Bob Graham Leg 2 support - 31st March 2012

Roger Taylor of Stone Master marathoners has kindly asked me if I want to help out on his Bob Graham attempt in June.  I was naturally enthusiastic to get involved as one of my plans for this year is to get around each of the BG legs simply to experience the whole route and decide if I want to attempt it myself any time soon.  I've previously only plodded around leg 1 on my own while on a family camping trip last summer.

The leg 2 recce was organised.  We would meet Helen Skelton at Dunmail at around 8:20am. drop a car there and the 3 of us would travel up to Threlkeld to help on Andy Blacketts promptly organised shotgun attempt.  Andy had spotted a fine weather window and quickly organised support for a 6am clockwise round.

It never went exactly as planned as Helen was not at Dunmail.  She'd got bored of waiting and went on to Threlkeld.  Oh well, we could always hitch  a ride back after the recce, or run,  Could be a long day.  We eventually found the pull in outside the industrial buildings at Threlkeld.  There were 3 other support runners already waiting.  Andy Kirkup, Brad and Martin were on for an attempt in June the week before Roger's.  All were supporting legs 2 and 3 today.  Brad had also entered the Dragon's back race and getting in as much time on his feet as possible.
Logistics were soon sorted as Andy's road support were willing to give us a lift back from Dunmail.  This all seemed a bit weird as none of us had ever met the others before.  I suppose this is how it works.

We didn't have to wait very long as Andy was running well and soon completed leg 1, 20 minutes up on a 22 hour schedule.  He arrived with his wife Fiona and Dave Swift in support.  An occasional table was erected from the support camper van and a good feed of weetabix and muller rice was consumed while he called out orders of what was required.  'Clean socks from that bag, take all the food out that I haven't eaten and replace it with that bag of food.'  Roger was elected to carry the support bag, having to leave his own in his van so a few essentials were stowed in mine.

In good time we were on our way towards Clough Head and the weather was still looking fine.  Andy was in good spirits and appeared confident and well focused.
The fine weather didn't last as the clag set in on the way off Clough Head.  It would occasionally clear revealing our destination making navigation quite simple, although I think it would be a different story in the dark as this leg is usually tackled.
Over the Dodds and Helvellyn the temperature plummeted and I felt under dressed in shorts & t-shirt.  Even Brad gave in to the cold, previously toughing it out in a sleeveless t-shirt and tiny shorts the windstopper jacket came out and was not removed until Dunmail.

There were 2 guys in a small tent on Helvellyn selling bacon butties and tea to fund a climbing trip to America.  Andy had seen them before on a recce and they'd promised him a free buttie on his round attempt.  Alas, there was not enough time to fry up any bacon so we pressed on down into sticks pass.

I did feel a bit slow on the descents but not overly so.  more a case of my shoes felt a bit too big and would move around not inspiring confidence.  My heels were also blistered from my over exuberance in the Wrekin Fell race last week.  Also caused by the 'too big' shoes.  These had not fully healed yet and were a bit sore.

There was much talk as we approached Grizedale Tarn of a preferred route up Fairfield.  Andy was favouring a route coming directly off Dollywagon Pike, not using the zig zag path but going straight down, then taking a 'Travellator' climb right up the scree to rejoin the Fairfield path.  This was neither of the 2 routes suggested on the Harveys BG map and was quite frustrating although it may be faster than the easier but longer way up the main out and back Fairfield path.  Didn't seem to phase Andy as he was up it before any of us.

Back down Fairfield and only Seat Sandal to bag before arriving back at Dunmail.  OMM Elite winner Duncan Archer was seen descending Steel Fell to meet us before delivering a faultless leg 3 support.  Andy Kirkup, Brad and Martin carried on as well.

Andy was successful and completed his Bob Graham in 23:36.  This was his second attempt.  There was clearly a fair chunk of time lost on legs 3 and 4 which is understandably as leg 4 is not usually tackled in darkness.  He did it.  That's what matters.  Well done.

A took a few pictures with the phone while my hands weren't too cold:

Approaching Clough Head.  Enough support?!!

Final descent of leg 2.  Off Seat Sandal

Refuelling at Dunmail

On the way to victory up Steel Fell

Wrekin fell race 26th March 2012

As late as ever with this post but I'll include it just for completeness.

My first attempt at this one and at only 8.8km and 519m of ascent (oh look I've gone all metric!) it was sure to be a fast as you can effort.   The Wrekin is a rare site around these parts as it's quite a big hill for the area.  On a clear day can be seen in all it's glory from the top of Brocton heights, one of my regular training routes.
I'm really enjoying these shorter local fell races lately and this was too good an opportunity to miss as I could drive there, run the race drive back and be home by mid day.  I even opted for this one and turned down a free place at the Stafford half marathon.

useless going down!

Starting at Ercall wood School on a very mild morning I followed the sea of yellow Mercia Fell Runners vests around one lap of the school playing fields (to presumably split the pack up a bit) and then out onto the main road for a short 200 metre  trot under the M54 and into Ercall woods itself.
I'd started a bit too far back again but did manage to gain about a dozen or so places on the first long gradual climb.

Here we go, descent time.
First descent was not too embarrassing and I passed 2 or 3 on the loose and rooty  downhill.  Saying that I was also passed myself by a couple of others.
Out of Ercall woods and onto the Wrekin climb there was not much to report but I was pleased to be gradually catching Mel Price of Mercia and feeling quite strong.
With still about 200 metres to go until the turn around trig point of the out and back course Steven Cale came flying down the dusty main track.  by my reckoning I was in about 22nd place.  Time to get a move on.
As usual I was holding my position (just) on the runnable down hills but then the steepest descent of the race saw me being too cautious again.  Probably 2 places lost.
I gained and lost a place with another Mercia runner all the way to the finish.  I felt strong on the climbs and would edge past only to be overtaken again on the downs.

Better going up!

Coming home in 24th place behind a ruck of Mercia runners my descending still needs a hell of a lot of work but a great race that I shall do again.

Results
Al Tyes pics