BGR attempt #2 13/07/12

Hi Folks,

I'm planning a second crack after having ITBS call it a day last year mainly due to overly enthusiastic descents down Halls Fell and Dollywagon. Since that harsh lesson I've put in plenty of core & strength training and overall endurance isn't a problem (avg'd 70+ miles a week in the last 18 mths with a couple of 2:40 marathons). I've got two consecutive weekends to get some more hill strength/recces around the route before helping Splatcher out with his 3rd June attempt and then probably a 3 week rest before my attempt..

However, I'm short of navigators for legs 3-5. I've got good pacers lined up but no-one to nudge me around the finer points of the these stages. My original Wasdale to Honister navigator is currently laid-up with a back injury and it's touch and go whether he'll be mended in time. If anyone's free and fancies steering me around a leg or two it'd be well appreciated.

Cheers,

Lee

Stockport Harriers

for a bit of added info
I'll be supporting Lee on Leg 4, so anybody volunteering to nav L4 will also have to put up with my cheery demeanour :)
I could nav it myself in good visibility, but if clag is down I wouldn't feel comfortable with the responsibility

Alas I'm still short of a pacer or two for my 22hr attempt this weekend, starting at 0100 on Saturday morning. It'd be good to have more company on Legs 1 and 2 but what I'm really in need of is a good navigator on #3, particularly if the weather isn't going to play fair again. I can assure you that a fine spread of pasta, rice pudding and cakes will await at Wasdale Head.

Thanks in advance,

Lee Wilkinson,

Stockport Harriers

Splatcher has kindly stepped in to offer navigational help on Leg 3.

Seeing that quite a few others have decided to cancel or delay their attempts due to the impending weather, I've decided to defer mine until mid July assuming I can muster the support again.

Thanks to everyone who have lent their support, both advice and offers to help on the day.

Morning Camper,

I've no idea if this'll help but... I had ITBS (IT Band knackered as opposed to IrriTable Bowel Syndrome) and for a month before I attempted my round on the Jubilee Weekend. In a fit of 'trying something new when I should've been sticking to what I knew' I bought a neoprene knee support from a pharmacy in Keswick the day before I went and... it got me round with very little bother considering I couldn't actually walk down the stairs at home the week before! It did wear most of the back of my leg away though - still chicks dig scars and that 'un's got a good story to go with it! Might work for you, might not but thought you might be interested anyhoo.

I have since found that running the BG is a superb cure for Irritable IT Band knackeredness too - no problems since - winner!

Andy

Andy,

I know exactly what you mean. I was struck down by it two weeks before the Edinburgh Marathon in 2008 and in desperation I bought on of those velcro knee straps from Decathlon. Worked exactly the same for me too. It prevents the band snapping back and forth across the knee which causes all the tightness and irritation. That one pinged off somewhere around Mile 22 but it did the job and got me around pain free.

Touch wood, I haven't been troubled so far this year (doing loads of strange exercises plus some cycling) but I might pack one just in case.

Decided on the Friday the 13th of July :wink: as the new date, 6:30pm start. Want to be well clear of Wasdale before the rampaging hordes descend for the race on Saturday!

Lee - shall we get Brett to change the title of this thread to show your new date?

That's a good idea Daz.

Although the revised title of "Friday the 13th, Part 3" might put prospective supporters off!

Lee - am I right in thinking that your re-arranged re-attempt is a bit thin on the ground for support - how are things shaping up...?

You're right Daz, we're definitely a small elite band at present!!

Sadly three supporters are unable to make the revised date because of injury, holidays and other commitments.

Therefore I'm down to 1 supporter from Keswick to Threlkeld, 1 pacer on leg 2, 2 lads helping out on leg 3, yourself on 4 and a few good men (and women) assisting on #5.

I could really do with some help on leg 2 (overnight) and you'd probably be glad of more company from Wasdale to Honister. I might not be in much of a talkative mood by that stage! .

So if anyone's available next weekend, and can pitch in anywhere, it'd be really appreciated. I can guarantee a spread the Famous Five would be happy to see (I also need to clear the garage of sports drinks, malt loaf and cake baking ingredients)!

