Northern Runner Ambassador Smashes Bob Graham Round Record!

Kim Collision Smashes Record in 15hr 47min!

Wherever ‘Man meets Mountain’ the spirit of challenge manifests itself in various ways. In the English Lake District walkers and runners have pitted themselves against the fells for well over a hundred years. While climbers found the steepest rock on which to make their mark, for the athletes it was distance and the linking together of the high mountains which provided the lure.

What is the Bob Graham Round?
The Bob Graham Round is a fell running challenge in the English Lake District. It is named after Bob Graham (1889–1966), a Keswick guest-house owner, who in June 1932 broke the Lakeland Fell record by traversing 42 fells within a 24-hour period. There a few rules and regulations and all information can be found at bobgrahamclub.org.uk.

When is the Winter Round?
“..the “Winter” round, which is a round not falling within the definition set out above, attempted during the period starting on 1 December and finishing on 1 March.” bobgrahamclub.org.uk

What’s the Previous Record?
2013 1 Dec, Jim Mann, 18hrs 18mins 

What Gear did Kim Complete the Challenge With?
We’re putting together a kit list and will be writing a little about taking on such a challenge, including the kid of shoes and gear you would need. Check back very soon!

Achieving this kind of time in the peak conditions of summer would be incredibly impressive, so doing it in winter is quite astounding! Conditions were somewhat frozen(!) so the shoes and gear Kim selected were incredibly important. Kim makes it sound easy:

“The conditions were perfect and amazing. There was a stunning haw frost, frozen ground, temps dipping to -7, a fantastic sunrise over Bowfell, warm sunshine climbing Yewbarrow and a blue sky winter day.Thank you for all the kind support and encouragement which I have received. I am feeling very proud to of broken the Winter Bob Graham Round record and run the 9th fastest time ever at 15;47.” Kim Collison