Intro

I attempted the Round two weeks earlier (23/06/2017) and unfortunately had to abandon the attempt after a combination of too much time lost over Leg2 with terrible weather and unable to eat well enough to keep going.  This resulted in my attempt #1 ending at Bowfell (Ultimately 40 miles of Lakeland hills in my legs).

I had been fortunate enough to run/recce Leg 3 with some Newcastle AC Runners from Northern Ireland earlier in the year (Dale Mathers, Mark King, Stephen Wallace and Dominic McInerney).  They were planning to make their attempt just two weeks after mine and I hoped to have been fit enough to support at least one of the legs for them.  After they heard I’d been unsuccessful they very kindly offered me to join their round in the hope we could all make it round, as one of their original fourth team mate had picked up an injury and couldn’t join them.  This gave me a second chance and although worried it was too soon after my first attempt I had nothing to lose.

The day of the attempt came around quickly and thankfully some of my original support team were able to support alongside the Northern Irish Machine that had descended on Keswick.  Unlike on my first attempt I would have to carry some of my own food/clothes but could draw on the support to carry some water/food etc.  I tried to carry as much as I could to help the support as I know how hard it can be supporting one contender never mind four!! All in all everyone did a fantastic job ensuring everyone had what they needed when they needed it.

Last but definitely not least I need to make note of the Planning and organisation that went into this attempt, all made possible by Denise and Dale Mathers.  Over 20 people had been involved in the attempt supporting the four contenders.  A massive undertaking and one I fully appreciated from my point of view only having to organise a small team for my first attempt.  I know this is what the BGR is all about and I’d like to think I’ve made some friends from this experience and intend to carry on supporting contenders as long as I can.

Leg 1 Keswick – Threkheld

Nav: Dave Troman (Keswick AC) Support: Tim Kerr, Cahal Kielty, Patricia McKibbin (Newcastle AC)

The round started very much like my first attempt, very jovial and lots of good luck, handshakes, cuddles and greetings from new faces.  As we counted down from 5,4,3,2,1 the beep of GPS watches and stopwatches sounded with a quick thudding noise, I was in front and turned and heard lots of laughter but couldn’t work out what had happened.  I found out about 25 hours later and with the aid of a video, Dominic had turned to start and ran straight into the scaffolding currently erected at the Moot Hall.  Thankfully the scaffolding had foam around the upright poles to protect people that could have been a very short attempt if not for the foam.

We chatted about the weather on the way to Skiddaw as it was currently raining and Skiddaw’s top was covered in cloud, we all were hoping the weather predictions were correct and the rain would stop at around 18:00 and would clear up to hopefully be dry right through to when we expected to finish.  Skiddaw past quickly and slightly up on schedule, we pushed on to Great Calva with very soggy conditions underfoot.  As we headed down and back up toward Blencathra there was still a fair amount of cloud on the tops although looking back towards Great Calva it was very picturesque.

As we trudged up through the clag and up onto Blencathra our Navigator (Dave Troman) mentioned that if Hall’s Fell Ridge was still wet he wasn’t happy taking us down there and would prefer the Doddick ridge.  We all agreed Doddick Ridge would be the safer choice for all and as we were up on schedule it wouldn’t impact anything this early on in the Round.  It was my first time down the Doddick Ridge and although it was definitely much safer my quads started to let me know they had already done this a fortnight ago.

Once at the bottom it’s a pleasant run along the bottom of the ridges, down through the Farm and onto the road.  Dale Mathers was waiting for us on the road and ran with us to the car park just over the A66, while checking if everyone was ok and if anything specific was needed.  First Leg completed slightly up on schedule and everyone in good condition.  Charmian was there ready with Beans on Toast, while I scoffed them down Willy Kitchen caught my eye scoffing a large piece of pork pie.  I had to laugh and point it out, proper fell runner there! No gels or secret fuel for the job ahead haha.

Leg 2 Threkheld – Dunmail

Nav: Dave Troman (Keswick AC) Support: Willy Kitchen (Dark Peak), Willy Marks (Mourne Runners), Declan Faulkner (Co Tyrone), Justin Maxwell (East Coast Runners).

This was the leg I wasn’t looking forward to, a fortnight ago we’d had heavy clag covering the tops then rain and wind that nearly blew you off your feet in places.  Thankfully we had a little cloud cover in places but with the nearly full moon glowing like an extra torch in the sky it made it much easier to navigate.  We could see the moisture rising from the valleys below and sweeping over the top as we headed for Helvellyn, which is when I started to struggle to get food down again.  We’d been going at a steady pace but I just don’t think my body could cope with the slightly faster pace, wind chill and trying to eat food.  

