A DARING duo have scaled the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales in less than 24 hours to complete the Three Peaks Challenge.
Pals Martyna Jackowska, 33, and Tracey Woodyard, 55, from Maldon, started training for the mountain marathon during lockdown.
Their mission was to climb Ben Nevis, in Scotland, England's Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon in Wales in under 24 hours.
Martyna's dad Greg Krzyzanowski was in charged of driving as they dashed from the Scottish Highlands to the Lake District and then Snowdonia.
In total the round trip from Maldon clocked up more than 1,300 miles.
The girls started training last October but didn't know how well running on the flat in Essex would prepare them for scrambling up steep mountain slopes.
Martyna said: "During lockdown when everything was closed, we started to run more then usual and came up with idea to train for the Three Peaks Challenge.
With driver Greg at Fort William
"Gyms and organised events were closed, but we would always meet for a Sunday run.
"We set the goal and started to train without knowing if we would be able to do it because we were in national lockdown.
"We have been running around Maldon and the surrounding areas regardless of the weather for eight months.
"We would meet once a week for a joint run and the rest of the week we would train by ourselves."
Once in the mountains, Tracey and Martyna ran where they could to keep their time down.
Tracey and Martyna on top of Ben Nevis
Martyna said: "Tracey was the more experienced runner and she set an amazing pace throughout the whole challenge, ensuring we both get up and down safely.
"The weather was not on our side as it was cold and in some parts with snow or lots of rain, but it did not stop us."
They completed the challenge in 19 hours and 50 minutes.
Martyna added: "We are super proud to represent the Maldon community and we are so proud of the time.
"We would not have achieved it without our amazing driver, my dad Greg, who was waiting for us while we ran.
Sunrise on the summit of Scafell Pike
"In total he drove 1346.6 miles over three days.
"The hardest part was to get out of the car after a five-hour journey and keep going.
"It was more a mental challenge – to believe you can do it and you can keep going.
"But overall we loved it."
Done it - Tracey and Martyna on the top of Snowdon
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here