nuttyspaniel
Well-Known Member
Maybe but he wants Scottish citizen ship.. I must say this is elevating his case...
Nutty
Thar and his EPIC run
- Thread starter norseman
- Start date
Maybe but he wants Scottish citizen ship.. I must say this is elevating his case...
Nutty
jungle_re
Well-Known Member
Awesome mate excellent achievement, enjoyed chatting to you when you first said you were doing it on the forum glad I caught the celebratory post. Really well done and to those who were his support runners no mean feet (excuse the pun) in its own right
so........
Ramsey round next or a winter bob?
Kind regards
Will
so........
Ramsey round next or a winter bob?
Kind regards
Will
Thar
Well-Known Member
Tahr’s back! Oh no some will say! I have put my rifles away for 10 months to train for this but now I am back after the stags.
Norseman is some chap himself, what he didn’t mention even to me, is he nearly killed himself trying to get a rope up on Broad stand (a rock climb between the mountains of Scarfell Pike and Scarfell) which saves you a few minutes as you then don’t have to drop down then back up again, he fell while free climbing up it while water was running down and slippy moss took his grip away.
As some of you know my wife suffered a brain tumour in 2008 and although she is OK at the minute we live under the shadow of a possible return. My mate who trained for the London Marathon in 2010 lost his wife to a brain tumour this year; he was one of my support runners for leg 5. My best work colleague has just finished radiation treatment for a tumour. Therefore I was raising money for the Brain Tumour Charity.
I ended up with a smashed up left leg in A+E see photo, I also collapsed twice in the BB and asked the wife who she was as she helped me to my feet. Oh and then there was the little fact of going blind in the last 5 miles and having to be guided by my hand by support runners. (You can read all about that in the other post.) I am fine myself now and itching to get out running again.
In life some people say they have given 100%, at the end that day I can say I did and know it was true.
As for now, I think I will use the fitness to bag a few PBs, I will also help a few others get round the BG, then perhaps an Ironman, although I am told that they are easy compared to the BG.
Good to be back, I was starting to miss the hills without a rifle.
I got shin splints in my left leg at about 35 miles in, I ran the rest of the round in pain when running down hill and the flats only when climbing did it easy, worse case of shin splints the doc had ever seen. He shook his head and said "amazing what the body will do if the mind is willing".
All the very best to you all.
Tahr
Norseman is some chap himself, what he didn’t mention even to me, is he nearly killed himself trying to get a rope up on Broad stand (a rock climb between the mountains of Scarfell Pike and Scarfell) which saves you a few minutes as you then don’t have to drop down then back up again, he fell while free climbing up it while water was running down and slippy moss took his grip away.
As some of you know my wife suffered a brain tumour in 2008 and although she is OK at the minute we live under the shadow of a possible return. My mate who trained for the London Marathon in 2010 lost his wife to a brain tumour this year; he was one of my support runners for leg 5. My best work colleague has just finished radiation treatment for a tumour. Therefore I was raising money for the Brain Tumour Charity.
I ended up with a smashed up left leg in A+E see photo, I also collapsed twice in the BB and asked the wife who she was as she helped me to my feet. Oh and then there was the little fact of going blind in the last 5 miles and having to be guided by my hand by support runners. (You can read all about that in the other post.) I am fine myself now and itching to get out running again.
In life some people say they have given 100%, at the end that day I can say I did and know it was true.
As for now, I think I will use the fitness to bag a few PBs, I will also help a few others get round the BG, then perhaps an Ironman, although I am told that they are easy compared to the BG.
Good to be back, I was starting to miss the hills without a rifle.
I got shin splints in my left leg at about 35 miles in, I ran the rest of the round in pain when running down hill and the flats only when climbing did it easy, worse case of shin splints the doc had ever seen. He shook his head and said "amazing what the body will do if the mind is willing".
All the very best to you all.
Tahr
Last edited:
Thar
Well-Known Member
The Bob Graham round has 5 legs, usually people take a short 10/15 minutes brake after each leg and get fresh support runners/pacers. Below is a write up of the last leg, even if you are not a runner you might enjoy it. It might be a little difficult for those who are not involved with Ultra Distant running/cycling events to believe some of the events but they are all true. Enjoy.
Sometimes the facts and fingers of a Bob Graham round tells so little of the story, I will not tell the whole story now in this post but quickly to thank those who helped me achieve the BG and mention what was perhaps the defying leg of the round.
