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Strollers Bob Graham Relay - Billy Bland Challenge

Since I did my bob graham round 2 years ago I wanted my club members to enjoy running on the same hills and feel the experience. I found out about this Billy Bland Challenge (which is a relay of the bob graham round split over 5 legs with at least 2 members on each leg). The only difficult part in organising this challenge was that it has to be done in a month of June. Last year I tried to organise it but there was so much going on in June and I just couldn't get enough numbers. So, I knew I have to set a date in advance and just go with it. It was still a hard work to mutually agree to one date so I just picked a date which most people agreed to and that was 5-6 June 2015.

We are basically a road running club and doing something like this was a bit of a challenge and something very special. The members that agreed to come knew what to expect and was willing to push beyond their limits. Due to winter and personal commitments we didn't get many reccies of the route done but we were all very excited and looking forward to it.

I used Bob Wightman's Bob Graham Calculator for 23 hours schedule starting at 8pm on Friday the 5 of June. I knew we could make some time up on first 2 legs and gave extra half an hour each for legs 3 and 4. I also managed to hire a Tracker from James at Open Tracking and booked Thirlmere Recreational Hall as our base for the weekend.

So we had on Leg 1 Ken Maynard and Bill Bowman. On Leg 2 it was me and Paul Wilson. Leg 3 it was Jill Kisler and Louise Outterson. Rachel Ball and Harry Harrison on Leg 4 and on Leg 5 we had Brian Carroll, Michael Dixon and James McGovern with Tricia O Neill and Alison Pattison joining from Newlands for last 5 miles. I needed to be on Leg 3 and 4 for navigation and I was too optimistic thinking to continue on for Leg 5 too but on the day my sickly stomach (as usual) caused me too much pain and misery, and I was very relieved to see Paul at Honister to navigate Leg 5 with Rachel also joining Trish and Ali for last road section.

We also had great support from Karen Maynard, Kevin O Neill and specially from our very own chauffeur and butler Stuart Percival, who probably had very little sleep and was great help. We got it round in very respectable time of 21 hours and 19 minutes. After the finish at the Moot Hall at 5:19 pm we all went back to the hall to enjoy chef Harry's Chili, Chickpea Curry with Rice along with Blackcurrant Pudding and Rhubarb Crumble.
PS I didn't manage to eat much and missed out on the puddings :-(

