The Bob Graham Round is a trying long-distance hill running challenge, requiring the highest 42 fells in the Lake District (a total ascent of around 27,000ft) to be traversed in sub 24 hours. It’s the ultimate test of endurance, fitness and navigational skills. For one reason or another, only one in three people who start actually make it across the finish line…
We chatted to Joe on his first-hand experience of (successfully) running the Bob Graham Round.
This is one epic challenge. What drove you to do the Bob Graham Round to start with?
A passion for wild environments has always drawn me to the world of outdoor adventure. From an early age, holiday trips to the Lake District left me hooked on the unique blend of quaint villages and spectacular hills that attract so many like-minded people to the area.
Having heard about the Bob Graham Round (BGR) from my Uncle Mike (who completed it himself back in 2014) and learning its elaborate history, I knew this would be the perfect challenge to immerse myself in the Lakes fell running culture and become part of an exclusive community.
I was also joined by my cousin Charles, who always injected a sense of hilarity into any daunting situation, and his now brother-in-law James. Safety in numbers.
How did you prepare for doing the Bob Graham Round?
Naturally, the first stage of any present-day project is the founding of the WhatsApp group chat. With members consisting of family and friends, this was a space for ideas to circulate and dates and times to be confirmed – all under the scrutiny of the Aunties (my Mum and my Aunty Liz).
There’s no denying fitness plays a significant role in a successful attempt of the BGR. My training mostly consisted of long days out in the hills. It seems simple and I believe it is!
The main aim during training was to just spend as much time on my feet as possible and let this build on the endless hill-reps, track intervals and tempo runs I’d endured as a club athlete throughout my school years.
Another essential part of preparing for the BGR is knowing the route inside out. To help with this, I designed and created my own set of Top-Trump cards listing facts and stats about each of the 42 peaks involved. In the months leading up to the attempt I could list every one of those peaks in order along with the location of each checkpoint and the expected arrival times. There is no substitute, however, for getting out on the course itself and having a good nosy.
So, describe the run to us!
The Bob Graham Round is basically a circuit starting and finishing in Keswick. It’s 106 km (66 miles) of arduous mountain terrain and includes approximately 8,200m (27,000ft) of elevation gain.
For the three of us attempting the round, we gathered a motley support crew of about ten, including support runners, drivers, feeders, shoe changers and banner wavers. Who knew taking on an ultra-marathon could be such a luxury experience?
At 10pm on a Friday in April, we stood at the top of the steps of the Moot Hall with our hands touching the green double doors. With two support runners in tow (Andy and Chris), we set off through the narrow back lanes of Keswick towards the first peak: Skiddaw, our way through the night lit by Charles’ garish legging choice. This was the first leg of five – something we all knew but were trying our best to tune out.
The night was clear and therefore icy cold. From the top of Skiddaw we encountered shin-deep, powdery snow that hid the faint line we were attempting to follow through the heather.
Andy was the first to be caught out by the conditions after one unlucky step left him waist deep in a slush-filled trench. The river crossing a while later claimed the next victim.
By this point, the group had already split in two. Myself and Charles were about ten minutes ahead of James (arriving off a long-haul flight that day was understandably taking its toll).
Starting up the next hill, I heard a lowly wail and faint splash from a little way behind. This impromptu dunk in the river unfortunately spelled the end of James’ attempt.
He and Chris cautiously made their way off the hill with clothes frozen solid, calling it a night at checkpoint one.
Charles and I set off together on leg two at about 1am under the guidance of Al ‘God’ Shawcross. At first it seemed like we were moving at a snail’s pace, and heading up the first hill I became agitated. It felt like we were dropping valuable time. To my surprise, we hit the peak two minutes ahead of schedule. This was a defining moment for me, and the urgency of the pace settled into a reliable rhythm. From that point, I knew I would finish.
After breakfast at Dunmail Raise, we headed for the lengthy leg three. I moved ahead of Charles at this point to keep on schedule, with the support of Michael. Michael continued with me over the snow-capped Langdale pikes, through Wasdale and into leg four.
From Wasdale onwards I really had to grit my teeth. The relentless pace was starting to make the downhills uncomfortable and the uphills a chore. Little did we know, under Al’s watchful eye, Charles was pressing on behind us.
At this point, Michael and I hadn’t heard any news from Charles and we were concerned I would end up being the only one of us to make it past Honister. The mood changed however on the top of Steeple when a message alerted us that Charles had left Wasdale just fifteen minutes behind us. How the hell did he manage that!?
