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Where There's a Hill

One Woman, 214 Lake District Fells, Four Attempts, One Record-Breaking Wainwrights Run

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Where There's a Hill

By: Sabrina Verjee
Narrated by: Liz Jadav
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About this listen

"The greater the challenge, the sweeter the reward, but also the greater the risk of failure. And fear of failure is the greatest barrier to success."

Sabrina Verjee is an ultrarunning phenomenon. In June 2021, on her fourth attempt, she became the first person to climb the Lake District’s 214 Wainwright hills in under six days, running 325 miles with a colossal 36,000 meters of ascent.

Where There’s a Hill tells the story of an outsider who was never picked for a school sports team yet went on to become an accomplished modern pentathlete and adventure racer. After switching her focus to ultrarunning in her 30s, Sabrina moved to the Lake District, where she could hone her mountain-running skills on the local fells. High-profile success in endurance events followed, as she completed the Dragon’s Back Race three times and was the outright winner of the 2019 Summer Spine Race, beating her nearest competitor by more than eight hours.

However, it was the Wainwrights Round that really captured Sabrina’s imagination. Having learnt about the challenge from fell-running legend Steve Birkinshaw, Sabrina began to plan an attempt of her own. Despite multiple obstacles—including lockdown regulations, bad weather, injury, and controversy—Sabrina’s grit and determination shone through. Where There’s a Hill is a frank and inspirational account of how one woman ran her way into the record books.

©2022 Sabrina Verjee (P)2022 Vertebrate Publishing
Running & Jogging Sports Inspiring Success Heartfelt Injury
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Listener received this title free

I’ve always been intrigued about Sabrina Verjee, probably because she doesn’t splash her life all over social media like other running superstars. I couldn’t wait to read this book when it came out and wasn’t disappointed. Sabrina had such an interesting upbringing which makes her achievements in fell running all the more remarkable. I also love the fact she’s a normal person who holds down a demanding job and a relationship etc. A very inspiring read, highly recommended especially for fell runners, Lake District lovers and Wainwright baggers.

A must read for fell runners, Lake District lovers and Wainwright baggers

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Listener received this title free

There are three parts to Sabrina Verjee's audio book that make it perhaps the best running book I have listened too. Firstly Sabrina's love of running, being outside and the sheer joy of being alive comes shining through, in a really positive and relatable way. It isn't a 'look how fast I can run, aren't I great' dialogue, it is more a happiness can be found outside kind of thing. The second thing is Sabrina relates her story and its successes to every day achievements and even her fails, she points out that records are always 'your' record and will stay with you forever for what they are. They can't be beaten, taken away or diminished. Then of course there is her story central to these themes, and while she refers to herself as The Queen of the Wainwrights she isn't slow to also point out that she is also often called one tenacious little f@*ker. Great listen. Highly recommended.

Very Inspiring

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Listener received this title free

Living in the Lake District, and being a runner, a fell runner and occasionally an ultra runner, this book was a joy to listen to. Sabrina starts with stories from her childhood, parents, school sports days, and love of sport. The book quickly moves on to her journey to ultra running via adventure running and pentathlons. Although a prelude to the 4 Wainwright attempts, this section was fascinating too: the lack of respect from team members, her skills of navigating especially when sleep deprived were often ignored becuase she was female, and hearing about the prep and lengths the teams would go to on long wilderness adventures. Sabrina's life as a vet, her move to the lakes, her demanding work-life balance are briefly covered as we learn more of her passion and singleminded dedication to completing the Wainwrights.The majority of the book focuses on 2019 onwards, the start of the Wainwright attempts, but also the rise of covid, and all that that brought with it. Listening to the lists of races she entered and won that year is mindblowing. Having one of those as a race goal for the year would be exciting for the average runner, but Sabrina's relentless ambition means she wins the Spine Fusion, the Spine race, she came second in the Dragon's Back Race, set a record on the Penine Way, and all that whilst working, and preparing for the Wainwrights.If you want to learn about fueling strategies (other than, just eat cake), or more about kit, this isn't really the book for you. But, there's lots of details about how Sabrina used supporters, kit change overs, when she slept, how she ate, and most beautifully, details about routes, which paths she took, bogs, marsh, snowy tops and tracks, and why she runs only in open access land. It's also quite an insight into the self-titled 'diva' that she becomes after a few days! Sabrina is open about the moments when she mistreats her friends and husband, she unabashedly describes the grumpy, stroppy, and rude things she says to them! They are very forgiving!It's no news to runners that we all push through injury, especially mid-race, but listening to her telling of the third attempt, running for 3 days through chronic asthma, and ultimately ignoring respiratory distress until it was unignorable was difficult listening. 'Please stop!' I whispered, at the back of my mind knowing that she does make it - spoiler! - on her fourth attempt. The story of the fourth attempt, the joy, the skipping across the hilltops, and the almost perfect, straightforward run is made all the more amazing after living (by proxy!) through the previous three attempts.There are lots of cameos from other big names, John Kelly, Kim Collinson, Paul Tierney and Steve Birkinshaw to name but a few. It's a runners' guide to running celebs!

A love letter to the Lake District

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Listener received this title free

Sabrina’s story of her 4-time attempt to complete the Wainwrights in under 6 days will inspire any runner to take on whatever challenge they are currently thinking about. The book begins with a short introduction to Sabrina and her upbringing before getting stuck into the demands any multi stage ultra run requires. Her perseverance through lockdowns, injury and asthma to finally break the wainwrights record on her 4th(!!) attempt will inspire me as I train for future events. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book and living through the highs and lows of her attempts. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes running or enjoys spending time in the beautiful Lake District.

Get ready to be inspired

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Listener received this title free

This book is a detailed description of the Wainwright challenge, at times perhaps a little too detailed but an interesting view into the world of ultra and fell running. I most enjoyed the first part of the book, where Sabine explains her past and how she got into long distance running.

Great explanation of the challenge

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