On June 26th
Our friend Dave was attempting the Bob Graham round, so we decided to combine supporting him with a spot of wild camping. Leg 3 of the run starts on the main road just north of Thirlmere so we identified a likely looking spot on the map just a couple of miles away at Harrop Tarn and trekked the kids and the tents up to a knoll above the lake. Impressed by our tent some friends also bought the same model! Below is a short write up of Dave's Bob Graham attempt too!
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| A pre camp dip in Harrop Tarn |
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| On the knoll to catch the breeze |
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| Neil and Jane putting their tent up for the first time |
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| Tea time |
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| Perfection |
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| A tent with a view |
You may have wondered what has been going on in recent months as ‘Fast’ Dave Miller from the village was regularly seen slowly plodding his way up and down the local hills in stark contrast to his usual whirlwind approach. Regular winner of the 1st local in the village fell race Dave is known for his pre-run black pudding diet, and falling over lots, such is the discord between his immense leg strength and speed, and his laid back approach to life. Suffice to say there was reason for his new-found leisurely approach to running.
At 11pm on Friday 26th June Dave set off running, slowly, from Keswick, with neighbour Ed Richardson and university friend Mike Vogler, himself a BGR finisher 2008 and regular BGR supporter. The plan, to complete the Bob Graham round in 22 and a half hours.
The Bob Graham Round is a fell running challenge in the English Lake District. It is named after Bob Graham (1889–1966), a Keswick guest-house owner, who in June 1932 broke the Lakeland Fell record by traversing 42 fells within a 24-hour period.
The Round was first repeated, in a better time, in 1960 by Alan Heaton. Since then over 1900 individuals have completed the Round with the fastest time being 13hr 53m set by Billy Bland in 1982. The Lakeland 24 Hour record has also been improved with the current holder, Mark Hartell, successfully reaching 77 summits in the allotted time.
For most, Dave included, the only sensible approach to the round, is to take it slowly and run continuously for as long as it takes to complete, with no sleep, little stopping, friends and family for support, and a good dose of luck from the weather Gods.
The round is split into 5 legs, each defined by a road crossing affording support and a change-over of tired supporters. His wife Sarah and Tony Wallace from Edale Mountain Rescue, his wife Cath, 8lb baby Robert and two dogs watched the lights descend in the clear darkness to the first changeover at Threkheld. Dave was pretty chipper, even though Mike Vogler had to pull out due to a recent chest infection. After a couple of bacon butties, Tony joined the support crew and they set off to Clough Head. Shortly into this leg there was only Tony and Dave. Tony, who is pretty new to fell running did a sterling job of carrying gear, navigating, trying to make Dave eat and drink and note down all the times arrived at all the requisite summits. A baptism by fire for any new fell runner, but a heroic effort, and a great view of a cloud inversion over Grasmere as they both descended Fairfield and Seat Sandal to Dunmail Raise, the next changeover.
By the end of leg 2, 10 hours and 26 miles in, Dave was beginning to show signs of wear and tear having tricked his body into running through the night and picking up the pace in the daylight to try to gain lost time. He was joined for the long and remote leg 3, which tackles the likes of Bowfell, Scafell and Scafell Pike, by 3 more intrepid villagers, Mike Nolan (himself a BGR finisher in 2012), Neil Ireson, and Matt Heason. Neil and Matt had been roped in for their climbing experience, to chivvy Dave up a recognised shortcut onto England’s highest peak via the notorious Broad Stand, and by Mike for his skill with a map and compass as chief navigator. The three were to stick with Dave, carrying his food, water, and spare clothes, and making sure he ate, drank and looked after himself, for the duration of legs 3 and 4, a total of 28.5 miles to Honister Pass. At Broad Stand Neil and Matt rendezvoused with Dave’s Sarah and her mountain rescue friend Malcolm, to rope Dave up the awkward rock step, and over the summit in thick, wet mist, down to the remote and beautiful Wasdale. In the car park at the valley-foot was the support vehicle full of food, with Sophie Heason and Ayshea Furlong. Matt bandaged his swollen ankle, Neil readied his walking poles, and Dave popped some pain killers whilst Mike grabbed a few extra minutes of rest having descended from Broad Stand. Lucky he did, as he had to twice return to the car to retrieve forgotten food bags as the train chugged on up out of Wasdale accompanied now by the effervescent and fresh-legged Ayshea. 5 hours later Dave was delivered to the last change-over at Honister Pass, a different beast to the one who’d battled his demons through the night legs, and seriously considered quitting for much of the unrelenting leg 3. This was a happy spot with a mass of Grindleford children supporting and food a plenty. With the finish in sight, a mere 11 miles and 3 hours away he once more set off, this time dropping Mike, Neil and Matt, but accompanied by Sophie (who had driven a mighty 120 miles in support during the day) and her son Bryn, Jane Ireson and, back for more punishment, Ed from leg 1 and Tony from leg 2 who joined at Newlands Chapel. The weather window Dave had booked held for long enough to complete the last leg in glorious evening light, arriving into the bustling town of Keswick to kiss the monument at Moot Hall and lay to rest his lifetime ambition to complete the BGR. His time? 22 hours and 46 minutes. Dave has already thanked his supporters, none more so than wife Sarah, but I am sure would like to do so again publicly here. We’re proud of you Dave. Other folk in the village to have completed the challenge include Mike Nolan and Frank Galbraith. I am sure there are others past and future.
This week Dave went out for his first ‘fast’ run. Still aching a little, but already thinking of the Paddy Buckley...
