DAYDREAMING while basking on a Corsican beach, fell runner Brian Stallwood found himself musing about how to celebrate his approaching 60th birthday.

What came into his head wasn't a plan for a self-indulgent luxury caper back under the sun but a lung-busting, slog up the big mountain near his home in Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

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And not just one run up the 1,800 feet to the top of Pen-y-Ghent. Brian decided he would make the trip 60 consecutive times from October 30 until his birthday on December 28.

"As I sat in my kitchen on October 30 in my running togs just about to kick the whole thing off, it sounded like a truly excellent idea. Although my wife Hester had her doubts. I think it was a touch of pig-headedness - fighting off my age," said Brian, a financial adviser.

"A typical running loop for me up Pen-y-ghent from home is usually between five and eight miles long with approximately 1,600 to 1,800 ft of ascent, depending which way I go."

His pledge has so far lived up to expectations and even Hester has joined him on nine occasions up and down the mountain.

Most of the time Brian is accompanied by his two dogs, Harry, a six year-old border collie and the border terrier Teasel, 18 months, who revel in the adventure.

Most times, he has tackled the run after work, in the pitch black, illuminating his way with a head torch.

"The run isn't the problem - I run hills all the time - it's been the weather - it's been horrendous up there.

"The other Monday the weather forecast was so bad for later in the day I got up early and ran at 6am without the dogs.

"And psychologically it's tough because of all the night runs after work in particular," said Brian, who is aiming to raise cash for the Cave Rescue Organisation in Clapham and has a Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Brian-Stallwood2