Bg@50 - 2012

In May next year I turn 50. Its my desire to have a crack at the BG. However....whilst I am a member of a local fell run club, I am not really active within it due to shifts, external pressures and other interests. Hopefully, this year, I will achieve my aim of completing the Lakes Longs/Super-longs...IF I can get Ennerdale and Wasdale under my belt. What I need to know is how do I go about organising an attempt!!? Is it possible to join other attempts (assuming I put something into them obviously!) I'd be happy to assist in attempts as a runner etc, tho' for the same reasons as described earlier, its tricky for me! I also am not sure how much use I'd be as I'm not too quick! Finally I managed 4.50hr for Three Peaks, sub 5.00hr for Borrowdale, is this pace good enough!? Cheers for any assistance. :thumbup:

Keep an eye on here for recces and tag along, or ask on here if folk want to join you on yours. You'll enjoy the recces and soon build up a group of BG mates

Other thing is now is 'peak BG season' for want of a better expression. Offer to help as pacer on a few attempts to get a feel for what happens on a round. Leg 5 c/w isn't a bad one to start with

4-50 at Three Peaks is fine by the way ;)

Sub 5 hour Borrowdale is a good building block too. Climb and descend, climb and descend, then climb and descend some more, Good Luck.

Not done a BG myself yet mind. But been shown how to go on by Derby Tup and others;)

Joining another attempt is not a good plan!
Get some long days training in, recce the sections and put a support team together - sound out your club members or ask for support via the forum.
As DT says, supporting on another round is the best way of finding out what's involved.
You will be amazed at how slow the pace is for a 23.5 hour BG. 3 miles an hour is more than enough.
Good luck!

I found myself in a very similar position to yours last year. The BG had been a long held ambition but I just thought it wouldn't be possible because I didn't have access to the required level of support. I posted a question on this forum about tagging along with another attempt. Someone suggested that FRA forumites are a helpful bunch and that I should organise an attempt and ask them for help. I have been amazed by the response.

The upshot is that, subject to last minute tweaks, I am due to set of on my epic adventure in 3 weeks time.

So gratefull am i for all the support I have received, that i am already willing to offer to support you on your attempt either via reccies or running support on the day if i am available.

Cheers,

Mark

This is all encouraging stuff to hear for myself who's hoping to do a round in the next few years (or maybe more realistically, decades!).

Cheers for that people. So I guess basically you're saying 'Just get stuck in!' :) When do attempts completely dry up!? Do many people do recce's mid-week?

Most attempts are made between the beginning of May and the end of August, occasionally there's an attempt or two earlier or later than this, unless of course you are aiming at a winter round!! :w00t:

If you are Lakes based then a mid-week recce is feasible but most will recce at weekends simply for the practicalities of it.

Thats a big chunk of my problem Bob! I work, basically 4 on, 4 off....therefore losing pretty much half my weekends...add in odd races, family commitments etc and my w/e's soon disappear! Finding people to 'join up' with and do recce's and even assist with rounds is tricky. But clearly thats what I need to do I guess!

You could always do reccies on your own.
I envy your potential access to the Lakes mid-week - absolute bliss!

Aye Mark L, thats what I'll do but I'm still not 'networking' with people to build a team! Like I say...its tricky! :) Hopefully through here I'll get out with a few people and see how it goes. I'll contact the club I'm in too....I've been member about 10 years but am in the wrong part of the county. Also I have a relative-in-law-to-be who said he'd help. Cheers for the advice again.

Ah, if it's networking as well as reccying, then if you post up some details about a reccy you've planned then it is always possible that people will come and join you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mark L

Ah, if it's networking as well as reccying, then if you post up some details about a reccy you've planned then it is always possible that people will come and join you.

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Exactly. I have the odd day off during the week and can't think of anything I'd rather do that come out on a recce! Just post and I bet you get a response.

Hey I am 50 next year too and the thought has passed through my mind, am hoping to do a relatively quick BG this year to make sure I can slip a few more in...

I come from the Lakes and whilst living in Sheffield now go there a lot so it would be cool to recce some additional peaks, where are you based?

I think the Wasdale is probably the best race to check out (9th July) being about a 1/3 of the length/ ascent of the BG; but I think ckecking out your time for sections 3 + 4 would give you are better feel for where you are in terms of being ready for it.

Having said that the Lakes fell races are awesome and so friendly, did the Ennerdale on Sat and hope to do most of the others which reminds me to send off my applications.

Cheers,

Fjell Guy, where are you based? I also have days off midweek, same shift pattern as you. Not quite as fast as you by the look of it, but if it's just for the odd recce I might just get away with it! I keep promising myself to get up to the lakes more, it isn't far from me really, but I never seem to get round to it. A bit of incentive could be just what I need...

This could turn into the "I'm 50 and gonna do the BG thread" :) Guess who else if 50 this year .....

I'm based Carlisle. I just did Ennerdale for the first time on Saturday and enjoyed it but for getting severe 'trapped wind' going up the last cut off. Did 6.25, but reckon I might of done 6.05-10 or something without that. Also I am doing Wasdale, which I'm suitably warey of. Going to try and get a couple of recce's, even if only walking with 'the missus'. Maybe a mass 'BG@50' attempt next year is on the cards!!! :w00t:

Hi guys i,ve just joined the forum after reading these last few posts,i,m a 51 year old road runner but i love the lakes and the BG is an itch i,ve had for a few years now, injury has stopped me this year but i,d love to scratch that itch next year with some like .minded vets

Is there a record for 50 at 50?

er...no idea!? :)

Since pretty well everyone who has done a 50@50 has done different tops it's a bit awkward.

I did the Bob G for my first time back on the 11th June and I am not a member of a club and spent about 60% of my training running alone on all the Legs in all weather, which paid off. Not did I only get to know the route very well and make my own choices on the route but also got plenty of 'Miles in' t Legs' not having to rely on anyone navigating on me (what happens if you navigator gets injured?) Anything els you want to ask or know from someone who as completed it recently

Hi That Fjell guy, I did my BG 9 years ago, have navigated quite a few 2nd legs (clockwise) and supported more.

In terms of training like Crag Rat I did most of the training on my own except for when I took part in races. I didn't belong to a club and gathered my team together through meeting people on these events and through Mike Sadulas website.

This forum is a great way of linking with like minded people who enjoy long days out in the hill for recces. Who knows they may even be able to support you on your big day.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Cheers.
I am actually finding the forum pretty useful! Now, vaguely in touch with a few people! :) I'm going to try and start recces once I get over Wasdale, and when I get some free time. I'll probably walk a few legs with our lass and maybe see if anyone fancies popping out when I'm free and she's working! Otherwise I'll be getting out on my own as suggested. I need to really get out for the rest of this summer and see where I get!

I think I might be up for this too, if I'm not too old to qualify for the thread. I'll be planning some recces once my summer hols are over. Mid-week's OK for me.