Frog Graham round 17th June 2023
I first heard of the Frog about five years ago from a friend who had been on holiday in the Lakes and spoke to someone training for it whilst out for a run. At the time I was beginning my Bob Graham journey, reccying a bit each time I was in the Lakes and running legs with mates. Two years ago whilst on holiday in the Lakes I decided to recce the Frog over a couple of days and was really taken by the beauty and brutality of the route. I also liked that it was still largely unknown outside of the Lakes. On one of the recces I bumped into someone who had supported Billy Blands record round and they hadn't even heard of it
I decided that I would go for a Bob Graham attempt in June of 2022 so although I thought about doing the Frog as a training run I put it on hold. The BG went well and once recovered (this took a few months as it turned out I ran the BG with first time covid and it smacked my fitness) I thought about the Frog again. I'm on a WhatsApp group of friends spread across the UK who all have fingers in the endurance event pie albeit in different disciplines. Mainly we just rip each other but we do try and organise a few days out together. I floated the idea of a Frog and received some interest. Initially four of us were going to do it but nearing the time unforeseen circumstances reduced the number to myself and Paul. We planned to do it unsupported, but a couple of weeks out Calvin (known to us as Your Mum) said he would do road support for us. He had been planning to run a solo Bob Graham that weekend but had cracked a rib and postponed it for a month. This coupled with the fact that the lake temperatures were in the low twenties and we wouldn't need wetsuits would make things easier for us. We met at Thornthwaite campsite the day before. I put a tidy tub in Your Mums van with a few fresh shorts and t shirts plus some drinks and snacks. At 03.45 the next morning Your Mum drove us to Keswick and at 04:02 we set off on our round from the Moot Hall.
Leg 1
Even at 4am it was warm and humid as we trotted through Fitz Park and on towards Skiddaw, fortunately as we got above Latrigg there was a bit of breeze and it was forecast to be overcast all day which at least would keep the heat off us a bit. We were treated to a fantastic sunrise as the sun rose above the Pennines. Skiddaw summit was reached in 1 hour 30 mins before back tracking a short way and descending the steep screes to Carlside. We cut the corner a bit but I suspect it might be quicker to cut direct from the summit. From Carlside we swung right to drop behind the back of Dodd taking care to take the correct tracks popping us out at the tea rooms. I took the opportunity to take the brown bin out before cracking on towards church bay. We touched the North Wall of the church before trotting down to the waters edge. Paul had already gotten all his stuff in his dry bag whilst I was in the toilet but it only took a minute to unroll my tow float, chuck my pack and glasses in it and quickly inflate it. We were just swimming in our shorts as the water was so warm. I picked out my aiming points on the opposite shore about 1000m away and in we went. The water was pleasant and it felt good to wash the sweat away. Its quite a long swim and the opposite shore doesn't seem to get any closer for a while. About half way across I noticed a strobe light on the shingle beach. It was Your Mum with his torch. There was a stiff cross wind blowing little waves up and now and again one would break in my mouth as I rolled my head to take a breath. Soon the traffic on the A66 no longer looked like toys and we were soon walking onto the beach. It felt a little chilly initially but Your Mum led us to his van where we could dry off and put dry clothes on, although it was that warm my top half had already dried. I had drawn up a rough 17 hours 30 minutes schedule and we were about an hour quicker then I thought.
Leg 2
This is the longest leg. After a quick water refill and chugging a Bunderburg ginger beer we were trotting along the only road section towards the foot of the aptly named Barf. Barf rises steeply from the shore of Bassenthwaite and whilst the most direct line goes up over Slape crag, we opted for the safer option that initially tracks the waterfall before cutting back to the summit. Again it was humid in the woodland with a fresher breeze on top. Once Barf summit was reached it was an easy trot out to the summits of Lords Seat and Ullister Hill before heading back into the forest towards Whinlatter forest centre. Again care was needed to take the correct trails but despite a brief moment of indecision we took the most direct way and arrived at the forest centre to see the Parkrunners warming up. Just across from the centre Your Mum had parked his van awaiting us. We both took a moment for foot care, reapplying foot glide before filling our bottles and heading out towards Grisedale Pike. Word had got out amongst the horse flies that some juicy Midlands lad was about and they were mercilessly pursuing us and biting if we didn't brush them off quickly enough, I ended up with around eight bites. Fortunately once above the forestry the stiff breeze kept them at bay. The summit was reached, the views appreciated then we started trotting off towards Hopegill Head, Paul winced, his knees and quads were starting to protest so we backed off the pace a bit. Conditions were quite pleasant now at this height and after Hopegill we soon ticked off Sand Hill. From there it’s a short drop down heading for the imposing looking Eel crag, we chose the direct line heading up first over coarse scree then some easy scrambling up over the crag. From there it’s an easy walk onto Crag Hill, the summit had a tent on it with about 20 people milling about. It turned out to be a 10 peaks walking event. We followed the path of the walkers onto Wandope then onto Whiteless Pike. From here it's a big descent to low bank, we worked our way down past the walkers, Paul's legs seemed to be giving him grief but we pressed on over Low Bank and Rannerdale Knotts and down the steep descent to the edge of Crummock water. Your Mum came through again and had bagged a parking spot a few metres from the water. I necked another ginger beer and some pringles whilst Your Mum filled up my water bottles. I packed my dry bag again including a clean T Shirt and then it was back into the water.
