Jonathan Bradshaw's BG 30th/31st August

[turnip99]

I've finally got myself sorted to have a go at the Bob Graham this year.

I'm planning on a clockwise attempt starting 6pm on 30th August. I have illusions of a 21 hour round but I'll probably be happy in the end just to limp round.

I'd be hugely grateful to anyone who would be willing to support me on the run. I'm sure the weather we be wonderful and the night perfect for running under the stars.

Please give me a call or drop me a line if you can help out.

Many thanks,

Jonathan Bradshaw
07973 503848
jonathan-bradshaw@hotmail.co.uk

[Julian Brown]

Good Luck Jonathan !!!

There may not be quite as many club members about as usual on the weekend you have chosen, as a goodly number of us are off to Chamonix for the various Mont Blanc events. Others I think are off to Italy for a bit of climbing around that time.

Also there may be considerably fewer pacers who can keep up with you on a 21hr round !!

Feel free to send me a schedule and I can put it on the web.

[turnip99]

Here's the schedule I'd be looking to follow - prorate this is I decide to go to someother schedule than 21 hour


21 hour schedule
Leg time(mins) Cumulative Time(BST)
MOOT HALL 0 00:00:00 18:00:00
SKIDDAW 78 01:17:00 19:17:00
GREAT CALVE 47 02:03:00 20:03:00
BLENCATHRA 64 03:06:00 21:06:00
THRELKELD 28 03:34:00 21:34:00
REST 5 03:38:00 21:38:00
CLOUGH HEAD 54 04:31:00 22:31:00
GREAT DODD 27 04:58:00 22:58:00
WATSON DODD 8 05:06:00 23:06:00
STYBARROW DODD 8 05:14:00 23:14:00
RAISE 16 05:30:00 23:30:00
WHITESIDE 7 05:37:00 23:37:00
LOWMAN 12 05:48:00 23:48:00
HELVELLYN 9 05:57:00 23:57:00
NETHERMOST PIKE 9 06:06:00 00:06:00
DOLLYWAGON PIKE 11 06:16:00 00:16:00
FAIRFIELD 35 06:50:00 00:50:00
SEAT-SANDAL 32 07:21:00 01:21:00
DUNMAIL RAISE 14 07:34:00 01:34:00
REST 14 07:47:00 01:47:00
STEEL FELL 23 08:09:00 02:09:00
CALF CRAG 18 08:27:00 02:27:00
HIGH RAISE 32 08:58:00 02:58:00
SERGEANT MAN 8 09:06:00 03:06:00
THUNACAR KNOTT 14 09:19:00 03:19:00
HARRISON STICKL 9 09:28:00 03:28:00
PIKE O' STICKLE 11 09:38:00 03:38:00
ROSSETT CRAG 41 10:19:00 04:19:00
BOWFELL 32 10:50:00 04:50:00
ESK PIKE 23 11:12:00 05:12:00
GREAT END 23 11:34:00 05:34:00
ILL CRAG 14 11:47:00 05:47:00
BROAD CRAG 9 11:56:00 05:56:00
SCAFELL PIKE 11 12:06:00 06:06:00
SCAFELL 29 12:35:00 06:35:00
WASDALE 32 13:06:00 07:06:00
REST 18 13:24:00 07:24:00
YEWBARROW 46 14:09:00 08:09:00
RED PIKE 46 14:54:00 08:54:00
STEEPLE 22 15:15:00 09:15:00
PILLAR 31 15:46:00 09:46:00
KIRKFELL 46 16:31:00 10:31:00
GREAT GABLE 39 17:10:00 11:10:00
GREEN GABLE 14 17:23:00 11:23:00
BRANDRETH 16 17:39:00 11:39:00
GREY KNOTTS 7 17:46:00 11:46:00
HONISTER PASS 12 17:57:00 11:57:00
REST 13 18:09:00 12:09:00
DALE HEAD 30 18:39:00 12:39:00
HINDSCRARTH 19 18:58:00 12:58:00
ROBINSON 24 19:21:00 13:21:00
MOOT HALL 91 20:52:00 14:52:00

