Bob Graham Round 23rd June 2007

23rd June 2007
66 miles 27,000 ft

The next challenge had been in my thoughts for two and a half years, since about early 2006, this was also about 6 months before I completed the Tour of Mont Blanc. The challenge I had set myself was to become a member of the “Bob Graham 24 Hour Club”. Entry to this club is free and everyone is welcome to join, the only condition is that you have to complete the Bob Graham Round on foot in less than 24 hours.

In June 1932 Bob Graham set a new record for a 24 hour Lake District fell round. He traversed 42 of the highest peaks in England (1 for each year of his life) in a large clockwise circuit starting and finishing at the Moot Hall in Keswick. The round included 65 miles of travel and 26,000 feet of climbing on England’s roughest peaks. It took him 23 hours and 39 minutes to complete. Many tried to repeat the round but all failed until in 1960 Alan Heaton managed it. Since then a trickle has become a steady stream of successful completions. There are now (June 2007) about 1350 members. The club was formed in 1971 to help with attempts, and to acknowledge the achievements of each successful round. The membership certificates for any successful round are handed out at a Biennial dinner held in the Shap Wells Hotel in Cumbria.

The Bob Graham Round Map Wasdale on the day

My attempt on the round was set for the 23rd of June 2007 starting at Midnight. I was to attempt the round in the same way that Bob Graham did, minus the boiled eggs and Pyjama jacket. In that I was going to have 2 or 3 pacers on each of the five legs, and support at each of the 4 road crossings. The road crossings carve the route into the 5 legs. The pacers would navigate for me and carry any clothes food and water that I needed. So I had the luxury of running free. This was to prove a greater feeling than I ever anticipated, as all my training was done with a fairly weighty rucksack on. They would also ratify my attempt by noting all the summit times. My road support Mark and Ken were briefed and all 11 of my running helpers would be good to go at the start of their relevant sections, Alistair was ready to go up over Sca Fell and drop a rope off the top of an exposed rock face called Broad Stand. Everything, including myself, was ready.

I touched the door of the Moot Hall just before midnight. There are three other contenders doing the same, this is unusual but tonight was to be a busy night for attempt, 12 in all. It turned midnight, and we are off down a small alleyway nudging past the Keswick drinkers and off into the night to head up the longest ascent of the round, 2800 feet up Skiddaw. After all the anticipation and worry we were off and it felt good to be moving at last. The first 3 peaks were in the dead of night and this is probably a good thing as they take a long time (4 hours) and are very arduous. Boggy ditches and heather make up a lot of it and it is tough to move at any speed. At least the weather was good, cloudy but gladly not windy. Good conversation with my 3 helpers took my mind off it though. I remember Steve Cliff saying that he had a 95% success rate of attempts he had supported. This thought resonated in my head all the way around. I did not want to ruin that statistic. Soon we descended a very slippery Halls Fell ridge. Yiannis slipped almost straight away and I noted this as a danger sign (he has after all done 60 peaks at 60 years of age!!!). It was extreme caution from here until Threlkeld. Soon enough I was sat in the camping chair, with a bowl of porridge and banana, for my first rest. I was simply told “eat” by Wynn Cliff. She along with Steve has supported over 50 attempts. My good friends Ken and Mark (father and son) were my official road support and were shocked by the abruptness, but went with it.

Five minutes of scoffing food and I was off with 2 fresh runners. Fresh conversations amused me until a few slight navigational errors in thick mist, whilst traversing the Dodds and Helvelyn ridge, interrupted proceedings, a quick correction and we were back on course. But it didn’t matter we made time up on the section and were going well. On our decent of Fairfield we passed group after group as they started their ascent to this14th peak. It felt good to be ahead of them. Soon enough we were at the next rest point. I had a full change of kit then a bacon bun whilst watching the other groups descend a bad line down Seat sandal. After what seamed like 1 minute, 15 minutes had elapsed and with 2 fresh pacers; one of them the reigning Bowland Club champion; we were off up Steel Fell. The peaks were traversed without incident and it felt like a nice day out in the hills until we went wrong on the approach to Sca Fell Pike, after a slight worry we were back on track and not too much time was lost. However we did lose a bit of time on the queue up Broad Stand. I wasn’t too bothered; I simply had a rest and a Chat with Alistair. We lost more time on the ensuing slippery scramble up to Sca Fell summit, but made this up on an excellent scree shoot whilst descending into Wasdale.

