From Kate Archer…
The Bob Graham Round is a 66 mile, 27,000 ft circuit of 42 peaks in the Lake District which starts and finishes at the Moot Hall in Keswick. To become a member of the ‘Bob Graham 24-hour club’, the challenge has to be completed within the 24 hours and each peak has to be witnessed. Sub-24 was my aim, but I would have been happy to get round.
Dick [Waddington], Peter [Shelley] and I arrived at the Moot Hall slightly before my chosen start time of 00:30, a quick chat with some locals who had just left the pub, and then we were off. The first climb is up Skiddaw and the longest on the round. I had chosen this section for the dark as the track up Skiddaw is easy, though steep. The moon was virtually full and it was never properly dark. Before long the sun started to rise and we were heading down to the road stop at Threlkeld where Helen [Waddington] was waiting with my porridge pot and I met Andrew [Merrick] for leg 2.
Andrew and I were treated to some stunning views, it was a perfect temperature and we ticked off a number of the peaks quickly and before I knew it the frustrating ‘out and back’ to summit Fairfield was done and we were descending to the road crossing at Dunmail Raise.
Leg 3 supporters were Paul [Carman], Alison [Weston] and my brother, Graham [Pearce]. It was already hot, and just got hotter as the day went on. Graham’s job was to carry a ton of water, and I needed every drop of it. Paul expertly navigated us around the leg. Things started to get tough at about halfway and it was a case of keeping pushing on until the descent into Wasdale where my dad, Nick [Pearce], was waiting. At this point, I was feeling dizzy and started to think about pulling out. But Brian [Melia] and Paul were having none of it and told me to start walking up the next hill, and I was really in no fit state to argue!
On leg 4 I was supported by Paul, Brian and Richard [Joel]. This leg was my favourite from the recces but was so hard on the day. I could no longer eat (thankfully Brian came with milkshake which was about all I could stomach) and I was getting heartburn (Richard had salt tablets which were helping to stave off the discomfort). I felt the pace was slowing and I had a couple of wobbles but my amazing support crew kept pushing me on. Finally, we arrived at Honister and I was surprised to find we were still on schedule. Just three peaks to go.
Jann [Smith] and Brian guided me around leg 5. The final peak came quickly and then down to the road where my comfy road shoes were waiting. It was then a long shuffle back to Keswick. I touched the door of the Moot Hall a few seconds before midnight, 23 hours and 30 minutes after I had left.
What a day! Thank you to all the amazing Harriers who supported me in any way. We are lucky to have so many fantastic and experienced runners in the club who so willingly give up their time to help.