British YouTuber to run up all 189 Welsh mountains in world record attempt

Welshman Will Renwick, 31, will set a new world record if he completes the gruelling 500-mile challenge this month
Will Renwick

A British YouTuber is attempting to set a new world record by running up all 189 mountains in Wales.

Welshman Will Renwick, 31, is currently nearing the end of the gruelling 500-mile solo challenge, which sees him running the length of his home country from south to north via every single peak.

The experienced fell-runner and magazine editor, who has more than 3,900 subscribers on YouTube, is hoping to complete the journey on Monday, after 22 days running while carrying all his camping gear on his back.

The route covers every peak in Wales over 2,000 feet in height, getting progressively harder, and has never been attempted before. If Renwick completes it, he will become the first person in the world to do so.

“The idea of a gigantic, never-been-done before adventure within my home country really appealed to me, especially if I tied it to a charity with a cause that’s close to my heart,” says Renwick, who admits he almost had to give up on day two after a knee injury and a sore ankle. “My body has really surprised me,” he says, looking back on the 17 days since.

The president of walking group Ramblers Cymru and editor of adventure magazine Outdoors Magic has already raised more than £6,000 for his chosen charity, Mind Over Mountains, which provides outdoor experiences for those who are having difficulties with their mental wellbeing.

The route covers every peak in Wales over 2,000 feet in height, getting progressively harder
Will Renwick

“It’s a small charity making a big difference for people and I’m proud to be fundraising for them,” Renwick adds.

The last three weeks have seen the runner documenting the journey on Twitter, from hill farmers offering him their caravan to sleep in to being forced to lengthen his route because of “horrendous” weather conditions. According to family members, he’s started talking to sheep, has holes in his trainers and his one camping lighter has broken, meaning he now has to eat his boil-in-a-bag meals cold.

In 2013, Renwick became the youngest person to walk around the perimeter of Wales
Will Renwick

It is not the 31-year-old’s first record-breaking endeavour. In 2013, he became the youngest person to walk around the perimeter of Wales via the Wales Coast Path and Offa’s Dyke Path, a record which has since been broken.

He has also walked the Cambrian Way, a long-distance footpath from Cardiff to Conwy in Wales, which he is a trustee of.

This particular challenge saw Renwick start in the Black Mountains in the western Brecon Beacons. His 500-mile route get progressively harder, saving Snowdon and the rest of the Welsh 3,000s until the final few days. If all goes according to plan, he will finish at Conwy on Sunday night or first thing on Monday.

To sponsor Renwick for his challenge, please visit his JustGiving page. You can follow his journey on Twitter, Instagram, Racetracker and Komoot.

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