Support Runners Info

Date and Leg Number	Checkpoint Start	Support Runners	confirmed okay	Start	Est. Start time	Finish	Est Finish time
Day 1  - Sat 14th June
1	CP1	Paul Cornforth/Nicholas Barber	NB,PC	Keswick moot Hall	09:00	Borrowdale school	14:17
2	CP2	Schoffer/Malcolm Patterson(from honister 5pm)/Jim Mann	SS/MP/Jim Mann	Borrowdale school	14:22	Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater	22:30
3	CP3	Andy Bradley/ Nicholas Barber/Richard Suddaby	NB,AB	Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater	22:40	Ennerdale Water car park	02:20
Day 2  -Sun 15th June
4	CP4	Bill Williamson,poss Richard McGrath, poss Andy Bradley (will see how far get),Tom Brunt	BW/TB	Ennerdale Water car park	04:20	Wasdale road nr YHA	11:58
5	CP5	Karen and Dan Parker,	KDP	Wasdale road nr YHA	12:08	Hard Knott Pass	20:58
6	CP6	unlikely  Chris Little/Ryan Wood /Peter Murphy,Steph Scott	PM/SS /RW	Hard Knott Pass	21:03	Duddon Road above Stepping stones	22:59
Day 3 - Mon 16th June
7	CP7	Chris Knowles,Ryan Wood ?/Peter Murphy	CK,PM,RW	Duddon Road above Stepping stones	02:59	Tilberthwaite Quarry Car Park	07:22
8	CP8	David Armstrong/Peter Murphy	DA,PM	Tilberthwaite Quarry Car Park	07:32	New Dungeon Gyll, Langdale	10:50
9	CP9	Ben Turner, David Armstrong	BT,DA	New Dungeon Gyll, Langdale	11:00	Rydal Church	19:55
10	CP10	Chris Knowles,Jeff PD	CK,JPD	Rydal Church	20:05	Kirkstone Pass Inn	04:07
Day 4 - Tuesday 17th June
11	CP11	,Andy Thompson	,AT,DW	Kirkstone Pass Inn	08:07	Mortal Man Hotel, Troutbeck possibly layby on road before limefitt as pub car park limited	13:53
12	CP12	, Andy Thompson,poss Steph Scott	,AT,DW	Mortal Man Hotel, Troutbeck , possibly layby before limefitt, as pub car park limited	14:03	Kentmere - High Lane	15:57
13	CP13	Nick Ray, poss Kim Collinson	KC,NR	Kentmere - High Lane	16:07	Martindale Church	00:13
Day 5 - Wednesday 18th June
14	CP14	Bill Stewart , poss Kim Collinson	KC,,BS	Martindale Church	04:13	Patterdale nr hotel White Lion car park , next to post office	09:38
15	CP15	,Bill Stewart , Kim Collinson	KC,,BS	Patterdale nr hotel ,White Lion car park, next to post office	09:48	Glenridding greenside mine road	15:02
16	CP16	Joe Faulkner, Syd Coxen, Richard Suddaby	,JF,RS	Glenridding greenside mine road	15:12	Royal Dockray hotel	21:12
17	CP17	Chris Baynham- Hughes,Jeff PD	CBH, JPD	Royal Dockray hotel	21:22	Souther Fell Road NOW OLD A66 LAYBY	00:26
Day 6 Thursday 19th June
18	CP18	Chris Baynham- Hughes,Jim Mann	CBH, JM	Souther Fell Road  NOW OLD A66 LAYBY	04:26	Mosedale road end (SP19)	08:46
19	CP19	Martin Indge, Chris Baynham-Hughes (all or to Great Cock -up !),Jim Mann	MI,CBH ,JM	Mosedale road end	08:56	Dodd Wood car park (SP20)	19:36
20	CP20	Lee Newton,Bill Stewart	BS,LN	Dodd Wood car park	19:46	Pheasant Inn (SP21)	23:19
Day 7 -Friday 20th June
21	CP21	Howard Seal, Lee Newton	HS,LN	Pheasant Inn	03:19	Hobcarton car park - Whinlatter (SP22)	07:57
22	CP22	Paul Hainsworth,Sam Ware	PH ,SW	Hobcarton car park - Whinlatter	08:07	Rannerdale car park (SP23)	11:05
23	CP23	Sam Ware, Howard Leslie (1st part)	SW/HL	Rannerdale car park	11:15	Newlands Hause (SP24)	18:08
24	CP24	Ryan Wood (part),Ben Thompson,Chris Baynham -Hughes	BT, CBH,	Newlands Hause	18:18	Keswick moot Hall (SP1)	23:11

Day 2 Update

Steve arrived at the Ennerdale about 45 minutes behind his schedule at 03:00 ish this morning having ran the 3rd leg with Andy Bradley, Nic Barber and Richard Suddaby. It was very midgy and Steve dived straight into the campervan to get some sleep and eat. Apparently he was dehydrated from the first days effort in the warm weather.