[phil cheek]

Jonathon,
With respect your schedule looks like something from the very early days of BGs.
NO-ONE takes long rests anymore.All you do is get cold,stiff,midged etc.
Look at all the recent actuals.3 or 4 minutes at each stop except Wasdale,where it`s worth taking 7 or 8 to allow for a change of shoes & socks.Also you need a 2 minute shoechange stop at Newlands.
On your current schedule you`re effectively asking yourself to run at 20 hour pace at a time of year when you`ll have extra darkness to contend with & because of the TMB & Italian trips won`t have the Macc "machine" to rely on.
Please don`t be afraid to ask for advice,even if most of the experience is unavailable on the day we may be able to make life easier for you in advance.
Phil

[turnip99]

Thanks for the diplomacy, Phil. It would have been ok to say it was tosh. Goodness knows where it came from - probably Bob Graham or Stan Bradshaw. I'll take on words of wisdom before my attempt. Jonathan

[phil cheek]

Hey,
It wasn`t tosh,it worked for some great athletes who didn`t have the advantages we now have.For me it`s great that some of the legends are still out doing it.Joss (at 72 I think) is out supporting a BG on Saturday week,I expect he`ll have no problem keeping up on the climbs,he`s just not as quick these days downhill......telll me about it!
Sorry i can`t be there to help,if by any chance you have to postpone,I`m sure the whole Macc team will turn out for you.
Enjoy it,but don`t forget Macc have an unbroken successful run of 20+,so if it gets hard just make sure you get it done!!!!No pressure.
Phil

[Beneficial Dictator]

Johnathan you may find it easier to drum up some support for your attempt if you showed your face more regularly on club training nights. To be blunt I am a very active member of the club as Club Chairman & Fell Running Manager but wouldn't recognise you in the street as I do not know you !.
Further I note your schedule starts at 6.00pm but as has already been pointed out may be slightly deficient in terms of fast pace but relatively long rests. The majority of current completists thinking is a steadier more consistant pace with shorter rests. I would suggest you considering using the schedule on the club website - click on the fell section then on BGR side bar. It has been well proven with many successful completions.
With a 21 hour schedule you will put off many potential pacers as they will be of the opinion that they will not be able to keep up with you.
Who do you have on your pacing team too date & what legs are they doing?.
I may be able to help if you run on a steadier 23 hr schedule for section 2 ( Helvellyn ) or section 3 ( Central Fells ) but only if I can organise to do so in conjunction with other pacers to car share / move etc...

Regards & best of luck with your attempt.
Craig. 07940 952881

[Mr Turnip]

I'd recognise a fellow turnip anywhere - even in the dark.
Good luck on your attempt.

[turnip99]

I've got John Chapman kindly volunteered for leg 3 and Jon Mayne for leg 4 at present and one of them to convince for leg 5. Any support or contacts for legs 1 and 2 very gratefully received. I will adjust the schedule pace if I have to - not a problem.

Road support will be from my sister and one of her (nursing) colleagues.

Thanks.

Jonathan

[turnip99]

Many thanks to everyone who supported me on my BG this weekend, especially my sister (for not crashing or damaging my car as well as being there at every stop), Steve Angus, John Doyle, Iain Kelly, Jon Chapman and Jon Mayne. Jon C and Jon M brought the wisdom of the Macc H trogs on leg 4 that helped greatly and pushed me through a particularly difficult spot at Wasdale.

For the record, I completed in 22h 01m with a clockwise attempt on a 1800 start. Conditions were good with, rather miraculously for this summer, not a drop of rain, little wind and the odd bit of clag on the highest peaks.

I unfortuately couldn't get Abba's "Waterloo" out of my head the entire way round. More painful than anything the fells could throw at me.

Jonathan

[Mr Turnip]

Well done fellow turnip!

[thebunyans]

Congratulations Jonathon!

[phil cheek]

Well done Jonathon,good effort.
Phil