A Bit of Bob Graham

My running has been somewhat sporadic but ever present and at times magnificent.

Yesterday was just such a run. Challenging physically. The weather gave sunshine and showers so I kitted up with a warm layer as well as a shower top. Given I'd had problems staying hydrated on runs over 3 hours I'd glugged a litre of water before setting off. Further, Ebay had delivered a new toy that morning - a water bottle with built in filter; I'd be free to drink from any source I found on the fells.

Aquapure Traveller

My intention was to recce the 2nd clockwise section of the Bob Graham Round. Starting at Threlkeld taking in the Dodds, Hellvellyn, Fairfield before dropping down to Dunmail Raise.

I drove to a lay-by at Dunmail, dumped the car and hitched a lift to Threlkeld. I had little trouble navigating apart from climbing the flank of Clough Head instead of hitting the shoulder...I won't do that again. The only other ommission being Watson Dodd which I'd mistaken for Little Dodd. That won't happen again either.

On Clough Head, looking back to Skiddaw

So, not much to report really. This was a fairly routine stretch. I'd maintained about 3 miles an hour for the most part despite taking more breaks than usual for a BG run. Mechanically, my body seems to be in great shape - no tightnness in calves, no discomfort in the achilles and no ITB issues. The only thing to say is that I do struggle to go through 6 hours, mentally and physically. This is clearly a number of things; the obvious lack of training up to and beyond this distance is staring me in the face but there's the aspect of hydration and nutrition to work on.

Head in the Clouds

The lasting memory is having to drop from 800m to 535m , to then climb Fairfield (873m) only to have to return on the same track to get over Seat Sandal ... Jeeze - a soul destroying out and back with 1000ft of ascent - I thank you Bob Graham for that inclusion!

The descent from Seat Sandal needs another look. I dropped quickly to 450m on steep grassy slopes where I encountered chest-high bracken; not ideal. I decided not to continue with blind footing on such steep rocky ground and headed for a beck which cut through the foliage and seemed to offer an easier way of the fell. It may have been an error, I probably lost half an hour while slip-sliding down the racing stream.

Finally, just before the road I stopped the watch and stripped off to sit in the cool refreshing water. There's nothing that better aids leg recovery than sitting in cold water.

I write this the morning after and am happy to report all to be well after getting plenty of nutrients in as well as redressing the dehydration. I recall thinking at the end how I could envisage running another step but now, with the rose-tinted specs on, I'm contemplating a 'double' in the near future.

Striding Edge, leading up to Helvellyn