The Bob Graham Round

Last year one of my training partners decided that midsummer would be the perfect time of year to tackle the Bob Graham Round! This is a run around the lake district taking in 42 peaks and 74 miles in 24 hours. The round was first conquered by Bob Graham in 1932. Midsummer is the obvious time to do it so that running in the dark is kept to a minimum. My training partner did it and has inspired several more to follow in his and Bob Graham's tracks! The latest attempt and success was by Paul this weekend. Below is his Bob Graham report:

I read the book “Feet in The Clouds” by Richard Askwith and thought WOW! (like many people) and how amazing it would be to accomplish that sort of feat. Then a few months later Steve decided to do it. I was really up for getting involved, and subsequently helped on leg 2. I was blown away by the scale of the task. I was aware that many of us involved didn’t really understand the magnitude of what he was attempting, Steve included. I knew I wanted to attempt it, and managing to complete the Bullock Smithy and the High Peak 40, I felt that it was, maybe, within my capability to take it on.

Anyway a few months later it was on the calendar! Fortunately the organisation is so time consuming it took my mind off what I was actually doing to an extent. The fact is I should have done more recces and I should have trained harder. I was under mileage and under prepared. On the plus side I was rested, injury free, my core was strong and I was raring to get going. So the day arrived and I went to work on a normal Friday knowing I would be setting off at 6.45pm on a stupid quest! Very surreal, really. I arrived at the campsite and met the other 6 contenders. A bunch of fellow nutters, basically. I felt better that it was not just me. I felt like an imposter, I am not a fell runner, but at least I knew what was coming for part of it. Was that good or bad? I am undecided, still.

Here I was, at Moot Hall, ready for the off with Paul S and Andy and away we went. Skiddaw the first ascent was gradual and easy, I felt relaxed and ready for anything. Paul and Andy were brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. I just wanted this one out of the way before the night leg. I flew down the Blencathra descent and just loved it.

Leg two: headtorches and darkness. I felt good all the way but was still aware this is was just the start. In my mind, Steel fell at the start of leg three is the beginning, so I stayed focussed and enjoyed Neil and Gavin's company. Neil was so full of energy and enjoying every minute, helpful and buzzing. Gavin wasn’t quite sure what to make of it all as I Neil and myself weren't last year! Both guys spurred me on every step of the way. I was 'chomping at the bit' and even though they were charged with holding me back, I think they wanted to bomb ahead too! My head torch started to fade badly at the start of the descent off Seat Sandal so I was lucky to keep my footing and get down without incident.

Leg Three: I knew that this was a new experience for both James C and James S, but confident they were going to enjoy it and would breeze it. I was right, of course. I don’t like the ascent of Steel Fell and wanted to get it out of the way. I had recced most of the leg with Paul, so knew what was ahead up to Lords Rake. I got cold at the start and felt a little flat. But the views as dawn spread across the lakes were just sublime and I soon picked up.James S offered to buy me a new rucksack cos he thought he’d broken the buckle. I couldn’t believe it! I drag him up a mountain to feed and help me and he feels bad about a buckle? James C christened it “Broken Buckle Mountain”.

The guys kept me going well and James N stayed with me every step of the way. JMC let adrenaline and his boyish enthusiasm take over as he scaled Lords Rake and Scafel Pike in record time, before descending like Kenny Stuart [Kenny Stuart dominated fell running in the 1980s] into Wasdale (I think he had a train to catch). He was going so fast he didn’t even see fell running legend Joss Naylor, who set Bob Graham records in 1971 and 1972 waiting at the gate! It was great to see he was clearly loving it. (next year James?)

By this time I was beginning to feel weary and actually apprehensive about the ascent out of Wasdale which I had not done but knew was pretty arduous. I was staring to feel fatigue and soreness in my quads. I had expected this after previous marathons and ultras. Lots of Ibruprofen helped.

Leg 4: I really enjoyed most of leg 4 once we’d got up Yewbarrow and we were still ahead of schedule I was certain I could keep going if my body held up. I kept telling myself that the pain wouldn’t last and I didn’t look up or down when I was climbing, I just focussed on the moment and stayed as calm as I could. Daz and Lee made it into a brilliant experience. Daz seemed to know every step and both guys kept me going and in good spirits. It was great. Considering everything, I was just glad to be ahead of schedule and in such good company in a beautiful place doing an epic (by my standards) deed. Joy, of a bizarre sort. The only bad thing was, by now, I was descending like a grandad with agonising quads.

Leg 5: I was glad Lee was staying with me and it was fantastic to get Andy back on board. I was releived the end was in sight. I kept telling myself that 3 hours was not long. Once the first climb was out of the way I felt as good as I could expect to and eagerly headed toward the final peak and got there well up on schedule and felt brilliant. Unfortunately the hardest bit was ahead of me! I wont dwell on the negative stuff, but the descent was agonisingly slow because my legs were wrecked and then we went wrong on the road section! I was not bothered about time at any point but sub 23 would have been a small bonus. In truth though I just wanted to FINISH. Lee and Andy could see how distraught and exhausted I was by this needless detour, but th fact is, I could have lost far more time in fog (clagg) or at any point so who cares? It was an agonising couple of dreary road miles and eventually a little trot to Moot Hall. The support, camaraderie, and everything else, make it something I will never forget and always be able to say I have done. I can’t wait to help someone else to do the same. I was so exhausted afterwards, it is only now, as I write this that it is sinking in.