Graham Steven BG attempt

Massive thanks to everyone for your support on my BG attempt this weekend. Sadly not successful this time but here’s my race report:

I knew it was going to be a tough one. The weather turned at just the wrong time. I postponed from last weekend hoping it would improve by this weekend but it was still grim. Rain came in just as we were reaching Blencathra summit and the descent down Hall’s Fell was slowed by slippery rock and rubbish visibility. Thanks to my awesome support runners and road support I was in to Threlkeld and off again to get back on schedule by the summit of Clough Head and kept on track despite increasingly bad conditions on leg 2 but then dropped 10 minutes after we lost the trod in the clag descending to Dunmail. Another perfect road changeover and I managed to claw a couple of minutes back on the way up Steel Fell. Things looked ok all the way to Bowfell but from there through to Scafell Pike the rock was just treacherous underfoot, we were all soaked through despite full waterproofs, and progress was painfully slow. By Mickledore I was 1hr 15 mins down on my 23:30 schedule and there was no likelihood of the weather lifting enough for me to get those missing 45 mins back on legs 4 and 5, plus the weather had left me feeling pretty beaten by that stage. So I called it there and dropped down to Wasdale. Disappointing to say the least, of course, but still one of the best adventures I’ve ever had and it was fantastic to share it with so many Harriers, some former members who have moved on to other things, and friends from other clubs. Even when it’s doing its best impression of Mordor on a bad day, the Lake District is the best place in the world to play out with your mates.