Fernanda Maciel breaks Mount Kilimanjaro record

The North Face ultra-runner breaks the fastest female time up and down Mount Kilimanjaro

Stabio, Switzerland – 26 September 2017: Ultradistance runner and The North Face athlete, Fernanda Maciel, has broken the record for the fastest female time up and down Mount Kilimanjaro.

Fernanda ran the Tanzanian route from Umbwe Gate to the summit and then down to the Mweka Gate, in just 10 hours and 6 minutes, breaking the previous record of 12 hours and 58 minutes held by Anne-Marie Flammersfeld by nearly three hours.

Speaking of her achievements, Fernanda was delighted with the result: “I’m very happy. I’ve been dreaming of taking on this African mountain for nearly three years and today gave me that opportunity to do so, and achieve another high-mountain world record, after Aconcagua.”

And the feat didn’t come about without some serious challenges: “There was a moment just two days before the attempt, when a rock avalanche came down during my training at 5,200m high,” explains Fernanda. “Imagine rocks as large as fridges hurtling towards you! It was scary, but I shielded my body quickly and all was ok.”

Enthusing of reaching the summit after just over seven hours of running, Fernanda said: “Reaching the summit was a very special moment for me, full of peace. It was beautiful to see the Stella glacier mixed with the vulcan terrain at the top of Kilimanjaro…I had an incredible day running; it was magic.”

“Running in high mountains is such a different style of exploration, an amazing experience that I hope to inspire more girls to try.”

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