21:00. April 12, 2019.
66 mile, 27,000 ft of ascent, 42 of the highest peaks in the Lake District. Yes, this is the Bob Graham Round.
Many Ellenborough AC runners have completed the feat, and now we have another member to join the club.
Dava Williams completed his round over the weekend in a brilliant time of 21:48.
In the weeks leading up to the attempt, everyone was checking the dreaded weather forecast. Ellenborough seem to have a nasty habit of attracting only the worst that mother nature can throw at them. However on this occasion, the forecast was for perfectly clear sunny skies. Not one member was jealous of this 😜. Some even hinting that it wouldn’t count as a proper round 🤣
So it all looked good. And it was all good, until the lads reached the 1st summit (Skiddaw). You could feel the icy cold wind almost freezing any exposed skin. That wasn’t to be the worst of it though. That was on leg 2. Once up the Dodds and heading over towards Helvellyn, the wind chill was around minus 13. Dava put on as many clothes as possible as well as a bigger pair of gloves. It really was that cold.
We thought the temperature would increase over leg 3 as the sun came up. It certainly didn’t feel like it, the icy wind on the tops still forcing the lads to pull up there hoods, buffs etc.
The clear skies did provide us with a brilliant sunrise however 😃.
Legs 4 & 5 still maintained the cold wind but was becoming more bearable. Just…..
Moving across the ground wasn’t too bad as the fells themselves were really dry given the time of year.
The whole day/night seemed to go without much mishap.
Dava’s only complaint’s were on leg 2 with a dodgy stomach making it difficult to get any food down. Then on leg 4 with cramp in both thighs, brought on by the 3,000ft drop off sca fell at the end of leg 3. However non of this seemed to slow him down, keeping a good pace going throughout.
The elbra train never fails 🚂
A brilliant day out on the fells
#elbra
Congratulation Dava 💪