Back in the chair and a good foot soak and some stew courtesy of Mark and Ken. Then 3 fresh pacers joined me up Yewbarrow. By now I was 42 minutes up on a 23 hour 32 mins schedule. The next leg, leg 4 gave me a slight mental block. As it was here on my last leg 4 reconnoitre, I suffered badly from heat stroke. I did a few things wrong and was caught out by an unusually hot April day. This created a slight crack in my mental foundations. But I felt fresh, and on the long steep hard slog up Yewbarrow I brushed this slight doubt to one side. Even when we got slightly lost on the decent of Kirk Fell, I never considered that I would not finish the round. I should mention the trick that was played on me on this leg. All the way around I was told how much I was up on the schedule, on this entire leg this information was withheld. It worked I got to Honnister pass and sat in the chair to be told I was 1 hour 11 minutes up on a 23 h 32 schedule. Apparently it was at this point that I said “It is in the bag”. In all honesty I had thought this about 2 hours earlier.

After gulping some Rice Pudding down I took an Ibuprofen for my slight niggling foot injury. Then it was off to do the easy section. Just 3 simple peaks and a 6 mile road run between me and my membership. So Mike, Bill (who had also done the previous leg with me) and Bracken the dog set off to complete the job. No problems completing the last 3 peaks and we met Mark and Ken at the road to switch to road running shoes. It felt like I had springs on my feet, and made for a comfy jog towards Keswick. As dusk settled in and I closed in on the town centre I reminisced about all the reconnoitre sessions I had done and how I had enjoyed them. I switched my brain back to reality just in time to focus on a short run up the main street. We were clapped and cheered by other support crews and drinkers for the final 50 metres. The Moot Hall was touched again 22 hours and 7 minutes after leaving it. I had done it! The joy is hard to put into words. But to say that the day was magical is not to overstate how I felt about it.

Some photos were taken. Then we spent a short while chatting to the mainly bemused general public. We then moved to one side to let another finisher enjoy their moment. Despite other team’s attempts to be the first finishers of the day, we in our ignorance of this fact were anyway! After a quick drink with Ken, Mark, Mike and Bill I decided that was enough for me for 1 day and went to bed. Luckily in the kings Head Hotel about 20 yards away. Thanks to everyone that made it such a special day.

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The Clougha Pike Fell race

16th June 2007
5 miles 1,750 ft

This is my local race, and as it is only a short drive, it was on I was keen on doing. Even my impending Bob Graham Round next weekend couldn’t deter me away. I had missed this race too many times not to give it a go.

I’m glad I did, it turned out to be my best performance in a race to date. I ran a good well timed effort and managed to overtake some on the final small decent and re-ascent near the end. Despite looking over my shoulder for the last mile I managed to hold on and finish 11th. Although this is only a local fell race, and for this reason, does not attract a stellar field like some of the classics and Lakes races, it was a good performance. It also gave my confidence a boost for the following weekends slightly longer run.

Support for Dave Aspdens Bob Graham Round Leg 3

9th June 2007

Dunmail - Wasdale 15 miles 7,500 ft

Then back via Stonethwaite - Dunmail 5.5 miles 2,000 ft

I was looking to recce parts of the BG as research for my attempt. So to be a part of the support for Dave's successful attempt was a very good experience.

Will joined me for the very early morning drive up to Dunmail Raise. Not early enough though as Dave and his support were ahead of schedule. Our 2:30 am arrival was 1/2 an hour too late. So we quickly got changed and scampered up Steel Fell. We decided to go straight in between Sergeant Man and High Raise and try and meet them on the way to Thunacr Knott.

As we arrived at Thunacr Knott we noticed a group on Harrison Stickle so we scampered over, only to discover it was in fact a father and son doing some rough camping. We waited on Harrison and in the gorgeous early morning light we took some photos, then noticed Dave and his team on their way towards us. This is a very long leg and is often a make or break leg for the round. Dave looked good and kept up a nice pace. The weather helped, and by the time we reached the enigma, that is Broad Stand, the team had decided dry rock meant they were to free climb it. The saving of time compared to the risk was deemed worth it. I was still going over this risk to reward in my head, and coming up with the answer that Foxes Tarn should be my route.

On arrival Will and I decided to have a look at it. Before I knew it I was through fat mans agony and climbing it. Will held my foot firm in the very small foot hold, so I didn't slip. It is without doubt the most exposed climbing I have done, 1 slip is almost certain death. But we all negotiated it safely. I felt incredibly relieved to have got it out of the way. We scrambled our way up the rest of Sca Fell then enjoyed the long descent down to Wasdale. Dave had a break here whilst Will and I negotiated our return to the car, with his support crew. We managed to get a lift as far as Stonethwaite, from here we filled up with water in the beck and headed up the valley in the ever increasing heat. We went via Greenup Edge back to Dunmail to complete a good days training, and it was a beautiful days running into the bargain.

