Build up
The Bob Graham Round had been etched in my mind for at least a decade before I finally decided to have a crack on 14 June 2024. After running with Tring Running Club for nearly four years and drawing inspiration from those around me, attempting the round seemed somewhat like a rite of passage.
After taking a few weeks off following the Country to Capital race in January, I began my training. My first recce of leg 4 in March was humbling; deep snow slowed me down significantly. Subsequent recces in April, covering legs 1, 2, and 5 in glorious weather, boosted my confidence. However, a series of nasty ankle injuries temporarily set back my otherwise positive training.
In May, a final long run partnering Ross across the Old Counties Tops Race helped me ease into June, feeling that the hay was mostly in the barn.
I arrived in Keswick on Thursday, planning to spend the night camping at Burns Farm before setting off on Friday. However, when the heavens opened, I hastily retreated to a cottage at the foot of Skiddaw. The rain fell fairly steadily and at times very heavily throughout Thursday and Friday, and though I tried to relax, I found myself refreshing weather forecasts every ten minutes. Finally, the news I had been hoping for came through: blue skies were expected from early Friday evening into the early hours of Saturday.
Leg 1
Support: Matt Wade, Tate Eldred, Matt Switzer
My wife and I drove to pick up Matt Wade and Tate before meeting Matt Switzer (Matt S) at the steps of the Moot Hall. It was 10:15 PM, and we had fifteen minutes to go. I wanted to chat and appear relaxed, but I was anxious and eager to start. At 10:29, I climbed the steps and looked down the street, picturing myself running back up the following evening. As the countdown began—5, 4, 3…—a boozed-up Scotland football fan ran up the steps and threw his arms around me. I humoured him for a couple of seconds before sidestepping him. And then, I was off on a 22 hour 50 minute schedule.
Matt guided us through town, gazing up towards Skiddaw under calm skies. I struggled to relax, but reassured myself it would come. Thirty minutes in, we crossed the Skiddaw car park, and running under my supporters’ torchlight to preserve my battery, I turned my troublesome ankle on something seemingly innocuous. I assured myself and those around me it was just a stinger and would pass, but by the time we reached the top of Skiddaw, the pain had intensified. Matt S provided the first of what would become a smorgasbord of painkillers. One peak down, 41 to go—10 minutes ahead of schedule.
We trudged across the bogs and up Great Calva without issues, happily discussing snacks and favourite animals. Traversing Mungrisdale Common and ascending Blencathra, I grew nervous about the descent, my Achilles’ heel. Matt was superb in setting a comfortable pace down Dodds, while Tate and Matt S slotted in behind, providing extra light.
We hit the road, and Matt and Matt S sped off to fill bottles. Tate and I glided down, arriving at Threlkeld to see my parents and the leg 2 support team, 15 minutes ahead of schedule.
Leg 2
Support, Rich Bedlow, Tom Raftery, Tom Crouch, Matt Wade
I inhaled a pot of rice pudding, grabbed a sausage roll, and said goodbye to Matt S and Tate before leaving Threlkeld with Rich, Tom Raftery, and Tom Crouch (Tom C) towards Clough Head under a light drizzle. Glancing back to see if Matt was catching up, I received a firm “don’t worry about him” from Rich—order obeyed. The climb was just as steep as I remembered, and halfway up, I had my first and only moment of doubt, thinking, “It’s 3 AM, and I should be in bed.” I took some caffeine and pushed the thought out of my mind. Matt caught up, and we all summited together.
We continued to Great Dodd and across to Watson’s, where I turned my ankle again, letting out a series of choice expletives. Tom kindly popped some painkillers in my mouth, and we pressed on. The rain was coming down hard now, so I put on my waterproof trousers.
The next couple of hours flew by with great camaraderie, and before I knew it, we were over Helvellyn and heading down Dollywagon, looking at some beautiful cloud inversions. At Grisedale Tarn, Matt left us to ‘enjoy’ Fairfield, and we continued, passing a group of earlier starters. We climbed over Seat Sandal and headed down to Dunmail, 25 minutes ahead of schedule.
I saw my wife, Yas, at the changeover, and that, combined with Matt spoon-feeding me mango, gave me a huge boost.