Thank you to Louise (my wife), friends, family, Annan and District Athletic Club (must be the best running club in the world in its own way) and the Fell runner Association forum, without you lot I couldn’t have achieved it.
LEG 5 in now or never.
In the second half of leg 4 I was struggling and it was looking like the grave yard of the BG as it is sometimes called was about to get another headstone, I came into check point 5 at Honister around a 1 hour down, sitting in the chair I was pretty done in, while theoretically it was still possible it was hanging in the balance, if I didn’t man up it could have slipped from my grasp. I had 3 pacers and a Navigator for leg 5 but then like the cavalry to the rescue club mates and pacers that had already done one or even two legs stepped forward to run the leg, some had only planned to go the top of Dale head, or just stop at the road. In the end they all stopped with me to the end.
I set my mind to it, still trying to work out if I could do it, I said to one of my pacers going up Dale Head, “I am not going to do it” he said “you will complete it”, I said “not in 24 hours” he didn’t answer, I just thought to myself I am not going this far to fail! I dug deeper than ever before, pushing myself as hard as I could it was now or never. Running in the dark Roy and Rory ran in front route finding, while John, Shirley, Nigel, Gordon, Andy ran with me lighting the way picking the best path feeding me gels and mint cake, somehow we hit Robinson in 2 hours! 16 minutes up on 22:30 schedule and ran in the dark, next we had the descent off Robinson, this was one part of the Bob that I have never recced, I had done out and back from both ends but not this bit.
Up until this point I had noticed while running on the grass it looked like long grass but I knew it was short, I thought it was just shadows and just got on with it. Coming down Robinson I thought my head torch was playing up as I had a strange shadow at the bottom of my eyes, hitting grass farm track I realized that my eye sight was going, I had a black line like a blind slowly working up my eye cutting down my vision, (I had read about the phenomena in a book by a USA Ultra runner) I knew I had reach the gate before the tarmac while I still had vision ,as that running and pick my way on the track while being guided would slow me down too much. I pushed as hard as I could even telling one pacers to get out the way! Once I got to the gate “I shouted my eye sight gone! Somebody hold my hand a guide me”. With John holding one hand and his partner Shirley holding the other I ran with my eyes shut, I found that after running with my eyes shut for a while the at the line restricting my vision had receded , but as I ran with my eyes open it started to come back.
I got to Newlands Church where I was going to change to my road shoes, also here were waiting were my “road runners” Andy and my brother Steve. I said I am not stopping; I was wearing my old InoV8 318 trail running shoes and knew these were good on the road. Now Andy and Gordon grabbed a hand each, somebody said we have 70 minutes, I thought then, I can do this! By now Graham and Dave from other legs had joined us, at each hill the lads gave me a commentary, downhill coming, the road’s flat, uphill now! At the first up hills I opened my eyes and said run it or walk it, but after the first two hills I didn’t even open my eyes just said run it. As we approached the foot bridge we met a couple coming the other way, with Gordon and Andy holding my hands Gordon shout out don’t worry we are a gay threesome! Down the foot path somebody held the gates open but with three of us running abreast Andy kept getting nettled much to Gordon amusement. Over the bridge and now a straight run to Moot Hall, somebody had shouted we had been clocking 8 minute miles, if it wasn’t for the pain in my left shin from shin splits I could have gone quicker. My brother had only taken up running 10 months ago after I asked if he would pace for me on leg 5, afterwards he said he did a personal best for 5 miles that night running with me doing it in 40 minutes. So in the high street I picked up the pace and kicked for the finish, the late night revellers were milling about, I think if any of them had got in the way they would have been lynched by my supporters! Up the steps kissed the door of Moot Hall job done.
Afterwards in the pub somebody said it was like a Rocky film, at Honister I came in out for the count hardly able to keep my eyes open my left leg is wrecked, my right was a little better, as I sat on my chair my crew worked on me to get me out for the final round, I was behind on points and the 7 foot Russian was laughing at me, I needed a knockout punch to win. The crowd was going mad cheering me on (my supporters) I ran myself until blind to knock the Russian out!
I dedicate my round to those who rounds I have supported on and you haven’t quite made it yet, because it was the little bits of things I learnt on your rounds I was able to bring to mine and make it a success.