Lee, fyi there are 2 guys from Totley AC also starting their attempt at 6:30pm Friday 13th July (with 2 supporters/pacers per person), so you should have some company so to speak depending on your target time - they'll be following a 23.5 hrs schedule. I'll be doing legs 1 & 5.

Thanks Mark, that quite useful to know. I have planned clockwise 22 hr schedule though we should be too far apart for the first leg at least, conditions permitting.

Thankfully a supporter has mended himself and is now going on Leg 1. I'm still short of a navigator/pacer on Leg 2.

Weather forecast looking crap (as is usual this summer) :mad:

Forgot to mention the direction - also clockwise. Good to hear you are now sorted for Leg 1 and yes, might be possible to share some company for the first part - btw, think their intended route off Blencathra is via Doddick, not sure how that compares with you.

Yes, unfortunately the weather still looks grim. Exactly a year ago I supported a BGR and the conditions were perfect.

Unsafe - as Mark pointed out he helped pace my own BG (along with Bozeatrunner) a year ago today - can hardly believe it! It was great conditions and it may make you feel better to know, the forecast on the Mon, Tues, Weds prior to our attempt showed the Fri/Sat as being rubbish.

There is still time for change...........

Good luck and hope to see you at Moot Hall as I am down for leg 1, 2 and 5 with the Totley guys.

Mark however appears to be free for Leg 2 ........ :w00t:

Mark, Olney

Checked four different weather sites displaying four different forecasts so yes, nothing's certain yet and even less so in the mountains!

Re: Blencathra. I'll descend via Halls Fell only if it's clear and dry otherwise down via Doddick. No sense in risking a slip/trip/fall in failing light and bad visibility just to gain the advantage of a few minutes.

I'd be grateful of any help on leg 2 :thumbup:

Lee, have been thinking about whether I could help you out on leg 2........ but it could be a bit complicated. My first priority is to support my friend (Paul) on leg 1 and I obviously can't predict how closely we'll converge at the changeover point - ideally same time as you. Additionally my hill fitness is not quite as I'd like (so am a tad nervous of back-to-back legs), so would perhaps like to wait and see how I feel after leg 1 on the day before fully committing to support you. fyi, I've only done leg 2 once before, a recce a couple of weeks ago (and not during the night!). I do have a route loaded in my Garmin for extra assistance if needed. Let me know if this option is potentially workable/ of interest, I can then at least be prepared in terms of arranging extra food/drink for myself at start of leg 2.

No worries Mark, support is always welcome but your priority is with your mate's attempt. I'm looking at about 3.5 hrs for the first leg, taking it easy and preserving the old knees for later. I've no idea what time you'll be in Threlkeld so it'd be a bit uncertain at the stage end where you'd be or how you would be feeling.

I've done a couple of combined legs 1 & 2 recces this year so I'm not too fazed with self-navigating.

See you at the Moot Hall on Friday!

Lee, Paul is on a 3.50 schedule to Thelkheld so you may be ahead. Having said that I did Leg 1 on his attempt last year and he did go somewhat quicker than his schedule! I'm a bit disappointed in Mark to be honest. I was assuming he would be rather miffed with me trying to stitch him up with another leg, not considering doing it!!

Weather looks a little better anyway.

See you Friday.

Heheee Kevin.......yes,was well aware of your "stitch-up effort" ;). Was going to ignore it, but once you'd planted the idea.........

btw, just been for a very muddy 8 miles run in my new La Sportiva Cross-lites......... really pleased with them and shall be using on Friday.

right, this is it!
Lee's travelling up as we speak for a 6:30pm start
Good Luck Lee! :thumbup:

I'll be travelling up (early :w00t: ) tomorrow morning to Wasdale to join him for Leg 4...

and Good Luck to the Totley guys too! :thumbup: :thumbup:

It's also Rick Air's BG this weekend, he's going CW at 7.00pm on Saturday. Will be supporting him on Leg 1, good luck to all others going this weekend.

[QUOTE=DazTheSlug;493463]right, this is it!


I'll be travelling up (early :w00t: ) tomorrow morning to Wasdale to join him for Leg 4...