Leg 3
Support: Hugh Chatfield, Simon Barnett
Hugh, Simon and I powered up Steel Fell and from there the two of them were like truffle pigs for Lakeland lines. I was eating and drinking really well, climbing very well but my descending wasn’t great.
Despite the usual nerves about this leg, the weather mostly held out as we traversed the earlier fells and onto Bow fell and the high country. At Mickledore, Simon and Hugh kept a watchful eye, ensuring we crossed the West Wall Traverse ahead of anyone else. We ascended Lord’s Rake and hit the flat top, running towards the summit of Scafell. Down to Wasdale, carefully picking our way down the rocks, we then transitioned towards the scree descent.
At this point, Hugh remarked that I was descending “like a granny,” prompting Simon to give me a helpful lesson in scree skiing. Afterwards, I enjoyed a 100-meter slide on my backside down the grass—perhaps the only time I might have overtaken Hugh. We then bounced down to Wasdale, where we met my mum and dad and picked up Mark Shannon for leg 4. Thirty summits down, and we were 45 minutes ahead of schedule.
This leg flew by with great humour, and Simon and Hugh, like everyone else before them, were fantastic.
Leg 4
Support: Hugh Chatfield, Simon Barnett, Mark Shannon
We were in and out of Wasdale in under ten minutes, with my mum and dad expertly tending to the needs of three demanding runners. With Mark now in tandem—having driven up from Berkhamsted at 4 AM to support—we left the National Trust car park and began the slog up Yewbarrow with renewed energy and fresh conversation.
Unexpectedly, Yewbarrow posed no problems, but Red Pike took its toll as the rain started to come down steadily. Fortunately, the fresh support kept our spirits high, and Mark and I continued joking about which summit Pillar was.
Climbing Great Gable was perhaps the hardest part of the round for me. The pain in my ankle was now accompanied by severe knee pain, causing me to yelp when I misplaced my footing. At the top, I pleaded with my support team for ibuprofen. After demonstrating that my urine was satisfactorily clear, they granted my request.
45 minutes later, with the painkillers taking effect and a detailed lecture from Hugh on lichen, I descended to Honister, buzzing to see such a large entourage there to greet me. Thirty-nine summits down and 34 minutes ahead of schedule.
Leg 5
Support: Claire Shelley, Tom Raftery, Dad, Mark Shannon, Tom Crouch, Simon Barnett, Hugh Chatfield
Despite the rain, there was a fantastic buzz at Honister, with everyone turning up to see us come in. Rich, Matt S, and Tate had run the Buttermere Fell race, and Rich was treating himself to a tasty ale that looked quite appealing.
I was in and out of Honister in five minutes, feeling amazing (though probably looking worse for wear). As we continued up to Dalehead, Claire was great at reminding me to keep eating. There was some chat about how I had made it, but with my ankle in the state it was, I was hyper-aware that one more nasty turn could end it all.
It was great to have my dad with me on the final summit, Robinson. We had joked the day before that I had spent my childhood being dragged around mountains in the rain when I didn’t want to be on them.
Simon guided us down towards Newlands, and as we hit the valley floor, the adrenaline and emotion started to hit me. A quick change into road shoes, and Claire, Tom, Tom C, Mark, Dad, and I set off for the final road stretch. A glance down at my watch with about a mile to go made me realise I could get in under 22 hours if I put the hammer down a bit.
With the pencil museum in sight, I channelled the TRC Wednesday night Marshcroft Lane kick and pushed hard up the high street, arriving back at Moot Hall at 20:29 in a time of 21 hours 59 minutes.
Post Round
With the dust now starting to settle, I feel incredibly proud of the entire weekend. It’s not just about completing the round but also about the incredible sense of community from everyone who came to help and provided support during the build-up. It’s a truly a unique and special thing to be part of.
As people milled around, I chatted with a fellow contender who had finished the previous day on his third attempt, with just minutes to spare. He was visibly emotional about the whole experience, which in turn affected me, reminding me of just how much effort and dedication goes into these attempts.
In no particular order, thank you to Yas, my parents, Matt Wade, Matt Switzer, Tate, Rich, Tom Raftery, Tom Crouch, Hugh, Simon, Mark, and Claire. Also, thanks to Ross, who provided much support in the build-up.