Eight-year-old boy runs 32 miles and scales 15 summits in a single day – Yahoo Sports
An eight-year-old boy has completed one of the UK’s epic mountain challenges in under 16 hours.
Benji, from Llanberis, Gwynedd, ran the Welsh 3000s in Eryri, also known as Snowdonia, covering 32 miles (50km), 15 summits, and nearly 4,000m (13,000ft) of total ascent in 15 hours and 58 minutes.
Mum Toni Howden, who is an outdoor instructor, has been taking her son out in the mountains since he was a baby. Benji said he loved running and being outdoors in the mountains, but his main aim was to raise as much money as he could for the mountain rescue organisation.
He described his favourite part as the beginning of the run, "sliding on the mud" and running down Y Garn in the Glyderau range of Eryri National Park.
When Toni dropped him off to complete the first section, it was "windy and rainy," making her nervous. However, Benji was surrounded by "amazing" and "experienced" adults who volunteered to help him throughout the challenge.
He only had about two hours of rest during the challenge, making for a hard watch as he became increasingly tired. Nonetheless, Benji was determined to finish and has raised more than £1,800 for Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue.