Good luck Lee and anyone else making an attempt.

I will be waiting at Honister to take over for Leg 5

It's amazing the range of start times! One would have thought a optimum start time/best legs in the dark would have developed by now. Obviously people are very different when it comes to which legs they are comfortable with in the Dark. I will be departing at midnight next weekend assisting on leg 1.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DrPatrickBarry

It's amazing the range of start times! One would have thought a optimum start time/best legs in the dark would have developed by now. Obviously people are very different when it comes to which legs they are comfortable with in the Dark. I will be departing at midnight next weekend assisting on leg 1.

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I think I'm right in saying that Andy Gibbons is going at midnight next Friday? We'll be there to see him off, I think my missus is worried he's not eating enough and is going to make him a cake. She doesn't make ME cakes by the way.

Yep I am with Andy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DrPatrickBarry

It's amazing the range of start times! One would have thought a optimum start time/best legs in the dark would have developed by now. Obviously people are very different when it comes to which legs they are comfortable with in the Dark. I will be departing at midnight next weekend assisting on leg 1.

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Yeah I agree with you there. Having got well and truly fogged out after dark on what was our anti-clockwise leg 4 a couple of weeks ago (we couldn't see much more than about 7 meters in any given direction), I'd be very unsure of doing a 6 or 7pm start on a clockwise round. If I went anti again I'd recommend a really early start (5am to 7am maybe) and I think a late night/early hours of the morning start clockwise makes best sense.

That said I'm sure I will think up another fitting excuse if my 11pm clockwise round fails :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by martyn p

i think i'm right in saying that andy gibbons is going at midnight next friday? We'll be there to see him off, i think my missus is worried he's not eating enough and is going to make him a cake. She doesn't make me cakes by the way.

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cake yum yum !

getting itchy feet now doing my head in now not dong anything

Good luck to all going tonight fingers crossed you all manage it

Ooooh!! The games afoot again I see!! One of these days, maybe, I'll be able to do some support!!

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Originally Posted by andygib1982

Good luck to all going tonight fingers crossed you all manage it

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Aye, Good luck everyone:thumbup:

had text to say Lee left Dunmail at 3:10am, going well... :thumbup:


I'm just eating my porridge, about to set off to drive up to Wasdale...

Anymore news?

Crowhill of CVFR got round in 18.46, well done that man:thumbup:

have people finally got a semi decent weekend for it?

Lee pulled the plug at Great Gable, behind schedule struggling with severe back pain
I think one of the Totley guys packed quite early into Leg 4, and the other was still going ahead of us - hope he made it

Just got home after supporting Rick Air on Leg 1. All went well, he looked strong and relaxed throughout, eating well and conserving energy. Skiddaw top was under cloud (surprise) and the ground was generally drier than I expected, the Caldew seemed to be at normal levels. We got a bit of a soaking going up Mungrisedale and Blencathra was firmly in the clag, making Halls descent a bit treacherous. A short turnaround at Threlkeld and he left on schedule.

At the Moot Hall we saw a Dark Peak guy come in successfully, there were also some lads from Dumfries waiting for their guy to appear. Heard the news about Lee, sorry to hear that - bad luck :-(

Rick will be on Leg 3 by now, am sure he's going to do well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stevefoster

Crowhill of CVFR got round in 18.46, well done that man:thumbup:

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Well done indeed! Damn good time!:thumbup:

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Originally Posted by lantern rouge

Well done indeed! Damn good time!:thumbup:

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Yep, exceptional! Wonderful effort :D

Lee, so sorry to hear things didn't work out as planned. You looked very strong from the off and we were struggling to keep up with you on leg 1. Our 2 Totley guys were going really well too and it all looked pretty good by the end of leg 3. Unfortunately Paul decided to pull out while going up Yewbarrow...... Alex continued and arrived at Honister pretty much on schedule. He then continued in very good form and showed a great turn of speed on the road section, with support almost struggling to keep up with him! Finish time was something like 23:10 (in contrast to the 23:30 schedule).

Well done to anyone this weekend who was successful or even attempted a BG this weekend.