BG Attempts …..?

[sore legs]

I would like to highlight at the start, (before anyone goes mad at me) that I do not want to upset anyone or cause controversy in my naivety, but I am intrigued by what I have found and read in several threads and bits and pieces recently about the BG Round / attempts. I wondered what the opinion was of the allowance of ‘assistance / support’ on this event?

I can understand that there is the requirement for a witness but I can not help but feel that the use of pacers, equipment carriers, food support at checkpoints, navigators, pre-positioning ropes etc goes against the ‘spirit’ of the event and these type of challenges. I can almost see this falling into 2 categories – Supported & Unsupported.

I liken the ‘supported’ element to those that pay to climb Everest, everything is pre-placed and escorted, all they have to do is place 1 foot in front of the other or an Olympic athlete who uses a pacer for 8 of his 10 laps but then claims the acclamation of gold and World Record, as compared to an ‘Ernest Shackleton’ or those who are completely self-sufficient and maintain their own motivation even in the darkest hours of pain, misery etc that the event may conjure up.

As I said at the start this is just a thought that has been swirling round my head for a while but it should not detract that either way, a successful completion is obviously a fantastic achievement and deservedly so.

Are there any views on any of the above … …

[Stanners]

Could've done with some positive points, seeing as i'm having a go next month and being supported. What's the point in me doing it with your kind of attitude?
Maybe we should do it with all the old kit, because the new kit makes us soft.
I'm looking forward to having my mates with me when i do mine, same reason i like racing and long days out running with your mates.
Does it matter whether you have a support team or not, as long as you get round?
Have you done the bg sl?

[Baggins]

But you're missing out the most important thing about a supported round..................................having a great day out with your mates.
Its a shared experience, even friends who don't run can join in the fun by providing road support.

If all you wanted was a challenge then a solo unsupported round is what you want and a lot of people on here do both.

I think the main thing is to do it with the amount of support your comfortable with so you enjoy it, cause if it ain't fun why bother?

[sore legs]

Clearly you have mis-understood the point - I have not said that there is anything wrong in completing it with friends or doing it as a group (as you say, part of the enjoyment is sharing with your friends) - but having those with you carry the load / do the nav etc I just feel that it is not as much of an achievement.

You also seem to have missed that I stated that whether you do it 'supported' or 'unsupported', completing the event is still a fantastic achievement and should not me under-estimated.

[Baggins]

Could've done with some positive points, seeing as i'm having a go next month and being supported. What's the point in me doing it with your kind of attitude?
Maybe we should do it with all the old kit, because the new kit makes us soft.
I'm looking forward to having my mates with me when i do mine, same reason i like racing and long days out running with your mates.
Does it matter whether you have a support team or not, as long as you get round?
Have you done the bg sl?

Down boy

You must type fast or is it me that's slow

[Hank]

I would like to highlight at the start, (before anyone goes mad at me) that I do not want to upset anyone or cause controversy in my naivety, but I am intrigued by what I have found and read in several threads and bits and pieces recently about the BG Round / attempts. I wondered what the opinion was of the allowance of ‘assistance / support’ on this event?

I can understand that there is the requirement for a witness but I can not help but feel that the use of pacers, equipment carriers, food support at checkpoints, navigators, pre-positioning ropes etc goes against the ‘spirit’ of the event and these type of challenges. I can almost see this falling into 2 categories – Supported & Unsupported.

I liken the ‘supported’ element to those that pay to climb Everest, everything is pre-placed and escorted, all they have to do is place 1 foot in front of the other or an Olympic athlete who uses a pacer for 8 of his 10 laps but then claims the acclamation of gold and World Record, as compared to an ‘Ernest Shackleton’ or those who are completely self-sufficient and maintain their own motivation even in the darkest hours of pain, misery etc that the event may conjure up.

As I said at the start this is just a thought that has been swirling round my head for a while but it should not detract that either way, a successful completion is obviously a fantastic achievement and deservedly so.

Are there any views on any of the above … …

I agree to an extent with your sentiments. But, as you say, that's not to denigrate any attempt that's made (successfully or otherwise) as it is a MASSIVE challenge however it's undertaken. But, yeah, I intend on having a bash next year and aim to keep the support down to a minimum... probably one support per leg and a vehicle with supplies at all the usual points, but I'll certainly be carrying my own gear and supplies whilst running.

I don't see it as a case of a right or wrong way of doing the round (not that you're implying that), just personal preference as to what's the most enjoyable way. Some go solo unsupported, others in large groups with loads of support, and most people are somewhere inbetween. Personally, my preference is more towards the "minimal" approach.

[sore legs]

Well perhaps I will get lynched if people find me - as you have said Hank - it is not degenerating from anyones attempt or approach - whichever way that may be.

I would certainly like to do it with a good group of friends - but would never ask anyone to carry my equipment, so the minimalist approach would be similar to yours. But I would equally like to do it completely solo.

At the end of the day the most important thing is the enjoyment (successful or not) and I have never stated anything different.

[Hank]

Well perhaps I will get lynched if people find me - as you have said Hank - it is not degenerating from anyones attempt or approach - whichever way that may be.

I would certainly like to do it with a good group of friends - but would never ask anyone to carry my equipment, so the minimalist approach would be similar to yours. But I would equally like to do it completely solo.

At the end of the day the most important thing is the enjoyment (successful or not) and I have never stated anything different.

Well, y'know, sacred cows and all that!

It's a vaild point of view and I don't think you've said anything remotely offensive. Everyone's got a preferred way of doing things.

[Mark G]

I've done quite a lot of pacing over the years. Sometimes I've paced someone, gone home, gone to bed, got up, gone to work, gone home, had tea etc - and thought of them still out there, still going, and hopefully by then nearing the end. This really brought it home to me just how far and long it is - So I've supported a fair few people over the years and I can navigate for them, carry kit and food etc, encourage them along and help them over Broad Stand with or without a rope but I cant do the running for them (or even for myself for that matter but I haven't given up hope) - So whatever help anyone gives them ultimately they themselves have to put one foot in front of the other for far enough and long enough and quickly enough to get round. I have appreciated and enjoyed the pacing I have done, especially when the person has got round and I feel that I have helped in some way - whether its finding the way in the dark or just carrying some extra food or kit - and surely one of the great traditions of fell running is the support and help we give each other during races so why should the BG be any different?

[wheezing donkey]

The other point that has not been stated, in support of 'supported' rounds, is that the contenders are following in the footsteps of Bob Graham; who was accompanied at various stages of his original round by 2 or 3 different friends. If you were to accompany a friend for say 10 or 12 miles of any 65 mile journey, you would need to be a very churlish individual not to offer to carry their rucksack for that 10 or 12 miles; thereby giving them a little respite for the remainder of their journey. I have never completed (even attempted) a BG round, but am an avid BG supporter/pacer. On the other side of the coin, for my 50th summer I completed an unaccompanied, unsupported, unreccied, high level, 9 day Scottish coast to coast, carrying my own 18lb pack + water. So I do appreciate both sides of your discussion.