Start

Leg 1

Leg 3

Sunrise over Helvellyn from Langdale Pikes

Leg 4

Leg 5 at Honister

Leg 5 at Newlands

Finish

Ken - Leg 1 Paul - Leg 2 Eight bells tolled without any faff Half a mile, half a mile, Opposite ways just for a laugh  Half a mile onward, Off they headed toward Skidda' hill On to the valley of Grizdale That's Auld Ken and Blister Bill Ran the two “Forward the Strollers Brigade” Thru Fitz Park nice and steady  “Charge for Clough Head!” he said Plenty miles but are they ready On to the valley of Grizedale Very steep but made good time Ran the two. Topped her off in sixty nine  “Forward the Strollers Brigade!” Out of the clag at a steady jog Was there a man dismay’d? Hare Crag straight thru the bog Not tho’ the runners knew Calva sunset with good banter In the darkness a possible blunder: Down the fence at a canter Theirs not to  raise a cry Theirs not to reason why Must move on as daylight fading  Theirs but to run and try: Caldew crossed shallow wading  On to the valley of Grizedale Up Mungrisedale on a decent trod Ran the two. Now not speaking just a nod Great Dodd to the right of them Steep bit climbed we up the pace Watson Dodd to the left of them Now moving and we're in a race  Stybarrow in front of them Climb the shale back into the mist The wind roared and thunder’d; Blencathra added to our list Raise and Whiteside followed and fell Boldly they ran and well Shake of hands and headlights on  Into the jaws of death Direct route down for bit o' fun Into the mouth of hell Scree and crag soon passed by Ran the two And down Halls Fell we did fly Ran their mudclaws and cheviots bare Not a soul we saw all night long  Head torches flashing in the air Then torches over a hundred strong  Rock and mud here and there Moving slowly like an army  Charging the fell Probably thought we were barmy While all the world slumbered Plunged into cloud which cloaked Nervous tension a thing of the past  Down the mountain they broke Bloody good time and bit of a blast Muscle and sinew Only Three forteen out on the hill Reeled on the downward stroke Thanks....Auld Ken and Blister Bill Shatter’d and sunder’d Then on and up again More summits to plunder Lower man to the right of them Helvellyn to the left of them Nethermost Pike in front of them The wind roared and thunder’d Dollywagon beckoned and fell The odd trip, bang and swell Bu they had fought so well Come thr’o the vally of grizedale Back from the mouth of hell Fairfield and Sandal all that was left to them The last of the twelve When will the Strollers glory fade O the wild charge they made Left the Harriers wondered Honour the charge they made Honour the Strollers brigade Lou - Leg 3 Harry - Leg 4  (The Search for Tarmac) 2am alarm set for Jill and Lou And so to Leg 4 Plenty of time before Leg Two are due Time to put foot to the floor But just as we’re chilling with coffee in hand But hey what's this, no Tarmac The fast lads are texting they’re just about to land, I'm heading right back to my sac In a bit of a panic we jump in Stu’s car So Harry and Bally led a sickly Adnan Worried we’ll get there a bit below par He really shouldn't have but he ran and he ran The sport mode is on and the tunes set to blast Up, up, up, up, up We arrive at Dunmail Raise ever so fast, They weren't kidding when they said it was up Steel Fell is the first climb of fifteen Weather was good, little bit breezy Head torches on and not much to be seen As we climbed higher Adnan was wheezy Calf Crag, Sergeant Man, High Raise, Thunacar Knott Up over Yewbarrow we slipped into the mist Now dawn is breaking we see such a lot, One down but 8 more on the list We tick off the Stickles and hit Rossett Pike Red Pike next, back in the mist And here we do find it a bit of a hike Adnan directing, we got the gist The wind’s blowing hard, we can’t stand up straight Over the wall and onto Steeple Jill loses her Hula Hoops to the sheep that await, Harry falling twice but not in front of people Onto the big beast that is Bowfell Onwards to Pillar and over Kirk Fell Adnan confirms that we’re still going well Picking up the pace, we were going well The terrain gets so tricky to Esk Pike and Great End The wind getting stronger, gusty in places And that blasted wind we’re still struggling to fend, Time to pause and check on our laces Over to Ill Crag we fight through the gale The climb up Great Gable was hairy and scary Stumbling and battling, Broad Crag we don’t fail Seeing Adnan face down had me calling for Mary We can’t see a thing in the mist and the clag Wind so strong now we were crawling along England’s highest, Scafell Pike is next in the bag, All being well though this shouldn't take long Scrambling up Lord’s Rake is just the most fun Gables conquered it was onto Brandreth A steep narrow gully far too scary for some Moving quick enough to be out of breath Rocks flying down we must take a bit care Then to Grey Knotts but picked the wrong cairn Not to let ourselves go flying down this precarious stair Leaping on the right one like it was a runaway bairn On reaching the top only one left to do Then down to Honister, the end in sight Sca Fell is looming and then we are through Careering through the bog, can I catch Adnan?  I just might Down off the summit we slide over the shale Big cheers at the finish, back slaps all round Then it’s a short run back over river and dale Oh and there's that darn Tarmac, nice to be found We reach Wasdale carpark very pleased to be done But wishing it wasn’t over, we had so much fun The tracker is handed to Rachel and Harry Onto Leg Four the baton they must carry. Trish - All It all kicked off at 8pm From Keswick's old Moot Hall Ken and Bill set on the way With big cheers from us all. With fish n chips for most of us We drove back from the start The lucky few would grab some sleep  Till time to play our part. Quite soon we said good bye, good luck As Paul and Adnan left The lovely Karen took them The rest is us just slept  It wasn't long till Jill and Lou With Stuart, in his car,  In sport mode zoomed off down the road Good job it wasn't far. The weather wasn't looking good The wind was harsh up there Still a run into the sun rise Made our girls a happy pair. An early rise for all of us Stu's chauffeuring wasn't done We made some flasks for Adnan  Cos he'd another leg to run. Still the weather wasn't smiling much The wind was gusting lots And Adnan, Rach and Harry Are just little teeny dots. Leg 5,the last leg set to go Brian, Michael, Jim With Paul along to guide the way  Two legs bagged for him. Kev took us on to Newlands The glory leg you see We saw the boys head down the hill For Trish and Ali P. The last part, just the road leg Saw seven of us run Up Keswick town back to Moot Hall Cheers one and all - great fun!