Dave did a fantastic job and completed his round in 22:15.

Arant Haw

14th April 2007

5 miles 1,800 ft

This was a notable race as my parents joined me for the first; and to this date July 2008 (as I type this); the only time. The came to see what this fell running thing was all about.

They couldn't have picked a better day it was sunny and fairly warm. It certainly felt warm as we set off from The village hall, around Winder, and up onto Arant Haw. Their is a small descent off the left shoulder of Winder before the long climb around and onto the top of Arant Haw. The run off was very fast. I spent some of this time chatting to the winner of the junior race, before we spli on the slight rise onto Winder. Then there was only a sharp drop down off Winder to the hall and the finish. It is an excellent little race and definitely one of my favourites.

Recce of Bob Graham Round Leg 4 Wasdale to Honnister

7th March 2007

17 miles 8,000 ft

I started on a nice sunny day, by running from Honister Slate Quarry to Wasdale. This is about 6 miles and 1,600 ft extra to the leg itself. A bit of extra training. The day was cold to start of with but after running over the shoulder of Base brown and down to Sty head, It was already getting sunny and very warm. Unfortunately I wore too many clothes and only a bum bag, so I was heating up a fair bit by the time I reached Wasdale and the start of my recce of leg 4.

The climb up Yewbarrow is very steep, and not a line that walkers normally ascend by. So I new the pair in front were probably fell runners. I turned out to be correct, and after climbing then descending Yewbarrow I caught them on the ascent of Red Pike. They were doing a shorter recce ending at Great Gable, and so were moving fairly fast. It was good to have company, and someone to take a photo of me for a change. But as we approached Kirk fell I started to feel it. I was over heating and I could feel my heart beat in my shoulders, then the earth felt like it was moving. All classic signs of a "bonk". My energy levels had dropped below a critical point. By the time we reached the next peak Great Gable I could not keep up with them, I let them go and sat down to attempt to stretch the cramp out my legs.

The rest of the run was no fun. Even when I took a break on Green Gable and a nice lady took my photo, after I took hers, I still felt rough. You will probably be able to spot the photo without me indicating it. The rest of the leg is normally an easy run, over Brandreth then Grey Knotts then down to Honister. For me it was extremely tough. On the up I had cramps in my legs and on the downs I had stitches in my sides. Add to this the fact that I had run out of water, and you get an idea of the nightmare end I had, to what should have been a nice run.

Getting to the car meant water at last. When I finally sat in the car my legs cramped up excruciatingly for about 5 minutes. The drive back was awful too, I have never felt so ill after a run before. I think it was probably Heat stroke, brought on be dehydration. It was a really tough run but one which I will never forget, and I got some nice photos. Even if I do look rough on some of them.

The Ben Nevis Race

2nd Sept 2006
10 miles 4,400ft

In 1895 William Swan, a Fort William Hairdresser decided to run from the Post Office in the High Street up Ben Nevis and back. In doing this he inadvertently started what is now known as the Ben Nevis Race. Essentially the aim is simple, to run as fast as possible from Claggan park in Fort William, to the top of Britain’s Highest and rockiest mountain, and back. Since discovering Fell Running 2 years ago I have been intrigued by this race, and eager to discover for myself why this was once regarded as the toughest race in the world.

So I find myself parading with 377 other runners. We are following behind bagpipers for a lap of Claggan Park. One of the runners I am directly behind is Rob Jebb, something of a hero in English Fell Running, and this was (as I knew at the time) the last I would see of him for a while. As the Bag pipes stopped the nerves started to rise and we are told in a broad scotch accent “we’ve been lucky with the weather, it should be ok at the top. Right, ready, go”.