Unfortunately the two hour planned rest did not go to plan and Steve could neither sleep or keep any food down and he felt fairly despondent about his situation knowing he needed both quality sleep and food to keep going. Fortunately his wife Emma was on hand for some TLC.

At 05:05 this morning Steve set off again. With Richard McGrath, Andy Bradley, Tom Brunt and Bill Williamson as the support runners on leg 4. Bill Williamson had been sleepping nearby in his tent and in the rush to get off, no one remembered to wake him, so Bill had a late start and need to chase after Steve and other runners.

Above: Support Team at Wasdale

The support team drove round to Wasdale were Steve and team were due at 11:58 this morning. The support team arrived early and where able to organise all their kit at YHA Wasdale, who also allowed them all to get showers afterwards, so many thanks YHA Wasdale! The team also set up the support point in the Rare Goats Farm and wanted to thank the farmer for allowing them this excellent if impromptu site.

Steve arrived only 15 minutes down on his schedule in Wasdale and had cut the schedule deficit by 30 minutes. Apparently he was running well, eating well and drinking well again.

There was also a great surprise waiting for Steve in Wasdale with his children, Mathew, James and Hannah waiting for him with fathers day cards and presents. Spirits are high again.

Steve is now running leg 5 with his sister Karen and her husband Dan Parker.

With the warm weather (i.e. more water is required) and Steve’s speed over the fells the support runners have found that a third runner makes life much easier for all and if any runners would like to support Steve please have a look at the support schedule on the right and look for the legs where Steve has only two supporters. If you would like to help, please contact Jane Saul on 07624417109 by TEXT to let her know your details and where you intent to help. Do bear in mind that Steve is averaging about 6 miles per hour over the fells though, so you’ll need to be able to keep up!

Jim Mann Describes Leg 2

This morning I have spoken with Jim Mann who was one of the support runners on Saturday’s leg 2. Jim provided a fascinating insight into yesterdays running and the highs and lows experienced. Based on a brief telephone call I have summarised Jim’s words below. I hope I have all the details correct!

“Overall Steve was going well and leg 2 was a success. He seemed to switch quickly between highs (going faster) and lows (going slower) and this really reinforced the importance of getting the hydration and nutrition right. The first 1½ were muggy and warm but then the temperature started to drop and there was a little rain, and Steve picked up noticeably at this point and I know that the warm muggy weather earlier was Steve’s not preferred running conditions.

Steve had long periods of good form and was particularly strong on the hills going over Great Cable and Kirk Fell. Stopping to re-fill our water bottles it was a struggle to catch back up and I had to work hard (Shane’s note – bear in mind that Jim won the LAMM elite at the beginning of the month and he is quick up hill!).

Arriving at Loweswater Steve seemed in good shape but after a twenty minute stop (we had planned for 10 minutes), Steve seemed slow to get going again and had stiffened up. He was clearly looking and feeling a bit tired but I’d expect that after 13+ hard hours running on the fells.

At the top of Mellbreak I’d ask Steve directly how it felt and he said. “Tired but no problems or injuries”.

Steve was taking a no nonsense approach and running hard lines in the hills:  pretty much straight lining everything, ignoring the easier running on the less direct and taking a real mountain marathon approach.

Asking Steve about his schedule he explained that the mapping software accounts for height gain and loss in the predicted time, but it does not account for the terrain. Obviously some of the terrain is much more runable than other sections and so Steve is not worried if he is loosing or gaining 5-10, 10-20 minutes here and there."

Clarifying this point with Jim, he felt Steve could easily afford to loose or gain and hour or two over the first four days and that would make no difference to his predicted finish time over 7 days.

Thanks for the update Jim.

Steve Birkinshaw starts his Wainwright Record Attempt - Day 1

The early morning shopper’s looked a little bewildered this morning as a large group of friends and family clapped and cheered as Steve (with support runners Nic Barber and Paul Cornforth) set off from Moot Hall in Keswick at 0900 sharp. Steve will attempt to break the 27-year-old Joss Naylor record for visiting all the Lake District Wainwrights (the 214 summits described in described in A. Wainwright's seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells). The current record is 7 days a 1 hour.

The night before Steve seemed relaxed and found time to play with his kids, whilst Jane Soul (chief organiser/help), Alison Scott and Alison Herbert sorted out mountains of food and kit for the week ahead. There is an incredible number of people helping with this challenge and a huge amount of organisation taking place.

According to his support runners, it sounds as though Steve started a little faster than the planned schedule this morning but once up on the tussocky High Seat he settled into a good rhythm and is bang on his forecast schedule.

His first leg finished at Borrowdale School and Andy Schofield (Schoffer), Malcolm Patterson and Jim Mann stepped in as the support runners for leg 2 through to Kirkstile Inn in Loweswater, which they are expected to arrive at 22:30 this evening. Right now (20:42) Steve is 500m from Great Borne and right on Schedule (you can follow the live tracking by click the link on the left).

