Jon walking toward Rob, Steve and I behind him.
It’s the week before the West Highland Way 100 in Scotland and we’re spending the week sleeping and exploring trails in England’s Lake District. One happy coincidence of this is that we had the rare chance to see good friends Jon Steele and Steve Walker on their Bob Graham Round attempt.
So what, you may ask, is the Bob Graham Round? In facts, the Round is 42 peaks and one of the most demanding challenges in England. With an ascent of approximately 28,500ft and an approximate distance of 74 miles. In myth, it’s a feat that was:
first done way back in 1932 by Bob Graham, hotelier of Keswick, Cumberland, at the age of 42, the 42 Peak Round has become a testing ground for the supremely fit. Each summer around 100 of the most highly tuned ultra-distance fell runners will attempt the 27,000 ft of ascent within the allotted 24 hours. Only one in three will return to the Keswick Moot Hall before the clock runs down. Most of the rest will be back again…. Have you got what it takes?”
I can’t think of a good American equivalent.
Jon and Steve set off from Moot Hall in Keswick, near where we’re staying a little earlier than we could wake our jet-lagged selves up, but the plan was to meet Mark Barnes, a mutual friend and our crew for the West Highland Way, at their waystop in Wasdale Head.
Mark talking to Jon at the stop in Wasdale Head.
Rob and I navigated to the parking lot, only to see them already there in the middle of re-fueling, half an hour ahead of schedule. Ironically enough, Mark was in the car driving in behind us. We hurriedly parked and talked with the pair for a few precious minutes, trying to say hellos we hadn’t been able to say in person since August, while not distracting or slowing them down.
Rob and I had loosely planned to join them if it wouldn’t hinder them for their next leg, the ascent up Scafell Pike, England’s tallest peak. The two, though, were ahead of schedule and since we weren’t ready, we wished them luck and waved them off. We’ll see Jon again in August at UTMB in France; Steve, we weren’t at the time sure when.
Jon and Steve getting ready for Scafell Pike, Mark lending moral support.
Rob and I spent the rest of the afternoon making the climb and descent of Scafell, a trail with truly awesome views. It was another great day.
This morning, we got word from Mark that neither had made the full round. They’re both talented 100-mile runners and this was a great effort by both. Fortunately for us, it worked out during the day that Steve will now be crewing for us at West Highland Way, so we get to see him again sooner than we see Jon.
Life is about taking risks, especially the ones you really feel it in your heart to take. The really juicy goals are rarely the easy ones. You never know what something like the Round will be like until you try it and as Wayne Gretsky said, “you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” I’m proud of them both for giving it a shot and sure they won’t let one close call keep them from completing it.
It was great being there for such a small part of this one – I can’t wait to hear (or be around) for the next!