So off we set for another lap of the park, but running this time, then its 1 mile of flat road before starting up the mountain itself. I along with most others manage to run about quarter of the way up the 4406 feet peak. Then the gradient really ramps up and the ground becomes ever rockier, now it becomes hands on knees striding all the way to the summit plateau. I reach the summit, which is now shrouded in cloud, in 1 hour 31 minutes (the winner, Rob Jebb, has finished 2 minutes ago!). Now it is time for the really difficult part, the decent is notoriously tough, as I bitterly discover. My legs towards the bottom almost buckled under me as I shuffled my way agonisingly down the steep hillside, onto the 1 mile road which is also utter agony, and around the park with clenched teeth, to stagger over the line and lie on the ground. As I peer into the first aid tent and see all the cut legs and arms from falls, I realise that sore legs and a bruised ankle (from a flying rock that I probably kicked) is getting away with it pretty lightly. I will definitely do the Race again and maybe try to knock the 16 minutes off my finishing time of 2 hours 16. In doing this I will hopefully improve on finishing just above half way up the field. No medals or T-shirts were awarded but these weren’t needed the satisfaction of completing my first Ben Race was plenty.

The day after I ascended The Ben for the 2nd time. This time much slower and in worsening weather. My mobile phone certainly felt it, as it died due to being water logged. Never mind I needed a new one anyway.

The Kentmere Horseshoe Fell Race

16th July 2006

11 miles 3,500 ft

Mark Pickup Joined me to spectate at this one. It was a club race, and so attracted a few fellow Bowland Fell Runners.

It was a hot day and I found the race hard towards the end. It is a nice route with plenty of running. But the descent off Kentmere Pike is rough, deceptively long and tough. Still I held on and put in a real effort. I was proud of this performance. I finished 103 rd in 2 hours 7 mins. Well inside the top half of the field. This was the first race were I felt like I had made a good sustained effort throughout, and I learned a lot about middle - long distance fell races.

Skiddaw Fell Race

3rd July 2006

10 miles 2,700 ft

I enjoyed this race so much the previous year that I decided to do it again. I like the purity of the race, if not the terrain, which is very hard on the feet when descending. The idea of running to the top of a hill and back down as quick as possible is a simple idea. No doubt in those village fetes of many years ago this simple idea created what we know as Fell running today. This particular hill Skiddaw is 1 of the largest base to peak ascents in lake-land so it has its own special appeal.

The day was hot and made for a tough ascent, I struggled a bit more this year due to my lack of fitness. I made the top reasonably comfortably, but on the descent started to feel it, and actually had to stop running due to a stitch. I managed to get going again to finish in 1 hr 37 mins. 8 minutes slower than 2005 but due to either, a lower quality field, or hotter conditions, I finished 12 places higher in 39th.

Recce of Bob Graham Round leg 3 Dunmail Raise - Wasdale

27th June 2006

15 miles 6,500 ft

This is the longest and trickiest of all the legs on the Bob Graham round to Recce. It is difficult to make a loop out of it, as you can with all the others, without making it into a 10 hour day. So I planned to camp at Wasdale and get my father to give me a lift back to Dunmail Raise allowing me to run back over the route to our (Mark and Is) campsite at Wasdale.

My father and I dropped Mark off with the tents at Wasdale camp site, then my father dropped me off at Dunmail Raise, before he returned home. I was a bit nervous as I only had minimal knowledge of the route beyond Harrison Stickle.

The day was fairly easy for navigation with mainly high clouds. So I found the navigation pretty comfortable. I took the long route around Martcrag Moor. However I found it tough to pick the right line when I reached Bow Fell. I did however ascend on a fairly good line and never really struggled all the way to Broad stand. Here I chose to go via Lords Rake. The chock stone looming over head looking as if it could tumble down the thin steep gully was a bit scary. But not as scary as the free climbing I did out of lords rake after that. I chose the wrong route and instead of descending a bit beyond the chock stone, I headed straight up a gully. It scared me to a point of trying to climb back out of the corner I had backed myself into. I decided to calm myself and then make a real effort to carefully rock climb my way up and out. I made it. Just. when I got out into the open side of Sca Fell I looked up to the summit to my left and decided not to bother. My water was running out and I had just scared myself quite a lot, so I thought that I had done enough for 1 day.

I reached the campsite after washing myself in the stream. I felt much fresher but Mark thought I looked knackered. This was probably partly because of the way I staggered towards him, and the tents he had kindly erected, and flopped to the floor. I remember saying to him that I had underestimated the difficulty of the Bob Graham Round. Any of my previous thoughts of doing it later in the year were dismissed. I now knew it would be summer 2007 before I would attempt it.

Mark and I enjoyed the rest of the weekend, and on the next day we went via Highnose head up Kirk Fell then onto Great Gable and back to the camp via Sty Head.

