The UK has more than its share of extreme challenges, from ultramarathons, long distance hiking trails and mountains. But combine an ultramarathon with mountains, and you've created something on an entirely different scale.
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Add in the UK's highest peak, Scafell Pike, and you have a challenge designed for the most extreme athletes. But plenty of people take it on each year in the Bob Graham Round.
What is the Bob Graham Round?
The Bob Graham Round is a trail running challenge in the Lake District, and is one of the UK's classic mountain 'rounds' – along with the Paddy Buckley Round and the Ramsay Round. It requires runners to scale 42 peaks (including Scafell Pike) across 66 miles; all within 24 hours.
The challenging route includes around 27,000ft of ascent, which is almost the equivalent height of Mount Everest from sea level.
It was named after a Keswick hotelier who set the record in June 1932.
What's the route?
The start and end point of the Bob Graham Round is generally considered to be Moot Hall, Keswick. The route can be attempted clockwise or anti-clockwise.
How many people have completed the Bob Graham Round?
It's estimated that 2,925 people had completed the Bob Graham Round by the end of 2024.
What's the completion rate?
According to Runner's World, the Bob Graham Round has a completion rate of less than 50%.
How can you take part?
There's no scheduled event or race – and if you use a guide, official record-keepers the Bob Graham Club (BGC) don't recognise the attempt. However, you must take pacers and/or company in your attempt for safety recognise – solo attempts are also not recognised.
Attempts must be registered with the BGC in advance.
What's the record for the Bob Graham round?
US runner Jack Kuenzle holds the mens record, with a time of 12:23 set in 2022. Beth Pascall, who's based in the north of England, holds the women's recored with a time of 14:34 set in 2020.
Has anyone completed it more than once?
Many people have run the Bob Graham Round more than once, including INOV8 athlete Andy Berry who now has the fourth fastest round in history.
Andy, who holds UK ultra running records, said: “I'm very proud of what we achieved over the weekend. I was never going to run a faster time sitting on the sofa and thinking about it. We dreamed, we shot for the hoop and we missed (the record). But we had the courage to stand up and have a go.
"At the finish I thought that was it for me time-wise, that I couldn’t go any quicker. But as the dust settles there are always places to see improvement. Those two things can coexist."
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Main image: view from Scafell Point. Credit: Getty