VOOM Athlete and Ambleside AC fell runner Gavin Dale completed the Bob Graham Round earlier today in an outstanding 14:57, taking some 38 minutes of Finlay Wild’s previous ‘Winter Bob’ record. The round, which covers around 66 miles, summiting 42 Lake District peaks, was run in true winter conditions with snow falling during legs 1 and 2, and snow and ice on many of the summits.
Gavin headed out supported by some quality runners in their own right, at 9PM on Monday evening, returning to the Moot Hall in Keswick around 12 midday on Tuesday to applause from supporters and bystanders alike.
Gavin spoke to Kong Running after taking the record...
"This had everything. Snow, ice, 10hrs of darkness. Sliding on icy rock all the way to Scafell Pike. Frozen scree off Blencathra. Beautiful, hard packed trail off Pillar.
But the people? The people were what made this so special. People who tolerated constant changes to the schedule as I desperately looked for the best weather window. Who stepped in at the last minute when plans changed. People who ran with me for hours through the night in snow and ice, cheerful the whole time. I've never experienced such an outpouring of support, advice and help from so many wonderful individuals. To me, that's what the Bob Graham is first and foremost: it's a community.
I trained hard for this, I worked hard, and I'm absolutely stoked. It wasn't all easy, it was never meant to be. But my god was it fun. Fusion Fuel to the very end, many bars, plus caffeine bars at strategic moments!
I'm planning to write something a little longer online, because it's too hard and too special to summarise on here. All pacers and crew are listed below, but there are countless others who have offered me advice and support along the way. Hopefully you know who you are.
Leg 1: Rich Keefe, Jack Macatear, Will Barton
Leg 2: Ross Spalding, Harry Cooking, Josh Wade
Leg 3: Tom Simpson, Bobby Gard-Storry
Leg 4: Kim Collinson, James Harris
Leg 5: Holly Wootten, Kim Collinson, James Harris
(also Jack Oliver and Gary Gregory coming out to support)
And the most exceptional road crew, @andydicksonforce4good and @lisa_bergerud
Shout out to Tara for being my weather guru. And Hannah for preventing me from turning into a pile of stress in the days beforehand as I rewrote the schedule for a third time.."
The Bob Graham club defines a winter round as a round being attempted during the period starting December 1st and running until the end of February. The previous record holder, Finlay Wild, who had chosen to complete his round unsupported, recorded a time of 15:35.