Looking back across the sunny peaks behind us we saw the two tiny figures of Charles and support runner Lewis picking their way down Red Pike.
Suddenly I felt spurred on, as if I was being chased. As leg four continued however, I felt more and more grim, but the finish line felt ever-closer. Great Gable had never looked bigger as the steep scree path wiggled its way up the Northwest edge. By now, solid food was difficult to swallow and my tastebuds were thoroughly bored with anything chocolatey or sweet. All my body desired was just to curl up on the ground and rest.
I made it to Honister ahead of schedule. With just leg five to go, it was just a case of getting up out of the chair and getting it done.
Fuelled by mango and flat Coke, I joined Chris from leg one for what turned out to be one of the best runs of my life.
The sun was setting as we made our way across the Derwent Fells and the heaviness in my legs was lifting.
From the top of Robinson, the final peak, I could see the Newlands Valley laid out before me and the lights of Keswick just beyond.
After four miles on the road, I reached the outskirts of the town just as darkness returned, reminding me of how I’d started this adventure almost a full day before. 22 hours and 42 minutes after it began, I touched those green doors of the Moot Hall again.
Charles finished an hour later in 23 hours and 41 minutes, a remarkable achievement given how tough he’d found the pace from early on. The divine intervention from Al in support allowed Charles to push through the punishment dealt by Scafell and arrive in Wasdale in a fit state to continue. From then on, Lewis and my Dad led Charles to Keswick as he sucked a melted Solero straight out of the wrapper.
Wow – what a story! What was your highlight?
A stand-out moment for me was arriving on the summit of Helvellyn. It was about 4am and, on reaching the summit cairn, we were greeted with a breath-taking cloud inversion. The thick cloud and springtime sun meant the dramatic, rocky features of the neighbouring hills appeared an eerie purple-black. It gave me serious Mordor vibes.
And what about your lows?
Luckily for me most of my lows came early on. The conditions of the first leg meant I had some serious doubts about whether it would actually be doable. I knew that the extra effort required both physically and mentally could use up essential energy reserves for later. The worry was that the rest of the route would be equally treacherous.
Also, the body’s natural drop in cortisol in the early hours of the morning left me drowsy and rundown. From previous experience though (mainly from the occasional late night on the tiles), I knew this wouldn’t last and as anticipated, I found a second wind just before coming into the first checkpoint.
How did you feel upon completing the Bob Graham Round?
The overwhelming feeling when touching that green door of Moot Hall was relief. Knowing that I didn’t need to run any longer was a weight off my shoulders.
I was amazed at how quickly my legs got wind of finishing. Just a few moments after they’d brought me steaming down the high street, they turned rapidly to jelly!
What two things could you have not done without and why?
The support team behind the attempt was indispensable. They ensured anything the runners had requested was at hand and that we were on schedule for an under 24-hour attempt. The support runners’ knowledge of the area became vital when mental fatigue set in and decision making and route-finding became challenging.
I also could not have done without the little camping chair waiting for me at each checkpoint. It was a simple goal to have in mind when the miles kept adding up. “just find the next chair,” I told myself.
Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?
There’s nothing in particular I would change about the day really. In a way it worked out better than I could have imagined. The only thing that comes to mind is that I could have taken a more direct line off Seat Sandal, but in the end it meant Charles and I set off on leg three together rather than splitting up earlier on.
What advice or tips would you give to someone interested in doing the Bob Graham Round?
For those wanting to attempt the Bob Graham Round, one tip I would give is don’t take it too seriously.
Don’t just use the challenge to get your name down on a list, but make sure you have a laugh in the process.
What me and my family remember most from the day are the funny and ridiculous things that made the adventure worthwhile. Charles’ topless sprint down the road to Keswick wearing rainbow tights, a £50 bet that he couldn’t eat a Christmas dinner sandwich at Wasdale without bringing it back up, the friendly rivalry between the most doting Mum’s at each checkpoint.
I believe it’s important to ensure the Bob Graham is a unique and personal experience for the individual.
Great advice! How has this adventure impacted you?
My attempt at the Bob Graham showed me that it’s all about the attitude towards challenges that determines the result. I wasn’t the fittest I’d ever been, but it was my immersion in the process that fuelled my enthusiasm for chasing what seemed an untouchable achievement.
What I planned to be a one-off adventure has left me with an eye for the Charlie Ramsay Round… Maybe next year?
All images are copyright of Joe Wheeler.
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Great story. It makes perfect sense to not forget about the fun, thinking about it. Also, interesting to see how much goes into such a feat in terms of logistics and preparation.