Words: Ultra Magazine
battling sleep deprivation, extreme weather conditions, and relentless terrain, Cudahy completed the full Pennine Way in an astonishing 2 days, 21 hours, 54 minutes, plus 30 seconds.
Mike Cudahy is a name synonymous with long-distance fellrunning. Over the course of his career, he set remarkable records and tackled some of the most gruelling terrain. His achievements, particularly in fellrunning and endurance challenges, have left a lasting impact on the sport, inspiring generations of runners to push beyond their limits.
Cudahy’s journey into long-distance running began with a love for the hills and a fascination with testing human endurance. Unlike many road racers, he found his true calling in the rugged landscapes of fellrunning, where unpredictable weather, steep ascents, and technical descents posed as much of a challenge as the sheer distance involved. His ability to navigate rough terrain while maintaining a relentless pace set him apart from many of his contemporaries.
On 10th August 1977 Cudahy became the 84th member of the Bob Graham 24 Hour Club, completing the legendary fellrunning challenge that requires participants to summit 42 Lake District peaks within 24 hours, covering 66 miles and 27,000 feet of ascent, with a time of 23:39 and establishing himself as a strong long-distance fellrunner.
In 1979 he broke the record for the 120-mile race from Tan Hill to Cat and Fiddle, finishing in a time of 32:20, but then set himself the challenge of becoming the fi rst person to complete the 268-mile Pennine Way in under three days. The record of three days, 1 hour and 48 minutes had been recently set by Brian Harney, and Cudahy felt he knew where Harney had faltered in his bid and could build on that.
After seven unsuccessful attempts at the challenge between 1979 and 1983, a period that Cudahy himself describes as “a kaleidoscopic jumble in which images of burning feet, creaking muscles, lashing rain, and boiling sun are embedded in a general background of bright optimism turning to black despair”, in 1983 he broke his own Tan/Cat record with a time of 29:10 while training for the Pennine Way record. Starting on 31st May 1983, battling sleep deprivation, extreme weather conditions, and relentless terrain, Cudahy completed the full Pennine Way in an astonishing 2 days, 21 hours, 54 minutes, plus 30 seconds.
He [Cudahy] provided invaluable guidance to aspiring ultrarunners, sharing lessons on preparation, perseverance, and the importance of connecting with the landscape.
Cudahy’s feat on the Pennine Way was more than just a personal triumph; it set a new benchmark for ultrarunners and inspired many others to take on the challenge. His record stood for years and remains one of the most celebrated milestones in British long-distance running history.
In addition to his achievements in fellrunning, Cudahy took on another iconic endurance challenge: setting a record for running the Coast-to-Coast route. This journey, covering approximately 190 miles from St. Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire, is typically a multi-day trek for walkers. However, Cudahy, true to his adventurous spirit, completed it in 46:49, further cementing his reputation as one of Britain’s greatest endurance runners.
Cudahy’s book, Wild Trails to Far Horizons, is a testament to his experiences, offering insights into the physical and mental demands of extreme long-distance challenges. Through his writing, he provided invaluable guidance to aspiring ultrarunners, sharing lessons on preparation, perseverance, and the importance of connecting with the landscape.
Even after stepping back from competitive record-setting, Cudahy remained an active member of the running community, encouraging and mentoring young athletes. His passion for adventure and endurance never waned, and he continued to explore trails and mountains well into his later years. His name remains synonymous with determination and a fearless approach to endurance challenges.
Mike Cudahy’s running career is a testament to what can be achieved through sheer perseverance, strategic planning, and a love for the wild landscapes. His records on the Pennine Way, the Coast-to-Coast route, and his excellence in fellrunning established him as one of the greats of British endurance running. More than just a competitor, he was an innovator and an inspiration, proving that with the right mindset, the limits of endurance could always be pushed further.