inov-8 ambassador Nicky Spinks, the inspirational cancer survivor and fell runner, hopes to mark 10 years post-diagnosis by becoming only the second person - and first woman - to complete a DOUBLE Bob Graham Round. Starting at 00.01am on Saturday (May 14), the 49-year-old farmer from Yorkshire will attempt to run a 132-mile route across the Lake District’s highest fells in under 48 hours.
A standard Bob Graham Round involves a 66-mile circuit of 42 summits including 27,000ft of elevation gain, to be completed in less than 24 hours. Nicky hopes to do all that twice, thus running 132 miles and visiting each summit two times on an epic run that will involve 54,000ft of elevation gain.
The only person to previously complete a Double Bob Graham Round in less than 48 hours was Roger Baumeister, who in 1979 clocked 46hrs 34mins. Up until last month Nicky held the women’s record for the fastest standard Bob Graham Round, following her 18hrs 06mins completion in 2015. That record was bettered in April by Jasmin Paris, who clocked an incredible 15hrs 24mins.
Nicky still has the fastest women’s times for the equivalent 24-hour fell running challenges in Scotland (the Ramsay Round) and Wales (the Paddy Buckley Round). In her blog for all terrain running brand inov-8, Nicky, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, says: “I hope to become the first woman to complete the Double Bob Graham Round in less than 48 hours, maybe even breaking Roger’s record time. The main aim, however, is to enjoy it and celebrate the fact that I am still here, living and running ten years after being diagnosed and treated for breast cancer.”
Follow Nicky's progress with the hashtag #DoubleBG
Nicky is raising money for cancer charity Odyssey. You can donate on her
JustGiving page.
