FORMER Dyson Perrins head girl, fitness blogger and social media influencer Helena Knightley celebrated her 30th birthday by running the Everest Challenge Marathon and finishing as third-fastest female.

The marathon, on 26 October, is a part of the Himalayan 100, a five-day, 100-mile stage race. She decided to sign up after realising that the event fell over her 30th birthday.

The Himalayan 100 takes place over five days in the foothills of the Himalayas in the eastern corner of India, on and near the border of Nepal. The course traverses between 6,000 and 13,000 feet.

This year, those taking part included runners from Argentina, France, Australia, USA, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Spain, New Zealand and Singapore.

She said: "This was the most incredible week of my life and the most beautiful event imaginable. Every runner should do this event.

“Nothing beats spending the day running, followed by an evening hanging out with like-minded people from all over the world, in the most beautiful and iconic mountain range in the world."