This lasted for about an hour until thankfully Willy Kitchen (one of two of our Navigators) gave everyone a good talking to about being ahead of schedule and to just ease off a little.  We walked for probably only a few hundred metres but it just gave my body enough time to sort itself out I think.  I managed to get a gel down, banana and some cake, which was well received as we were heading down toward the climb for Fairfield by now.  I just got my head down and trudged up Fairfield and before I knew it we were heading back down.

I was looking forward to my hot rice pudding by now, so I forced a gel and a chocolate roll down and headed up to the Seat Sandal.  Everyone started to have a little chat and I think the thought of the upcoming road crossing and some warm food spurred everyone on. We came down steady and still up on schedule and I had a little sigh of relief that I still felt good and it would soon be light again.

Leg 3 Dunmail – Wasdale

Nav: Steve Wathall (Retford AC) Support: Dale Mathers (Mourne Runners), Ricky Hanna (Mourne Runners), Justin Maxwell (East Coast Runners).

Well-fed from the road crossing and joined by new supporters we said our goodbyes and started the short but sharp ascent up to Steel Fell.  Steve Wathall, one of the support runners to join us, was one of my earliest running friends, who had already completed the BGR several years ago.  We could have only been 50 metres up the hill and he suddenly cried out in pain grabbing his knee, but carried on to only cry out again this time I came back to him and checked he was ok.  He confessed to having some knee problems over the last couple of weeks but thought it was ok.  

I took my food bag off him and suggested he go back, he’s a stubborn git and said he would carry on and catch us up with the hope it just needed “warming up”.  By the time we had got to the top of the climb and heading across to Steel Fell and onto Calf Crag he had “warmed up” the knee and said it was fine now, he’s stubborn but tough as nails and I was glad to have him with us.  At the top of Calf Crag Mark had been sick and I was a little concerned about him but it didn’t slow him down that much as we headed towards Sergeant Man.

Not sure if keeping an eye on Steve and Mark or the fact I’d noticed some of the other contenders had started to get a little quiet,  but time was passing comfortably.  I was eating well and feeling strong as we approached the Langdales and more importantly Bowfell where I’d abandoned my first attempt a fortnight ago.  “Be nice to get to Wasdale” I thought the next few hills passed quickly and even Bowfell didn’t feel that bad although everyone was quiet after Bowfell.  Heads down and trudge on, as the sun rose higher I felt better and could get more food down and even enjoyed a bag of mini cheddars.

As we headed away from Esk Pike Stephen (one of the contenders), slowed down and looked a little spaced out.  Steve (support) dropped back and stayed with him to check he was ok, later on I found out he had started to fall asleep walking.  We topped Great End and as we turned toward Ill crag Stephen was still heading up to the cairn, Dale walked over and gave him a Gel.  Shortly after this Stephen was like a new man, it was like he had just had a full 8 hours sleep “must have been a super gel” we joked.  

The rest of the tops for me were pretty painless until we got to the west wall traverse, the scree was annoying me and I tried to chat about the big slab that had now dropped to make the climb pass quicker.  We were soon topping Sca Fell and started our descent toward the national trust car park, my quads started to cry again and I had to go steady on the way down to ease the pain.  I came into the car park a minute behind the other guys after having a dip in the stream and was glad to have a seat for a while. Leg 3 over and still felt I had some left to give.

Leg 4 Wasdale – Honister

Nav: Steve Wathall (Retford AC) Support: Dale Mathers (Mourne Runners), Ricky Hanna (Mourne Runners), Willy Marks (Mourne Runners).

I was still trying to sort my food out and the other guys had started to head out, in the rush I forgot a couple of Bananas, which didn’t make a difference in the scheme of things but still played on my mind for most of Leg 4 for some reason.  Thankfully Steve had decided to continue with me on leg 4, as the Irish guys were about 3 minutes ahead of me for most of the Leg from Yewbarrow.  From Yewbarrow all the way to Honister it was just a trudge with a few 10 seconds rest on some of the climbs, with the occasional comment about if we thought the Wasdale Fell Race would catch us up or not before we topped Great Gable.

There were a few people up and around Great Gable which was a nice distraction from the quiet we’d had for most of the way round.  Probably my tired mind but I insisted on a cairn route off Great Gable which was the one that curls around to the Tarn.  This caused us to have to contour to the left and onto the proper rocky descent, a few yelps from Steve as the climbing down the rocks was aggravating his knee again.  I worried about him but at the same time hoped he could make it at least to Grey Knotts without any serious issues.

