Bob Graham Recce

The last 2 weekends has seen me travelling up to Cumbria to join fellow Helm Hill Runners club member Martin Spooner in his preparations for his Bob Graham Round attempt scheduled for 2nd - 3rd June 2012. http://www.justgiving.com/Martin-Spooner   

Martin approaching Seat Sandal on recce of leg 2 

Back in March Martin posted a thread on the HHR forum for anyone that could assist him with his challenge so being a new member of the club I thought it would be a great way of getting to know some other members too, so i offered to be a pacer for him also I have had a desire to have a go at the BG myself since 2007. For those that do not know about the Bob Graham Challenge it starts and finishes from Moot Hall in Keswick town centre and the route covers 42 peaks, 26.000ft of climbing, and approx 66 miles all to be done in under 24 hours in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction which was first achieved by Bob Graham himself in 1932. The route is split into 5 sections and  takes in some of the classic Lakeland fells such as Skiddaw, Hevellyn, Bowfell, Scafell Pike, Pillar and Great Gable to name a few.The first weekend saw us recce leg 3 which takes in 15 of the 42 peaks and starts from Dunmail Raise and finishes at Wasdale we decided to do an out and back Recce as far as Esk Pike taking in 10 of the peaks including Bowfell, the weather was kind to us with only a few light wintry shows, in total we were out for just over 6hrs and covered approx 21 miles. This Saturday I met up with Martin again and another BG challenger Andy at Threlkeld for a recce of leg 2. Both had already set off earlier in the morning and  done leg 1. This section starts at Threlkeld and finishes at Dunmail Raise with 12 summits to take in, the highest been Helvellyn. The first one is a steep climb to the top of Clough Head, once you are up on the tops the climbs are not too severe until you have gone past Dollywaggon Pike and dropped down the other side the route we took was following the old fence line then around Grisedale Tarn where you are faced with a very steep climb to the top of Fairfield, then if that is not enough after descending back down Fairfield the way you came up there is a tough little climb to the top of Seat Sandal before dropping off down to Dunmail Raise for the end of leg 2. Needless to say after Saturdays recce Sunday was a rest day from training but on Monday night I went out for a run over Grassington moor for 60 minutes taking in Capple stone gate, stroll on next BG recce.