10,000ft a week

[MorganW]

Climbing's sorted out. How about distance, what the longest run or walk people do in training?

I'd never run further than Wasdale 85 before I set off Merry, but I had a good few years of long fell walking in my system.

My fell running only started at the back end of 1984 and Langdale 84 was my first ever race.

Managed plenty of recceing with Ambleside team mates and did a couple of long days pacing Alan Heaton on his Wainwrights.

I did 1 70 mile week in training but was so f**ked, I had to take a week off to recover. I was a nipper remember.

OCTs will be good prep and you have the Fellsman 09 under your belt already.

Bob's right; the physical prep is relevant but perhaps not the crucial factor. Mental strength has a big role to play, and desire.

Map out some plans you think might suit and get going on them. But be ready to re-think if all seems not be going well.

[Bob]

Bob, when you say 25miles / week was that 25miles in the Lakes? How much climbing did you do on average?

I did 487 miles in the twenty weeks prior to my BG, so 24 miles/week.
Mainly round here with days over in the Lakes recceing particular sections - http://bobwightman.co.uk/run/diary_2005.php - probably averaged 4000' of ascent per week and that definitely wasn't enough

Back to the mental attitude point. One of the training days in the Lakes was with Ali, another Bowland runner and a friend of mine from the Lakes. We headed over to Wasdale to recce leg 4. It was raining in the valley and it is the only time I've ever worn full waterproofs when setting off on a run. By the top of Yewbarrow the rain was snow and there was a full covering of wet snow on the ground. We only saw three other people all day the weather was that bad, an absolutely foul day. It was then that I realised that I'd got the determination to get round. Though all four of us admitted that we wouldn't have set off had we been alone.

[Derby Tup]

The diary makes interesting reading Bob. Thanks

[stevefoster]

Thanks for the replies guys, like the idea of an early morning start and just keep going till dark. Know what i did in prep for Fellsman so similair for next year. Longest i did was a solo 40 miler and only had one bad patch on the Fellsman, last 3m on tarmac and my ankles were playing up.
Been averaging 40-50m a week since may, with an easy week every 3 or 4, lost weight, feel good, need to keep it ticking over for the rest of the year and stay injury free.
Fancying the OCT instead of Fellsman next year.

[Stolly]

Merry I'd say you'll comfortably do a Bob Graham Round, no sweat. If I were you though I'd just concentrate on the not getting injured bit the most and maybe be careful about entering actual races, particularly in the January to May stretch if youre thinking of BGR'ing in June. And if you do race, don't actually um.. race if you know what I mean.

Getting round the fellsman with a crocked ankle this year was all too scary and painful - trying to do a Bob Graham carrying a similar injury would be horrendous.

[stevefoster]

Merry I'd say you'll comfortably do a Bob Graham Round, no sweat. If I were you though I'd just concentrate on the not getting injured bit the most and maybe be careful about entering actual races, particularly in the January to May stretch if youre thinking of BGR'ing in June. And if you do race, don't actually um.. race if you know what I mean.

Getting round the fellsman with a crocked ankle this year was all too scary and painful - trying to do a Bob Graham carrying a similar injury would be horrendous.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Stolly Everything i do from November onwards will be training for the BG, not racing. Race times never that important to me anyway, just enjoy the running and the crack with like-minded folk.

Crocked ankle or not, you didn't jack and finished the Fellsman, and endured the worst bit in shorts, you hero you

I may sweat a bit on the BG though!!!!!

[stevefoster]

iirc Daz did a double Marsden-Edale when he was BGR training. I've fancied it for years (its one of THE classic bog trots). You up for one early next year merry?

Sounds good DT, ready for anything me

[Derby Tup]

Merry I'd say you'll comfortably do a Bob Graham Round, no sweat. If I were you though I'd just concentrate on the not getting injured bit the most and maybe be careful about entering actual races, particularly in the January to May stretch if youre thinking of BGR'ing in June. And if you do race, don't actually um.. race if you know what I mean.

Getting round the fellsman with a crocked ankle this year was all too scary and painful - trying to do a Bob Graham carrying a similar injury would be horrendous.

Good point Stolly re not overdoing it and / or injury avoidance

Fancy a cheeky trot round next summer?

[Derby Tup]

Sounds good DT, ready for anything me

I'm thinking about another bash at the Round Rotherham 50 next month too

[Stolly]

Fancy a cheeky trot round next summer?

I can feel the urge coming on