To, Daz, Brian, Bill, Roy and Richard for you, your time will come. Then to Len, who at nearly 80 now tried 6 times and never quite got there, one for us against the mountains.
Tahr.
Sometimes the facts and fingers of a Bob Graham round tells so little of the story, I will not tell the whole story now in this post but quickly to thank those who helped me achieve the BG and mention what was perhaps the defying leg of the round.
Thank you to Louise (my wife), friends, family, Annan and District Athletic Club (must be the best running club in the world in its own way) and the Fell runner Association forum, without you lot I couldn’t have achieved it.
LEG 5 in now or never.
In the second half of leg 4 I was struggling and it was looking like the grave yard of the BG as it is sometimes called was about to get another headstone, I came into check point 5 at Honister around a 1 hour down, sitting in the chair I was pretty done in, while theoretically it was still possible it was hanging in the balance, if I didn’t man up it could have slipped from my grasp. I had 3 pacers and a Navigator for leg 5 but then like the cavalry to the rescue club mates and pacers that had already done one or even two legs stepped forward to run the leg, some had only planned to go the top of Dale head, or just stop at the road. In the end they all stopped with me to the end.
I set my mind to it, still trying to work out if I could do it, I said to one of my pacers going up Dale Head, “I am not going to do it” he said “you will complete it”, I said “not in 24 hours” he didn’t answer, I just thought to myself I am not going this far to fail! I dug deeper than ever before, pushing myself as hard as I could it was now or never. Running in the dark Roy and Rory ran in front route finding, while John, Shirley, Nigel, Gordon, Andy ran with me lighting the way picking the best path feeding me gels and mint cake, somehow we hit Robinson in 2 hours! 16 minutes up on 22:30 schedule and ran in the dark, next we had the descent off Robinson, this was one part of the Bob that I have never recced, I had done out and back from both ends but not this bit.
Up until this point I had noticed while running on the grass it looked like long grass but I knew it was short, I thought it was just shadows and just got on with it. Coming down Robinson I thought my head torch was playing up as I had a strange shadow at the bottom of my eyes, hitting grass farm track I realized that my eye sight was going, I had a black line like a blind slowly working up my eye cutting down my vision, (I had read about the phenomena in a book by a USA Ultra runner) I knew I had reach the gate before the tarmac while I still had vision ,as that running and pick my way on the track while being guided would slow me down too much. I pushed as hard as I could even telling one pacers to get out the way! Once I got to the gate “I shouted my eye sight gone! Somebody hold my hand a guide me”. With John holding one hand and his partner Shirley holding the other I ran with my eyes shut, I found that after running with my eyes shut for a while the at the line restricting my vision had receded , but as I ran with my eyes open it started to come back.
I got to Newlands Church where I was going to change to my road shoes, also here were waiting were my “road runners” Andy and my brother Steve. I said I am not stopping; I was wearing my old InoV8 318 trail running shoes and knew these were good on the road. Now Andy and Gordon grabbed a hand each, somebody said we have 70 minutes, I thought then, I can do this! By now Graham and Dave from other legs had joined us, at each hill the lads gave me a commentary, downhill coming, the road’s flat, uphill now! At the first up hills I opened my eyes and said run it or walk it, but after the first two hills I didn’t even open my eyes just said run it. As we approached the foot bridge we met a couple coming the other way, with Gordon and Andy holding my hands Gordon shout out don’t worry we are a gay threesome! Down the foot path somebody held the gates open but with three of us running abreast Andy kept getting nettled much to Gordon amusement. Over the bridge and now a straight run to Moot Hall, somebody had shouted we had been clocking 8 minute miles, if it wasn’t for the pain in my left shin from shin splits I could have gone quicker. My brother had only taken up running 10 months ago after I asked if he would pace for me on leg 5, afterwards he said he did a personal best for 5 miles that night running with me doing it in 40 minutes. So in the high street I picked up the pace and kicked for the finish, the late night revellers were milling about, I think if any of them had got in the way they would have been lynched by my supporters! Up the steps kissed the door of Moot Hall job done.
Afterwards in the pub somebody said it was like a Rocky film, at Honister I came in out for the count hardly able to keep my eyes open my left leg is wrecked, my right was a little better, as I sat on my chair my crew worked on me to get me out for the final round, I was behind on points and the 7 foot Russian was laughing at me, I needed a knockout punch to win. The crowd was going mad cheering me on (my supporters) I ran myself until blind to knock the Russian out!
