In December 2013 North Pennines-based runner Jim Mann, 36, broke the record for a Winter Bob Graham Round (see news here). His 'very satisfying' time of 18hrs 18mins shaved about two hours from his own previous winter record on the classic 66-mile Lake District challenge, which takes in 42 fells and about 27,000 feet of ascent. Given the unpredictable nature of weather and ground conditions, a 'winter' round as defined by the Bob Graham 24 Hour Club is simply any round done between 1st December and 1st March. Jim had soggy conditions undeerfoot with very little snow or ice, so the main challenge was the cold and wet, and of course keeping going through the long hours of darkness.  

"The dark and cold are debilitating - a winter round saps your energy"

UKH: What’s your background in fell running? 

Jim: I run for Durham Fell runners and have done since starting to run again four years ago. Previous to that I didn't run for about 15 years but as a junior (under 18) I ran a lot and was county standard for cross country and a decent fell runner. My passion was always the fells. 

UKH: How many BGRs had you done before?

Jim: I did a summer one less than a year after starting to run again in 22hrs (sept 2010) and have done a previous winter one in 20.39 (Feb 2011) so this was my third successful completion.

UKH: So this time it was all familiar ground already?

Jim: I know the route pretty much inside out - I could certainly get round it easily in clear weather without a map (although I always carry a map and compass for safety). I often have to spend a day a week in London so normally go down the west coast line allowing me to run in the Lakes on my way home. I regularly end up on the top of a frozen Skiddaw around midnight in winter as a result.

UKH: Do the Lake District and the BGR mean anything particular to you?

Jim: I love the mountains - Lakes, Scotland, Snowdonia. Keswick is only 45mins drive from home so I run in the North Lakes on a regular basis and love it there. I have always loved the mountains and can remember the first time I went to the Lakes aged 11. It was love at first sight - I was mesmerized!

UKH: Did you do any particular training in preparation for December's attempt?

Jim: I ran 1500 miles in the last 12 weeks. In early October I went to the Alps for nine days and averaged over 30 miles per day and over 2400m of ascent / descent. That left me in good shape for an early winter attempt if the weather came good. 

UKH: What were weather and ground conditions like on the day?

Jim: Windy and rainy on legs one and two, then settling later. Ground conditions were wet and boggy with virtually no snow or ice. So the boggy bits were tough e.g. back of Skiddaw, but pretty good. The rocks were all wet and slippy but pretty good for a winter round. 

UKH: What time did you start/finish?

Jim: Start 1.03am - I was late it was meant to be 1am. Time 18.18 so I finished at roughly 7.30pm. I chose that time to give me light over the middle section around Scafell. 

UKH: What’s it like covering so much ground at night?

Jim: It hammers your body as you can never land as easily and smoothly as in daylight - your eyes can't measure the distance quite as accurately. Over the last three or four years I have got used to it as nearly all my winter training is done at night, normally alone and on the peat bogs of the North Pennines - that gets you used to it and makes you mentally tough I think.

UKH: What do you think is the hardest section of the round?

Jim: I don't think that any bit is harder than another - it depends on your strengths / style. I used to hate Skiddaw - it's a dull boring slog both up and then down the back again so I train on it all the time. Now although we are not friends we get along a lot better and I believe there is a mutual respect.

UKH: Does a winter BGR present any particular challenges over summer?

Jim: The dark and cold are debilitating - a winter round saps your energy. The other big difference is that in summer you can generally pick a date and focus on it as the weather is generally OK for a round - in winter this reverses and the weather is generally too poor for an attempt so you can't plan a date, you have to try and stay in good shape until a weather break comes along and then just go for it with little time for a taper. I have done a round with little snow but frozen - that's great, you go straight over the bogs even better underfoot than wet and boggy. I have also attempted in deep snow and lost time - that's really tough since you just can't move quickly and stay efficient. 

For more on Jim's winter record see his report on the Hangar18 blog