Sabrina Verjee

Sabrina Verjee (born ) is a British long-distance fell-runner who held the overall record for the 325 mile circuit of the Wainwrights from June 2021 to May 2022

Early life and education Verjee grew up in Surrey and studied human sciences at Oxford University. After a few months working as an investment banker she studied veterinary medicine at Cambridge, with a postgraduate certificate in emergency medicine and surgery. At both universities she ran and rowed, and at Cambridge she took up modern pentathlon and then adventure racing.

In September 2020 Verjee set a female record for the fastest completion of the Pennine Way, finishing the run in 3 days 2hrs 28mins. This stood until August 2021 when Anna Troup set a new best time of 3 days 46 minutes.

Wainwrights Verjee's first attempt at a tour of the 214 Wainwright summits in June 2020 was ended early due to COVID-19 restrictions. She tried again the following month and on 12 July, returned to her start point having visited all the 214 summits in 6 days, 17 hours and 51 minutes, a route of involving of ascent. However, this was not claimed as a record for the challenge as she had received physical support because of knee problems ("I needed assistance down Clough Head to the Old Coach Road – I had to lean on little Dave to take the weight off"). In September of that year, Mel Steventon became the first woman known to have run all the Wainwrights in a continuous journey, with a time of 13 days 12 hours.

On 30 April 2021, Verjee began another effort on the route, aiming to complete in under six days, but had to stop after three days because the severe weather conditions were aggravating her asthma. She said: "This is not the conclusion I had anticipated and I am hugely disappointed. This story isn't over. I love running and I love exploring the Wainwrights. We have unfinished business." The overall record was broken on 7 May 2022 by 37-year-old American runner John Kelly who completed in a time of 5 days 12hrs 14mins 42secs, taking more than 11 hours off Verjee's time.

Personal life Verjee works as a vet in Carnforth and lives in Langdale with her three cats