bob graham without traini

[Martyn P]

I know two different people who came from pure road-running backgrounds trained on flat for London Marathon mid-April (clocked about 2:50) did a few hilly long-days-out, then completed BG 3rd week June. (doubt they did a single 10,000-ft week)

But that's the point isn't it Daz? If you're capable of knocking out a 2:50 marathon you are, by definition, a decent runner and can perhaps launch a BGR attempt without the training that conventional wisdom dictates. Presumably said individuals enlisted decent navigators to lead them round? Or did they self-navigate? There's no rule that says you have to know the route before an attempt, but it for most normal mortals it's key.