I’m typing this up on 4th October 2023, some 6 years after this attempt. I’m not sure if I ever did a write up for this so my memory of attempt will be vague in areas. Back in 2016 i’d entered and completed a race call “10 Peaks: The Lakes”, that was a serious undertaking for a ultra race some 45 miles and 16,000ft of climb involved. The route covered many parts of the Bob Graham Rounds route and also the same terrain throughout. Upon completing this well, it sowed the seed that with a little more training I could possible complete a Bob Graham Round.
I took a break from running throughout the summer, this was normal for me back then. I’d end my “running season” with around May-June and enjoy the summer, go on holiday, drink and be merry (also not train, put on weight and catch up on all I’ve “missed” on Netflix). By December I’d started to pick up my training and entered the race “Tour de Helvellyn”, a 40+ mile mountain race around Helvellyn. I’d also planned to catch up with some friends and ask if they’d support me on my Bob Graham Round (BGR) attempt.
The race was enjoyable at first, but the lack of training soon slowed me down and set the scene for a long day in the hills. My friends had agreed to support me on my BGR, but warned me that I needed to take it seriously, get my training in and ensure I knew the route inside and out. So in short that’s what I did, I’d already spoke to my wife about if I undertake this that she needed to be aware of the amount of training that would be involved and the weekend away.
All parties had agreed to support one way or another, although there was a few “disputes” when people’s birthdays came around and landed on my long run/hill training days (I never missed either, although there was some very, very early morning runs. To put into context my training that year I ran a little over 1,000 miles in the 6 months leading unto my attempt (the most mileage I’d done prior to that was 1,090 miles and that was for the full year). Needless to say, when the day of the attempt came around I felt I’d got enough training in.
Before the off!
We make our way to the Moot Hall in Keswick and I’m lucky enough to have Nicky Spinks supporting me on the first leg. I’d supported Nicky on here Joss Naylor Challenge, took photos and provided a very short clip for her Double BGR. Also alongside Nicky a good running friend and strong Triathlete James Gregory.
Leg 1 Keswick – Threkheld
A few pictures at the start and off we go, obviously had a little bit of adrenaline or excitement in my legs so we were moving a little ahead of schedule. Nicky mentioned I should slow down and try to take a little off my pace, I tried to heed the warning but felt good moving off of Skiddaw and continued on. Unbeknown to be at this point was Nicky was getting very hungry as she’d forgotten to pack her food and didn’t dare mention the fact. Up and down Great Calva, through the river and over the boggy Mungrisdale Common.
Blencathra was soon upon us and I worked well down Halls fell, it’s very treacherous in places although I’m confident on exposed ridges and paths. We drop into Threkheld well ahead of schedule and surprise the support crew a little. I thank Nicky and James, eat my beans on toast and off onto leg 2.
Leg 2 Threkheld – Dunmail
I was already aware the weather was coming in that evening and the clouds were already thickening of the hill. I was joined by Steve Wathall and Bevan Adams for Leg 2, Bevan would help on navigation although I’d recce the route a few times now. Heavy rain throughout this leg, slowed us down and I started to struggle to eat and probably let myself get a little cold. We lost the time I’d bagged earlier on and more over this leg, so as we came into Dunmail I was feeling a little deflated.
Leg 3 Dunmail – Wasdale
One change to the support crew here, Bevan stayed on and Ben XXXXX swapped with Steve. I think I must have changed and after some real food felt a little better and once up the first hill felt like I could push a little. At this point I picked up the pace and tried to claw back the time I’d lost, this was a fools game. I should have kept my pace and hoped to pick up a few minutes or maybe even 10 minutes over the entire 6 hr leg. I could feel myself getting a little tired, but also was constantly thinking about the time I’d lost and the fact I wasn’t pulling the time back.
The schedule and continuing on knowing the weather would be bad was my ultimate undoing. I’d chosen to use another friends schedule to aim for, when really I should have recorded the legs myself and used my own timings. My friends schedule had made the first 3 legs very ambitious as he believe if he could create more time for himself at the back end he would be able to get the job done. He said he always tires to the end so this would help, for me not knowing this and the fact there was time and a fair amount of it in the later legs might have made the difference.
Hindsight’s a wonderful thing, as we headed towards Bowfell I suddenly started to walk and said I’m done. The guys tried to rally round and get me moving, but I just sat on a rock and said we’re done. My memory is a little vague at this point, but we still had a go4-6 miles to go before I could properly jack it in as we needed to get to the other side of the Scafell range and to our support vehicles. The pressure was off and I think I made a few jokes, but thinking in the back of my mind that I’d let people down who’d travelled up to support me.
I arrived down off the hill sometime later and apologised to everyone, obviously no one was upset with me (or didn’t show it). I genuinely don’t believe other than letting people down that I was disappointed in myself. After ready the book “Feet in the Clouds”, I’d totally accepted the fact that this could take me several attempts to get it done. So lets get to the pub and have a meal and some beers. The guys who’d not had a chance to stretch their legs went for a run around the local hills and again my memory is a little vague but at some point we would have had some beers around the campfire.
A few laughs, sleep and everyone went their separate ways. I was back to work a few days later and almost put it aside for now, I wasn’t sure I’d get another attempt in 2018 as we were planning to start a family. Earlier in the year I’d joined some runners who’d travelled over from Northern Ireland with the view of attempting the BGR a similar time to me. Word had travelled of my unsuccessful attempt and worried the guys a little as they’d commented how strong and confident I’d looked.
The week after my attempt I’d received an email from their main support crew asking if i’d like to join them in the attempt as the 4th member was injured. All the support for the day was lined up, I just had to bring myself along. Now don’t get me wrong this is a hell of an offer, but to attempt two weeks after my first attempt with 40 mountainous miles in my legs might be a bit to much. After mulling it over, I agreed to join them with the caveat that I’ll start with them and if I can’t keep up I’ll not get in their way.
So here we go again, Friday soon come around and I make my way up to the Lakes again. The rest is in my next blog post found here: https://onestopultra.co.uk/index.php/2017/07/09/bob-graham-round-attempt-2-7th-8th-july-2017/
Author: Justin Bramall
Passionate about all things ultra running, from tackling epic distances to embracing adventurous challenges. I thrive on pushing limits, exploring new terrain, and sharing the grit and glory of the ultra world.
