to Scotland in 2005 – run, cycle or kayak between each of the Munros, Scottish mountains with a height of more than 3000 feet.
Starting at Ben More on the Isle of Mull on May 26, Aarons – who works as a social work adviser for the Scottish Government – covered a momentous 2576.52 kilometres.
Over the course of the challenge she ascended 135,366 metres – the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest 16 times. She travelled around 1315 kilometres on foot, 830 kilometres by road bike, 370 kilometres on a mountain bike, 49km by gravel bike, as well as 11.6 kilometres by kayak.
Aarons climbed her final Munro, Ben Klibreck, in Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands at 4.57pm on Monday.
As well as setting a new record, she completed the challenge in less than half the previous fastest time for a woman, which had been set jointly by Libby Kerr and Lisa Trollope in 2017, with the pair taking 76 days and 10 hours.
Speaking at the start, Aarons said: “My journey will take me across the length and breadth of Scotland, across sea and lochs, from remote glens to the highest point in the United Kingdom, and across more miles of bog than I care to think about.”
It is the third time the endurance athlete has climbed all of Scotland’s Munros, after first doing them in 2013 with partner Andy Taylor.
The couple then did all 282 peaks again a few years later, this time taking the rescue dogs they adopted from Spain, Pirate and Hope – who she has dubbed the Fluffs.
As well as breaking the record for a self-propelled Munro challenge, she has also raised cash for World Bicycle Relief.
The charity provides bikes to children in poorer nations, allowing them to ride to school as well as helping them get to health clinics and markets.
Aarons said raising money for the good cause would help to “motivate me through the tough miles”, with the athlete raising almost £14,000 by the time she completed her challenge.