Grey Knotts Topped “thank god for that” I thought to myself, I’d finally worked out in my confused state that I had enough time to get this done “well I hoped”.  We dropped down to Honister with Steve going slightly ahead to put an order of coffee in for me with Charmian.  As I got in I could see the other 3 contenders already starting their climb to Dale Head and thought I best not hang about too much here.

Leg 5 Honister – Keswick

Nav: Max Howard (Retford AC).

Quick emptying of stones, no time for new socks and ate what I could.  The Irish road support kept offering me all sorts of food, which I promptly said no to all of them “Slice of Ham, who wants Ham after 20 hours of running I thought”.  I was on a strict diet at this point of banana, fruit pots, pulped fruit and gels gels gels!  Max Howard joined me for Leg 5 with a very good energy about him, he was cracking the whip from the start and a bit trigger happy with the water and food prompts but nonetheless his energy gave me energy.

I felt like I was going backwards up Dale Head, but other than maybe once (or maybe twice) I didn’t stop.  We made good time to the top, maybe slightly off schedule but I’d have a little time spare if I just kept moving.  Hindscarth came and went quickly and the gradient was kind to the quads and knees.  We decided to take the more prominent path up to Robinson, at this point I wasn’t arguing with any suggestions that included “it always feels easier” in them.  

As we approached Robinson a few walkers with a dog were on their way up as well, we said afternoon etc.   I had to chuckle as the dog was very playful and I know Max hates dogs after he’d been bitten while out running once, it just wanted to be played with but Max wasn’t having any of it and I didn’t have the energy to even offer a hand out to lick.  Then Robinson could be seen and I soon touched the rocks on top.  I’d always said if I’d got plenty of time I’d like to just stand and take in the view and maybe take a few proud breaths in knowing it was in my grasp at that point (hopefully).  I didn’t even look up, I just trudged on towards the ridge and just wanted to be at the bottom already.

I’d recced Leg 5 only once before and Max had taken his job very seriously and recced it several times.  I was dreading some of the dodgy rock sections coming up. I just didn’t feel I had the energy for it, but Max had a few final tricks up his sleeve.  Wendy Dodds knows Steve, Max and Charmian well and had told them some years ago about a switchback on the side of the ridge which avoided the rocks in places and was a grassy trod.  Max found it and avoided the rocky section I wasn’t looking forward to and we were quickly at the top of the grassy slope that takes you down to just below the tarn.

Eureka! No more climbing! No more descending!  Just this track and the road to go easy as I thought.  I was hoping I could run all the way down the track now, my body and legs had another plan.  Every time I started to get into a consistent run my legs started to get tight and feel ready to cramp, which resulted in a run walk, run walk, run walk…… Eventually the road was upon us, I wanted fresh socks, road shoes, Lucozade, water and off we went down the road.  This was the first time I’d changed my socks the whole way around and with my road shoes on it felt like I had two pillows strapped to my feet!

This is brilliant I thought, just run in all the way now.  I got a little quicker and the cars and vans passed me to head into Keswick to meet us at the Moot Hall, I was flying!  Well until my body told me it’s time to walk again, this persisted all the way to the end.  I couldn’t stop checking my watch and I kept noting the road signs, 3 miles to Keswick, 2 ¾ miles to Keswick…… 

Right I remember this bit, over the footbridge, onto the road, turn right and the Moot Hall is 400 metres down the road….. What is this limestone path!!…. It goes on forever!! Argh got to walk again, 25 minutes left to complete…… running again, turn left, turn right onto a road bridge and there it was the Market was on and I knew that I was there, less than 20 minutes to go, I started to run again and told myself I wasn’t going to walk into the finish, across the roundabout, dodge every shopper and his dog, the cheering started and clapping as I ran up the stairs and touched the doors. Done and DONE!! 23hours 44minutes and 25seconds to be precise.

Well done. I think success is sweeter after a previous failure. – Roger Baumeister

I’d never thought this was in reach for a long time and even more so after my first attempt, I’d trained hard for other races but the last 7 months was like nothing I’d ever done.  100% committed to the challenge, I’d neglected many things and people over the months up to this day.  Some had signed up for that with me (my wife and close running friends) others were just collateral damage, but this was just something I had to get done.  The words “it’s there to be done” came up many times when discussing with other fell runners and BGR finishers alike.

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again this all wouldn’t have been possible without the support from both the Irish contenders and the Irish support teams throughout the Round.  I hope you enjoyed this account of my round, I’m not one for writing/typing lots about my adventures.  I’ll keep a copy of this close and maybe read it from time to time to remind myself of what I let myself in for before I even think about doing something like this again.

I’ve included the link below to the Northern Irish guys post on their club site which has their account of the round and a few more pictures of the trio at work. These guys are a bit like the three amigos, I can only imagine the trouble they have gotten into in the past.

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.