The Forum of Benfleet Running Club

Mike Mason · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 854 Location: Hockley

yes Steffen - 42 lakeland peaks, 28,500' ascent, 74 miles and 24 hours to complete. Has been on my list with the Pikes Peak marathon for some years. Finally met up with a guy this year who failed last year and we are talking of trying in 2008.....the talking may extend for a while.....

Some great sites and race reports can be found including:

http://www.bobgrahamround.co.uk/

http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/bgr/index.htm

http://www.cooltravels.me.uk/run_bg.htm

also get Robin Asquiths book - 'Feet in the Clouds' or tap me up next time we meet..his opener...

'To be a good fellrunner, you need four things. Good heart and lungs, a light frame preferably under 10 stone, surefootedness that comes from lifelong familiarity with the hills and a disregard for pain and danger that verges on lunacy.
As a 13 stone southerner with weak ankles who has spent most of his life smoking and is terrified of heights, Richard Askwith freely admits that he is less than a perfect fit for this profile.....'

The important thing to recognise is 'What is the difference between the Bob Graham Round and the Karl or Godfrey Round? A. you get something back from the BGR Razz

rgds

Mike

_________________
'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.

Mike Mason · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 854 Location: Hockley

oops apologies - typo = sorry Steffan.....

rgds

Mik......a Cool

_________________
'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.

Steffan · Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 537 Location: Basildon

Hiya Mike,
thanks for the links mate.

The BG round struck a chord with me after reading that very book!
I've got it in my head and I'll get on with this challenge within the next five years.
I want to be able to give it total commitment.

If you give it a go next year, I'd be glad to help out.....

mArKw · Joined: 15 May 2006 Posts: 235 Location: Benfleet

Also look out for some of the blogs which are about.

This one's a good one about how much training is needed from Swiss Toni of the Fellrunner's Forum.

http://marksbgr.blogspot.com/

Mark
_________________
The hills are alive........

Steffan · Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 537 Location: Basildon

Nice one Mark,
Thats a quality blog, it echo's my point of
"if I do this it has to have total commitment"
I need to get to some good fell races for a few seasons to harden up these sothern legs mate!

In the meantime, I've started reading feet in the clouds for the third time!

mArKw · Joined: 15 May 2006 Posts: 235 Location: Benfleet

I read it again only a few months ago. I have some of the other books mentioned by Askwith, like 'Running High' and 'Jos Naylor was here'. Excellent books. The Sarah Rowell book was available in Southend library. Worth checking in the local library to see if they can get it.

First steps for me to a BGR would be Manx Mountain Marathon, Welsh 3000's and the Wasdale next year (as well as the 3 Peaks, Saunders, Ben Nevis, etc......) Smile

_________________
The hills are alive........

Steffan · Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 537 Location: Basildon

Sounds like the thought of doing the BGR is with you too Mark!
Closest thing I've done to fell running is our xc rounds and running in the downs as often as possible!
But....
It's in my head!

mArKw · Joined: 15 May 2006 Posts: 235 Location: Benfleet

I know what you mean, mate. Like an illness. But I don't want to be cured. Wink

_________________
The hills are alive........

Ernie · Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 150 Location: Hockley GORC

Hiya Steffan, reading your members profile in the Club Mag I couldn't help but notice that the reason you run is for the pleasure and the Pain !

I can relate to this !

I also believe that nothing exceeds like excess !

I can see you doing some extreme races in the future. Would you be interested in running in the 2008 Grand Union Canal Race "plenty of pain". I am available as support crew member if you are interested as I will be doing other things (races) next year.

mikemoreton · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 461 Location: Hockley, GORC.

Guys,

if you do this run, I'm mightily impressed.

From a FLM first timer

Ps. Thought a marathon was the best you could push yourself to. Obviously not, so I will stop where i am. Good Luck!!

Steffan · Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 537 Location: Basildon

Ernie, 200 miles!
Hmmm, somehow I don't think I'd make it to the end!!!
Given time, I want to get into running ultras, but at this point in my own running I don't know how you do the distances you do, after a few pints down the Hoy last night, myself and Graham want to see how far we can push our times in the marathon distance. Slightly drunken talk of sub 2 hrs 45 mins! What have I let myself in for now!!!!!
Many thanks for the support crew offer though mate, I will be taking you up on that one of these days!

Ernie · Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 150 Location: Hockley GORC

Steffan, the GUCR is only 145 miles (a short one).

Mike Mason · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 854 Location: Hockley

Yea, a short namby pamby one with no hills.......but at least there is no overnight in a hotel. ooops damn I wasn't going to mention that again...it really takes the biscuit.........no that was Karl......

rgds

Mike
_________________
'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.

Steffan · Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 537 Location: Basildon

You've gotta love the way Ernie says its only a short one!!!!

Mike Mason · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 854 Location: Hockley

he made it: 23:32

http://marksbgr.blogspot.com/

rgds

Mike
_________________
'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.

Steffan · Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 537 Location: Basildon

Why have I only just seen the above comment you left?!

That's fantastic. Utmost respect for doing it.
Well done to him.

cheers

One day eh Mike?!

Mike Mason · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 854 Location: Hockley

One day indeed Steffan as soon as my knees have healed and I have my bowels in training.....

We would definitely have Mark and Ernie. Karl I am sure for a sherbert dab.....
_________________
'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.

mArKw · Joined: 15 May 2006 Posts: 235 Location: Benfleet

When I was up in the Lakes for my hols last month, I had arranged to do a run round the Howgills with some of the Fellrunner fourmites. Mark Smith was one of them and I intended to quiz him a bit on his training. Unfortunately the meet didn't come about. Gutted.

There are some articles about the challenge in the latest Fellrunner magazine, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the BGR. I haven't read them yet as I have only just grabbed my mag back from one of the guys at work!!

Mark
_________________
The hills are alive........

mArKw · Joined: 15 May 2006 Posts: 235 Location: Benfleet

There are some great videos on YouTube of the BG.

This one touched a nerve.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efzOiwLivhM

Mark
_________________
The hills are alive........

Steffan · Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 537 Location: Basildon

Nice one Mark.

Mike Mason · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 854 Location: Hockley

Thanks Mark...memories of the last Tour de Mont Blanc came flooding back and I had to have a lie down....
_________________
'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.

Steffan · Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 537 Location: Basildon

Booking a holiday to the Lake district this year for my youngster and myself! Can't wait!
Any recommendations on places to stay?
cheers

Mike Mason · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 854 Location: Hockley

Steffan, whereabouts In Lakes?
_________________
'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.

Steffan · Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 537 Location: Basildon

At the moment I'm thinking Keswick.
Any area with fells and good views will do it for me!

mArKw · Joined: 15 May 2006 Posts: 235 Location: Benfleet

If you're there the week after London and you're not doing anything else, you could try this

http://www.anniversarywaltz.co.uk/

Takes in part of the BG route, Robinson, Hindscarth, Dale Head. Running down Dale Head would be fun....... evil2

Mark
_________________
The hills are alive........