Bob Graham - The End (at last!)

We kept to the side of the rocky path and instead used the grass to get up Green Gable. From there the running was good. Soft vegetation had replaced the rockiness of the higher fells, and feet seemed to breathe a sigh of relief with the new comfort. I was surprised how comfortable my feet were. The only sensation of a small blister was on my right heel. The zinc oxide tape had clearly done its trick (thanks, Westie). With my feet having felt ok for the entire run I hadn’t dare adjust my shoes or change my socks at any checkpoint. I didn’t want to upset things.

Running and chatting to the top of Brandreth and Grey Knotts was a joy, and the mood amongst the group was wonderful. A couple of Dallam runners sped ahead to cheer Martin and I to the summit of every remaining peak. Jokes abounded during the steep but pleasant descent to Honister slate mine. As soon as we plunged over a crest and became visible from the car park below, a cacophony of cow bells and cheering rang out. This was from the Dallam Juniors, and I could also hear a youthful chant of, “Martin…Martin…Martin…”

I turned to him and said, “Have you become a member of Take That or something?”

The slate mine car park was very busy, and I couldn’t see MrsRTS’ car. I was invited to join the Dallam team for a snack, but explained that I was looking for my crew. A short wander to a different car park proved fruitful, and I found MrsRTS, with Vin and Adam, both of whom were dressed ready to run. Amusingly, Vin was wearing hiking boots and had a somewhat worried look in his eye. Adam looked simply exhausted.

Five minutes later we were ready to go, and were waiting for Martin and his substituted crew to reappear. It was around 2:00pm. We had been running for twenty hours, but had a luxurious four more hours in which to cover the final ten miles. The sun shone kindly, but a gentle breeze kept the temperature pleasant. Martin’s entourage for the climb up Dale Head was massive. He had four or five pace runners plus a group of Dallam juniors, who were noisy and encouraging. Vin, Adam and I joined them and we headed upwards and Northwards.

Half way up Dale Head, the juniors gave out a final cheer and turned back to return to the car park. The rest of us continued upwards. Barring a freak accident, the BG round was now ‘in the bag’. Martin and I shook hands at the top, and again on the summit of Hindscarth. We hi-fived next to the cairn on top of Robinson. All 42 peaks were conquered, now it really was all downhill.

Everyone survived the last steep descent to the valley bottom, even Vin, thanks to his hiking boots.

But elsewhere things weren’t going quite to plan. Daft B had been the last man off the high fells after seeing me away from Great Gable. He was heading down to Seathwaite, where MrsRTS would pick him up after leaving the slate mine. She drove to the pick-up point, but Daft B was not there. She cruised around the lanes looking for him, but to no avail. A crackly phone call came through to me, saying, “I can’t find him….” But before I could speak the signal disappeared.

MrsRTS was panicking, unsure whether she was looking in the correct place or whether Daft B was lost. She was also worried that she would miss us runners when we came off the fells at the tiny hamlet of New Town as she wanted to run the 10k road section back to Keswick with us.

On her third trip to the pick-up point she finally found DaftB. It had simply taken him that long to get off the mountain. They rushed to New Town to find it quiet. Now they were concerned that we were ahead of them on the road and they wouldn’t see me finish. They sped back to Keswick and raced to the Moot Hall. The Saturday afternoon market was busily in full swing, but there were no runners around. Confused, she rang again.

Whilst it had taken Daft B a long time to get off the mountain, we had also been taking it easy on the last leg. With plenty of time in hand it seemed foolish to rush. The two of them had got to New Town, and promptly left, before we had got there.

Mrs RTS’ call came through as an army of Dallam runners, plus Adam and Vin and myself began the road running, but the signal was still intermittent. I asked Vin to stay where the signal was strong and phone to explain to her that Bondy would collect her from Keswick and take her to Portinscale to run the final mile with me. In my tired state this was all a bit too much thinking for comfort, but thankfully the plan was coherent.

Meanwhile, the happy bunch of runners were closing in on Keswick, and picking up speed. I noticed that Vin was still missing following the phone call, and asked Adam to drop back to ensure he didn’t get lost. The pair eventually made it back to the group, but not without having to run fast to catch up. Vin was untroubled by sub 7-minute mile pace in hiking boots.

Approaching Portinscale we were storming. The group numbered around 20 runners, which increased by one more as MrsRTS joined the procession. Again I was emotional to see her. She ran alongside me, which was fantastic.

Adrenalin was pumping fast as we entered the outskirts of Keswick. The town and market square were still bustling, and the roads busy, but nothing was going to stop our victorious invasion. The cowbells clanked loudly ahead of us, and there was a lot of cheering and shouting. A couple of runners kept speeding ahead and going on traffic duty, stopping cars so we could run straight across junctions and over roundabouts. One of the lead pacers shouted, “Up the left side of the square”, and we headed to that side.

Martin and I were ushered to the front of the bunch. Only a couple of blockers ran ahead, clearing a way and ensuring pedestrians stood back. I have no idea what pace we were running, but it was very fast. A few people had dropped off the back, and Mrs RTS was struggling to keep up, but she gave it all she had got. It is amazing that the brain can switch off all pain and find more strength when it knows the end is near. At the last moment the blockers moved aside and Martin and I slammed our hands into the Moot Hall doors together, at 5:05pm. We had done it, with nearly an hour to spare.

Then the emotions hit hard. All team RTS were standing there, as were the entire Dallam team that had played their part through the previous 24 hours. And many other people joined the crowd as spectators. There were cheers and clapping, and a lot of hugs and back slapping. I was choked; eyes streaming, unable to speak properly. At times like these all the physical effort, mental effort, camaraderie, shared suffering, reccie endeavours, isolation and togetherness, fear and nervousness, planning and mishaps all come together and boil over into moments so fantastic that it is hard to describe. Even Daft B, not the most outwardly emotional of people admits to having had ‘some dust blow into his eyes’ whilst standing there.

When people ask us “Why do you do it?” this is why!

Tears are no shame. We may pretend to be tough, and attempt tough things, but scratch the surface and we are like marshmallow.

Team Respect The Stupidity – does what it says on the can!

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As the scene began to calm down Andrew McCracken came over to me and said that Dallam had been keeping an eye out for me since Vin dropped out at Threlkeld. They had been watching, sometimes from afar. He gave me names of their team members who would verify every one of my summits in every leg. (I guess that explains some of the distant lights I kept seeing during the night) My BG round could be officially recognised. I was very grateful.

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As a final word on the Bob Graham, before I leave the subject (At last, I hear you cry!) I would like to say a massive thanks to Dallam running club. I can honestly say I have never met such an inspirational and helpful bunch of runners (apart from my own team). Inspired by their ethos, last week I posted my Dallam membership application. They are far from local to me (so I shan’t feel guilty about never making club nights) but they have the right spirit, and I know I’ll see them in the mountains again soon.

Finally, finally, here’s a list of the mountains in the Bob Graham Round, in clockwise order. (Click on the name for images):

            Start - Keswick

            Threlkeld Check point

            Dunmail Raise Check point

            Wasdale Check Point

            Honister Check Point

            Finish – Keswick

J

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