The 3 Peaks Fell Race

30th April 2006

24 miles 4,500 ft

The 3 peaks is a classic fell race in terms of its history. But some would argue not in terms of its route and the type of ground covered. But no matter what you think of it being labeled as a Fell race it is a great running event. I enjoyed this as it is similar to a road marathon, with 3 hills to visit. They are Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.

As is traditional we started in a field in Horton In Ribblesdale and headed for the first peak. Half way up and the leaders were already flying down towards us on the same path. This would be the last we would see of them. I coped quite well with the distance, having done a few marathons, and only struggled a bit on the long run off Ingleborough to Horton In Ribblesdale. Given my injuries in the lead up to the race, and lack of training, I finished in a reasonable time of 4 hours 55 mins.

The North Face Ultra Trail Tour Du Mont Blanc

26-28th August 2005

98 miles 27,000 ft

This is Europe’s toughest foot race. It starts and finishes in Chamonix France, and circles the Mont-Blanc massif going through Italy and Switzerland.

So on a sunny August evening at 6.30pm on Friday I lined up with 1922 like-minded souls. A guy sat next to me, translated the half hour of French instruction into the weather is o.k. I was happy enough with that. The start was a blur of runners and spectators cheering, followed by scrambles for food at checkpoints. The light faded to dark and mountain pass after mountain pass followed until a huge decent into Courmayuer Italy, and the arrival of daylight. This marked the half way point and was a chance to change kit, treat blisters, and eat some of my own food. 40 minutes later and back to huge ups and downs (literal and mental), one being the rain, which would not relent until 5 am on Sunday.

Switzerland was dark and wet the only plus was the ¾ distance checkpoint in Champex oh and I met Niall whose company I enjoyed through a night of relentless hills and vivid hallucinations (mainly street scenes, rabbits, and dogs). The last part of the run was mentally tiring Niall and I spurred each other on. My toughest moments were dealing with a delay in hearing my own voice. This disturbed me for the final 4 hours. During which time we encountered Sir Ranulph Fiennes, as he passed us.

The finish line eventually came, a welcome scene of spectators clapping, and a chance to sit down. So after 38 hours and 31 minutes I was back in Chamonix more tired than I have ever been, but feeling stronger in every other way.

Borrowdale Fell Race

6th August 2005
17 miles 6,600 ft

My first long fell race. It is a true classic race, taking in a variety of terrain. I was also to prove a very tough one for me. It was a lot further than I had raced before and by the time I got to Great Gable I was barely able to keep moving. I would later on learn that this was a "bonk". I had run out of energy. From here I met Mark at Honnister whom had walked from Rosthwaite with some Lucozade to support my effort. I struggled up Dale Head and then whilst descending, I had painful stitches which made me walk, when I should have been flat out running. Never mind I still enjoyed it, even when I fell whilst crossing the river Derwent and ended up with an early bath. Well it cooled me off anyway. 4 hours 30 mins wasn't too bad for a first long race.

The West Highland Way Race 2004

26th June 2004
95 miles 14,000 ft

After walking the West highland way in 2003 I decided to have a go at the race. It was a natural escalation in challenges, from the half marathon then the marathon and eventually an ultra.

The race goes from Milngavie along the east side of Loch Lomond and on through the passes to Fort William. It is 95 miles long with about 14,000 feet of climbing.

As part of the organisers requirements, I had to arrange my own support. This has to be 2 people tracking and meeting me at certain locations in a car. I was very lucky that Alistair, my boss at work, offered to do this with Neil a friend of his.

The run went well, I remember feeling rough at the first checkpoint at Balmaha. But at 5 am this was fairly normal for me. The rest of the run was into a fairly strong head wind. At Rowadenan checkpoint, the Mountain rescue team were talking of possible snow fall on the last parts of the course. At Bridge of Orchy they issued mandatory bivvy bags, which weighed heavy when added to the rucksack. As I made my way over Ranoch Moore, I was glad of the thought of running the last 2 sections of the course from Kingshouse to Fort William with Alistair, I had started to feel lonely, even though their was a mass of people heading in the opposite way (doing the highland fling I think). Alistair joined me and at last I had someone to talk to. It was good to share the fact that my legs were sore, When I sprained my ankle whilst leaving Kinlochleven, he spurred me on. I felt tired as the night closed in but we made our way through the last bit of forest and dropped down towards the lights of Fort William. Neil urged us on in the car, and we ran the last bit to get in, just in front of a guy that had really closed us down. 11th in 22:35.33 was better than I thought I was capable of. It was a great experience, but the 6 weeks of recovery, for my ankle and may strained calf muscles was a heavy price to pay.