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?

[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.

[Fellmincer]

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.

Interesting comment above, and then i spotted your comment below on Emmilou's successful BGR yesterday;

I have just caught up on all the news.

Fantastic achievement WELL DONE.

You should have clarified to Emmilou that her round is not as much of an achievement. Have you done the BGR - supported/unsupported/solo supported/solo unsupported?

[lilactime]

if you do it solo how do you get proof ?

[IanDarkpeak]

if you do it solo how do you get proof ?

Simple-you can't,

Edit- if you want to join the BG club that is.

it would be a personal challenge.

[sore legs]

Interesting comment above, and then i spotted your comment below on Emmilou's successful BGR yesterday;

You should have clarified to Emmilou that her round is not as much of an achievement. Have you done the BGR - supported/unsupported/solo supported/solo unsupported?

If you have indeed seen the complete threads then you will also have seen that I also stated that no matter how you do the attempt it is a fantastic achievement and that nothing should be taken away from that fact, and I have great admiration to those that have done so - it was a question as to whether it should be in 2 catagories - supported & unsupported - like alot of ardurous events such as 'to the southpole type races'.

It was a mere post to prompt discussion and to view peoples opinions (those that are far more experienced than me in this world) on the subject - not to detract or be-little from anyones past present or future BG attempts. As for how you have perceived my comment on Emmilou's achievement - well I think that you have got it wrong, there is nothing else to say apart from it was a fantastic achievement and one that only a few will ever achieve and nothing can detract from that and neither should it.

How someone attempts their BGR is obviously personal and in relation as to how and what they wish to gain from it.

You ask whether I have done the BGR - no not yet - one day I may get round to it.

[Stagger]

It was a mere post to prompt discussion and to view peoples opinions (those that are far more experienced than me in this world) on the subject - not to detract or be-little from anyones past present or future BG attempts.

You ask whether I have done the BGR - no not yet - one day I may get round to it.

Good thread Sore Legs and nice to promote a little disscussion BUT some things my be a little close to the nerve.

I think I understand what questions you were posing and I can also see how some have taken it the wrong way.

Good luck to yourself Sir if you do make an attempt on the BG.

[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

[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?