Winter Hill Runner, Samantha Sale, completed one the toughest Lakeland challenges - the Bob Graham Round - last week.
First run in 1932, the race is a tough 66 miles run over a set 42 peaks in the Lake District which must be 2,000 feet or higher within 24 hours.
The Bob Graham Round is divided into five separate legs at road crossings where a new support crew of navigator and supporter will take over from the previous duo, sometimes trio.
This is not done just for safety but also to verify the tops of each fell are reached.
Sale set off in good weather and clear skies at 8.30pm on the Friday night with her first support crew on leg one up Skiddaw little man, Skiddaw, Great Calva and Blencathra before dropping down into Threlkeld for the first changeover of supporter only as her friend and ultra runner navigating leg one also opted to navigate leg two.
With another friend and ultra runner, Antonio Codina, by her side, Sale set of on leg two and made good progress on the climb up Clough Head before some good running over a few peaks to Helvellyn, Nethermost and Dollywagon Pike before the steep descents and ascents of Fairfield and Seat Sandal.
Then it was a sharp descent and changeover of crew where friend and local Keswickian, Jacob Tonkin, took over the navigator’s baton for leg three.
By this time, it was 5.30am and Sale had run through the night to reach this point. With friend Melissa Anglesea on road support making sure Sale had quickly eaten something, and with her support having reserves, Sale set off on leg three up Steel Fell and over the Langdale Pikes, where the weather turned cold and windy making visibility poor which, combined with the tough terrain, made the running slow going and extra layers were needed.
Next it was over to Scafell and Scafell Pike via Lords Rake before a great scree descent into Wasdale for the change over to leg four.
Having lost time on leg three, Sale had left quite a bit to do to make sure she got round in under 24 hours but with expert navigator B.Williamson and friend Albert Sunter on the leg, there was a determination she would finish.
Fortunately, the next two legs had plenty of climbing and good runnable sections which were just Sale’s forte, and she soon made up time, gaining 15 minutes back in the first hour.
With three hours to go, Sale feeling good and moving well flew through Honister Pass, the next checkpoint and set off up Dale Head fell with friend, Adrian Hope, navigating. Then it was along to Hindscarth and the final fell, Robinson, before the grassy descent and six miles road run back to Moot Hall in Keswick with friend Lindsay Brindle by her side.
Sale arrived back at Moot Hall on Saturday evening at 7.56pm, finishing in a fantastic time of 23hrs 34mins.
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