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Nov 2016
11:36am, 4 Nov 2016
4,150 posts
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Northern Exile
This has already provoked strong criticism from within certain quarters of the fell-running community and I don't suppose anyone will be surprised that the Bob Graham Club Committee are going into enclave about it. Personally, I agree with Dave A - I learned the route and I went out and supported other people. Lots of other people, and I did it in fair weather and foul. I would not want to be lead round, not in the spirit of the challenge.
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Nov 2016
12:11pm, 4 Nov 2016
34,792 posts
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Velociraptor
Rosehip, shall we plan to sign up for this? 
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Nov 2016
12:13pm, 4 Nov 2016
728 posts
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flyingfinn
I also don't see it in the spirit of the challenge or the club (which has always had at it's core that "one of the traditions of the Club that existing members will assist their aspiring colleagues by 'pacing' their attempts") and no doubt many of the legends on which the credibility of the challenge is built will be rapidly spinning in their current resting places at the thought. To me it moves the whole undertaking from a journey that draws you into the mountains and enhances your love and knowledge of them to an exercise in getting a tick on a list and moving on asap. But maybe I'm just out of touch with the modern need for quick fix self gratification with as little personal effort as possible!
To be honest though my only real surprise is that it hasn't happened sooner. Back in 2009 two of us then possibly facing redundancy passed a section of one round discussing the theoretical feasibility of such a business. However, we were both firmly of the opinion that such a move would mean we would never be able to look many of our peers in the eye ever again.
Also I can't help wondering about the sustainabilty of the business model? At a minimum of £800 an attempt (i.e. no road support, no training plan, no hill sessions beyond the assessments) and a typical success rate of no more than 50% on the BG I wonder how big the market really is when at the end of the day it still isn't that hard to find yourself plenty of free experienced support if you engage with the fra forum over a few months?
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Nov 2016
1:42pm, 4 Nov 2016
34,793 posts
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Velociraptor
eL Bee! and I also threw around the idea of offering a supported three-day BGR as a commercial venture a while ago. Maybe that's who the buzzy one got cursed with bad heels We never even got round to doing it on our own.
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Nov 2016
6:04pm, 4 Nov 2016
7,860 posts
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Rosehip
I think they would have been better going for the 3 day thing as their model
- get those of us for whom three days would be a challenge around safely and also to be a starting point for those who intend doing it "the proper way" later on - but maybe don't know anyone who could help them navigate around their recces.
Going to be a long while until I'm fit enough to even think about three days V'rap - did you see how long it took me to march up and down that tourist path last week?
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Nov 2016
6:37pm, 4 Nov 2016
21,911 posts
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Derby Tup
I posted on the FRA forum that details, pics etc of successful three day "BG's" would make much more sense than their bodged, badly written offer
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Nov 2016
11:51pm, 4 Nov 2016
16,687 posts
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flanker
I think that they use a cover shot of Outdoor Fitness about says it all. All about one-upmanship and bragging rights in the pub with the lads. I expect there will soon be a Men's Health & CQ version too.
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Nov 2016
8:50am, 5 Nov 2016
34,798 posts
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Velociraptor
Yes, looking at the site properly last night (I couldn't get on to it at work), the "round" section looks very thrown-out-there and doesn't inspire confidence. I think it would have made more sense to have done the costings and logistics for all the options on offer before putting anything up, and had a team of named people from whom the running and road crossing support teams would be drawn. At the moment, for all you know you could end up with me for a couple of legs
And yes, laying the groundwork with getting some volunteers to test the two- and three-day rounds and provide short reports and photos. It's not as if the route is going to be any sort of a secret.
I don't think the BGR Club or the FRA should see this as a threat, though. Spluttering affrontedness about Not In The Spirit aside, you're either hard and fast enough or you're not.
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Nov 2016
11:19am, 5 Nov 2016
21,915 posts
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Derby Tup
The Hard and Fast enough is a great point. Nobody ever got dragged round the BG. The folks who struggle towards the finish had to get there
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Nov 2016
11:22am, 5 Nov 2016
26,562 posts
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.B.
I've passed details to a friend who wants to do the BGR, he might use them to help with recce runs. H tries to get up there as much as he can but it's a 12 hour round trip, so a 3 day thing might be good for him
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