I dedicate my round to those who rounds I have supported on and you haven’t quite made it yet, because it was the little bits of things I learnt on your rounds I was able to bring to mine and make it a success.
To, Daz, Brian, Bill, Roy and Richard for you, your time will come. Then to Len, who at nearly 80 now tried 6 times and never quite got there, one for us against the mountains.
Tahr.
csl
Administrator
This is crazy! Is it lack of oxygen going to the eyes that causes it or what?
I once slipped and hit my head and when I got up I couldn't see... Everything was really dark but I remember the weird thing was my mate was asking how many fingers he had up and I was able to answer, it was like the information was getting through to my brain but the image just wasn't displaying correctly... it wore off after a few minutes but was genuinely frightening at the time!
Thar
Well-Known Member
Hi Alex
No it is a lack of a chemical call rhodopsin, the body needs vitamin A to produce this, although low blood pressure can play a part. I guess after 22 hours running my ass off I had stripped it of everything.
When done to the other site members that have completed this challenge, I know for some people it is hard to comprehend, but you lads will have been there, Oh I am 50 in just over a year so don’t anybody blame age for not doing something, it is the mind that is the limiting factor not the body.
ATB
Tahr
No it is a lack of a chemical call rhodopsin, the body needs vitamin A to produce this, although low blood pressure can play a part. I guess after 22 hours running my ass off I had stripped it of everything.
When done to the other site members that have completed this challenge, I know for some people it is hard to comprehend, but you lads will have been there, Oh I am 50 in just over a year so don’t anybody blame age for not doing something, it is the mind that is the limiting factor not the body.
ATB
Tahr
countrryboy
Well-Known Member
F**k that's impressive kev.
Unbelievable wot u have done, even more so when u read that extract.
Remind me never to moan to u after a hard day on the grouse
Ps Still no excuse for not showing up on sat to put the wheat out Just man up
Unbelievable wot u have done, even more so when u read that extract.
Remind me never to moan to u after a hard day on the grouse
Ps Still no excuse for not showing up on sat to put the wheat out
Just man up
basil
Distinguished Member
And to think that some of us gripe about the daftest things in life ...
Congratulations on a magnificent achievement Thar, hope your wife stays well.
Thar
Well-Known Member
F**k that's impressive kev.
Unbelievable wot u have done, even more so when u read that extract.
Remind me never to moan to u after a hard day on the grouse
Ps Still no excuse for not showing up on sat to put the wheat out
Hi Stu
Just back from the physio, I was hoping to get back swimming this weekend with the tri-club, then running next Tuesday, but my leg below the knee is still very swollen although it has its colour back. Physio says another 5 days of Rest Ice Compression Elevation. So here is me with the ice pack on again.
Hey Nutter, one of the support runners from down south called me and my mate, Fing Jock animals, because of the way we demolished hills, is that a compliment or insult? Ha ha.
No Ramsey or Paddy round for me (Scottish and Welsh equivalents of the BOB) too much else to do and I am not taking another 10 months out of stalking.
I forgot to mention Gordon who held my hand while running into Keswick, lost his wife to a brain tumour rhis year.
ATB
Tahr
Bandit Country
Well-Known Member
BUMP - Just reading the story is worth a quid or two of anyone's money....
Donations can still be made for this epic achievement at: Fundraiser profile page - BT MyDonate
Web site is open until the end of September.
Donations can still be made for this epic achievement at: Fundraiser profile page - BT MyDonate
Web site is open until the end of September.
Thar
Well-Known Member
A big thank you for the BUMP, but also for your most generous donation Bandit, I will also thank others off the SD who have sponsored me, what is amazing is some of you guys have never met me, thanks guys.
I hope to go for my first run tonight, just a gentle club run, I was stalking on the stags last week without any problems so hopefully the leg will be OK and I have recovered.
Thanks again Gents
Tahr
I hope to go for my first run tonight, just a gentle club run, I was stalking on the stags last week without any problems so hopefully the leg will be OK and I have recovered.
Thanks again Gents
Tahr
If that happens again mate simply eat a polar bear liver, full of vitamin A.
Joking apart, I did my first 10k race for over six years on Sunday, pleased that I did it but cross with myself for letting my fitness go. Once upon a time hearing about Thars achievements would have inspired me to do something similar, now I can't even comprehend the fitness, commitment and willpower required. Bloody good on you.
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