Ultrarunner Sets New Speed Record on Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit in Peru

Ultrarunner Darcy Piceu has set a new “fastest known time” on the iconic Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit in Peru for both men and women. She completed the 85-mile (136 km) route, which has an average altitude of around 14,000 ft (4267 meters), in just 29 hours and 15 minutes. This achieves her goal of finishing the entire trail in less than 30 hours.

The Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit cuts through the Andes Mountains in Peru, weaving its way around and over a number of snowcapped peaks. The route meanders past icy rivers, towering glaciers, and alpine forests as it crosses some of the most breathtakingly beautiful scenery in the entire country. The high point of the trail came at Cuyoc Pass, which tops out at 16,404 ft (5000 meters).

Piceu announced her achievement via Instagram where she also shared some images from along the way. Here’s what she had to say about the experience:

The Huayuash Circuit exceeded my hopes in every way. It was a breathtakingly beautiful, intimidating, and incredibly challenging 85+ mile “run” that I completed in 29hrs and 15 minutes. To call it an “FKT” just doesn’t feel right, but I hit my goal of under 30 hours. To spend 30 hours at an average elevation of 14,200 ft was quite a feat for me. I could not have done it without the support of @highlinerunningadventures and @trailrunningperu It’s always the people that make these experiences memorable. And photos just don’t do these mountains justice. ❤️? ?cred: @highlinerunningadventures #livelife #sufferbetter #huayuashfkt #womenwhofly #gofarfeelgood

A post shared by Darcy (@darcypq) on Jun 11, 2017 at 9:20am PDT

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Kraig Becker

Kraig is an outdoor and adventure travel writer based in Nashville, TN. Over the course of his career, he has contributed to numerous online and print outlets, including Popular Mechanics, Gear Junkie, Outside Online, National Geographic, Digital Trends, Business Insider, TripSavvy, about.com, and of course The Adventure Blog.