Leg 3
The swim was much needed after leg 2, once again washing the sweat away. You have to take care though between swims to prevent cross contamination between the Lakes and have to present your biosecurity measures when registering for the round. This was a fairly short swim of about 400 metres and we were soon pulling ourselves onto the rocks of Low Ling Crag startling a dog and couple who were picnicking behind the knoll. Next comes Mellbreak, a 500 metre wall of bracken and heather. To stay on tracks we would have to make a significant detour, so straight up it was. We thought we had spotted a decent line on the descent from Rannerdale. After a small amount of bracken bashing we found ourselves in a shallow gulley scrambling over rock, bracken and heather. We were on all fours dragging ourselves up. Paul seemed like a new man after the swim and a brief application of ibuprofen gel and was steaming up. We were soon on the top and a short out and back was required to get to the summit. It has started to rain sporadically now as we headed for Red Pike which was welcome but the wind was picking up making it chilly but not cold enough for a jacket. There's a maze of tracks and trods heading for Red Pike and I picked the most direct one which was just visible through the bracken. About this time I felt woozy, I realised i hadn't eaten in a while, Paul gave me a bag of Hula Hoops which brought me round quite quickly. As we reached the cliff tops near the summit the wind was really buffeting us as it decompressed over the top. Red Pike came and went and then it was onto High Stile before the steep descent to Buttermere. As we were scrambling down the rocks we were able to pick out some good trods through the bracken below which popped us out on the shore of Buttermere for the third swim over to the opposite shore.
Leg 4
Yet again Your Mum was waiting for us on the shore, he had again found a great parking spot at the entrance to the track up Robinson. It was raining a fair bit now and we both felt cold after the swim, Your Mum set up an umbrella over us as we got ready for the last leg. It didn't take long to warm up again though on the long steep slog up Robinson. I asked Paul if I'd told him the story of how I met Tom Cruise practicing a stunt for Mission Impossible 24 on the summit of Robinson whilst I was doing a recce for my BG, of course I'd already told him but did so again and then five minutes later asked him again. This and other banter along with an Eccles cake each passed the time and we were soon on the summit, we knew we'd finish now and were pretty much on my original schedule. Just three summits remained before the final swim. Dale Head, High Spy and Catsbells were duly ticked off although we were feeling pretty wooden on the descent from Catsbells. Your Mum met us at the bottom and the legend had made us a coffee each. We necked the coffee and wriggled into our wetsuits. We hadn't worn them all day but thought after feeling cold earlier and with the longest swim ahead of us that it would be wise to use them. Running down to the water Paul asked if I felt like a new man in the wetsuit. The answer was that I did. Whether it was the compression of the wetsuit or the coffee kick I felt revitalised. Wading into the water again we headed for Otterbield Island, although small it seemed to be home to a large group of gulls who seemed none to happy at our approach. They took to the air circling us, with one plucky gull diving at us several times. Ignoring them we hopped onto the Island and quickly walked to the other side and back onto the water. We now swam towards St Herbert’s Island picking out a yellow dingy on the beach as our aiming point, the gulls settled down again and all was peaceful. It was getting late in the day and our journey across the lake felt quite serene. Reaching the island we again waded out. We were swimming in our shoes which made getting in and out of the water easy. The group in the dinghy had a fire going and some beers. As inviting as it looked we trotted around the island before striking out to Rampsholme Island. As we set foot on it we saw Your Mum once more on the opposite shore waiting for us. After the short swim to shore we took our wetsuits down to half mast. I quickly unpacked my tow float and put on my club vest for the short trot into Keswick. We could have nipped through the alley to the Moot Hall but wanted to do the glory leg up the High Street. It was nearly 21:45, some 17 hours and 43 minutes since we started when we once more touched the Moot Hall doors two happy frogmen. All that remained to do was enjoy some beers and pizza with Your Mum
Whilst it was a tough day it was also very enjoyable. The route was amazing and it was great to have the company of Paul and the superb support from Calvin. A big thanks to Peter Hayes who created the round and to Martyn Price and team who run the Frog Graham club.
Did someone say Puddle Buckley?