Apparently Schoffer has been out in the fells over the last few days stashing cans of coke and Eccles cakes ready for Steve to collect!

At Kirstile Inn the intention is for Andy Bradley, Nic Barber (who was supporting on leg 1 earlier today) and possibly Malcolm Patterson (who will have just ran leg 2) to continue with Steve to Ennerdale Water car park. That will be day one complete with 87.7km with an incredible 6,022m of ascent in the bank.

Below are some photos from day one.

Ready to go

Well I all packed and ready to go. I am feeling surprisingly relaxed at the moment, I am going to do my best and see what happens. Whatever happens it will be a memorable journey with my friends amongst the fells.

I have just managed to squeeze another meal in. So all I need now is a good nights sleep and I will be ready to go at 9am tomorrow morning.

Hopefully there will be regular blog updates from Shane Ohly, Jane Saul, Charles Scott and my lovely wife Emma.

Final Preparations

I am really bad at waiting, I need to start this! 

I can feel the strength returning to my legs as I am now taking it very easy. But I have been for a couple of short runs and every click and slight pain I am now worried about. What will it be like after 300 miles? Training hard stops me worrying about everything, now I am not training hard but tapering I am getting stressed by small things!

Jane is doing a brilliant job of sorting out all the logistics. There is a huge amount of preparation needed for something like this with 40 people helping me on the fells another 10 or so at support points. Making sure everyone gets to the right place at the right time with everything they need is an amazing difficult job. Then there is sorting out my needs making sure I have the correct food and drink for each section and that there is a fast transition.

Amazingly the weather looks perfect for the week, dry with light winds but not too hot. Together with the support team lined up (thanks everyone), the hard training I have been doing I stand a good chance of doing this. I just hope my body holds together.

Putting it down in writing makes it clearer but my main goal is doing all the Wainwrights. It will be great to spend 7 days on the fells with my mates. The secondary goal is beating Joss Naylor’s time of 7 days 1 hour.  Everyone who knows me will realise I will be pushing it hard but there are so many unknowns over this distance I have no idea how long it will take me. 

I seem to have been doing a lot of media stuff recently. Lots of magazines, Border TV (something coming out soon) and filming with Al Lee for the Brit Rock film tour (http://www.berghaus.com/community/?p=12833). It is not something I particularly enjoy. In fact the amount of media interest sometimes scares me. But it all helps in raising money for my two MS charities (Samson Centre - http://www.justgiving.com/Steve-Birkinshaw and the MS Society - http://www.justgiving.com/Steve-Birkinshaw1). It also helps with the sponsorship side of things. Thanks Berghaus for your amazing support and also thanks to Torq, Open Tracking, Harvey Maps, King Kong climbing Walls, Great Langdale Bunkhouse and others I have probably forgotten. Huge thanks also must go to my wife Emma who does a great job of encouraging me and looking after me and the children and so ends up with very little time enjoying being out on the fells.

As I go round I will have a tracker with me, which should update every 3 minutes: http://steveb.opentracking.co.uk/

There will be updates to this blog and regular tweets from @SJBirkinshaw

Time for a rest

On the May Day bank holiday weekend I had a really hard weekend of training. On the Saturday I had an 8 hour run on the fells followed by a 2 and a half hour fell race on the Sunday and another 8 hour run on the fells on the Monday. The next weekend (last weekend) I did the 20 mile Duddon Valley fell race. It is a great race but I felt shattered from the start. There was just nothing in my legs. It was time for a rest for the final two weeks before I start on June 14^th. 

June 14th has been etched on my mind for a long time now. It now seems to be really close. I have really mixed feelings about the whole thing now. At times I feel really excited about doing it and cannot wait to start. I think of all the other races I have done, the training and I think I have a really good chance of breaking the record. Then suddenly my feelings change completely and I am daunted and scared by the length of the route and keeping going for 20 hours a day. I feel the pressure of having 40 or so people out to support me (thanks everyone for the help) having taken time of work and away from families. I worry that it will all go wrong and I will get an injury early on and have to pull out. Then I think that everyone has offered and is happy to help and they will understand completely if I do have to pull out.

As Emma (my wife) said in the previous blog Jane is doing a good job sorting me out. It is hard fitting it around work and seeing the family. But I should see a lot more of the family after 21^st June.

I am now sorting out clothing and food. Berghaus are providing me with some great kit. It is like Christmas at the house at the moment with big boxes arriving every day. Unlike normal I am going to look really smart during the 7 days.

I now have to decide what food I want to eat. Torq have provided me with some really good food to eat on the fells: bar, gels and energy drinks. At the 24 support points I am planning on eating normal food  - porridge for breakfast, pasta, potatoes, fruit etc. I need to provide a menu for Jane and my support team.

As well as sorting everything out the important thing for me to do is to try and rest, relax and look forward to this amazing adventure.